The Sokoto State government has pledged to ensure the implementation of disability law to harness gender policy and an inclusive education system.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Sokoto State, Nasir Binji, gave the assurance on Monday when he received members of the “Education for all cluster,” an educational drive supported by USAID and the Palladium consortium.

The project is tagged, “USAID-Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Project’s” in Sokoto State.

He described the advocacy visit by the group as a reminder in recognition of the importance of inclusive education system and gender policy to citizens.

He said that Governor Ahmad Aliyu had already signed into law the Persons with Disabilities Act, which is a significant milestone in improving the lives of persons living with disabilities in the state.

He stated, “The law provides for inclusion of all in programmes, the provision of ramps for easy passages in public infrastructure, including classes, toilets and other structures in our schools, the provision of biles for blind students and other relevant educational materials.’’

He added that law also provides for the establishment of special schools in each of the three senatorial zones in the state, as well facilitating the domestication of national gender policy and inclusive education programmes, along with strategies of improving the systems.

The commissioner commended USAID, Palladium and the six cluster organisations for their efforts and assured more support to achieve the desired results.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Balarabe Kadadi, reiterated the state government’s commitment to increase budgetary allocation and implement an inclusive education system across the state.

Mr Kadadi, who was represented by the Director of International Cooperation, Musa Wamakko, said that the ministry would constitute a technical committee to ensure streamlining gender policy, an inclusive education system, and other friendly policies.

He said the committee would fine-tune modalities for the establishment of more special schools, the recruitment of qualified teachers, ensuring ministerial harmony and other needs of physically challenged persons.

According to him, people are equal irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or differences, stressing that physically challenged persons possess the potential to live as normal persons.

Earlier, the leader of the cluster, Abdu Yusuf, said the visit was part of the advocacy visits soliciting support and cooperation for the right implementation of inclusive systems and gender policies in the state.

Mr Yusuf explained that stakeholders’ support, especially the Ministry of Justice, Budget and Economic Planning and affiliated agencies, was crucial to the success of the drive, stressing that six clusters engaged in the exercise in Sokoto State.

The cluster members have visited the State House of Assembly, ministries and agencies, where they solicited maximum support to ensure the successful implementation of gender policy and an inclusive education system. 

(NAN)