Dr James Lalu, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), says citizens must change their negative attitudes and perceptions to achieve an inclusive society for persons with disabilities in the country.

He said this on Monday when he received members of the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), led by their board chairman, Chike Uwaezuoke, in his office in Abuja.

Mr Lalu believed that attitudinal change was key to overcoming the challenges confronting access to equal rights for persons with disabilities (PWDs), hence the need for elders to get involved in advocacy.

“When I see elders like this advocating for PWDs, it sends a strong message to the disability community.

“And Nigeria at large knows that there is hope because what used to happen before was that when we talk about disability rights and disability inclusion, people don’t value our issue.

“Sometimes it is a cultural belief for some people that when they see persons with disabilities, they believe in their lives that it is a cultural taboo to be disabled,” he said.

Mr Lalu, therefore, expressed optimism that the future would be bright for persons with disabilities in the country, especially with the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the sector.

“I truly believe that in Nigeria, the transformation is coming, the advocacy is truly working, and in the near future, Nigeria will be a better place for every citizen.

“So, on behalf of the 35.5 million Nigerians with disabilities, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate your effort towards re-orienting Nigerians on the need to stop the discrimination against persons with disabilities,” he said.

Mr Lalu described the leader of the delegation as an ambassador of PWDs

He, therefore, urged him to assist in the advocacy towards domestication of the relevant disability laws, especially as it relates to the implementation of five per cent employment opportunities for PWDs.

According to him, out of the six geopolitical zones of the country, only Abia, Anambra and Enugu in the South-East had a substantial number of states that domesticated disability laws.

He then appealed to states that have yet to domesticate the discrimination against persons with disabilities (prohibition) law to do so to ensure an inclusive society free of discrimination.

On his part, the chairman of VDI, Mr Uwaezuoke, said they were at the commission to seek partnership with the commission to strengthen advocacy towards advancing the rights and privileges of PWDs in the nation.

Mr Uwaezuoke also expressed their readiness to support all efforts through advocacy to ensure maximum compliance with the relevant disability laws in the country.

(NAN)