The minister of state for education, Yusuf Sununu, has urged education stakeholders to desist from rejecting persons with disabilities (PWDs) in school environments.

Mr Sununu was speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the federal ministry of education commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The minister was represented by his special adviser (Technical), Clarence Ujam.

The occasion, which has the theme “United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the SDGs For, With, and By Persons With Disabilities,” was in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project.

Mr Sununu commended the AGILE programme for being a drive in championing the cause of PWDs, especially in seeing that persons with disabilities have a voice.

“Disability, as we all know, is a worldwide phenomenon that spans countries, sex, age, religion, race, social status, economic and political position.

“It is estimated that more than one billion people experience disability worldwide, the majority from developing countries.

“According to the World Health Organisation’s 2011 World Disability Report, there are between 25 million and 27 million disabled persons in Nigeria,” he said.

“The United Nations (2011) projected that one in 10 persons in Nigeria suffers from some form of disability and that nine out of those with a disability live below the poverty levels,” he said.

Mr Sununu said the ministry had been in the vanguard of championing the course of persons with disabilities in general and in the area of special education in particular.

According to him, the ministry has developed the national policy on albinism, the national policy on special needs education, and the national policy on inclusive education, all with implementation guidelines.

“The 2024–2027 Education Roadmap, as well as the Ministerial Deliverables, emphasised an increase in school enrollment, transition and completion for learners, especially those with disabilities.

“It is disheartening to note that some people still perceive disability negatively. Superstition and ignorance have greatly influenced their attitudes towards people with disabilities.

“Most of the rights of people with disabilities are not given to them. These include the right to education, medical care, employment and free movement,” Mr Sununu said.

He said findings revealed that children with disabilities are rejected from public schools because of a lack of facilities and carers.

“This discrimination must stop with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders,” Mr Sununu said.

Also, the national coordinator of the AGILE project, Amina Haruna, appreciated the role of PWDs in contributing immensely to the development of education in Nigeria.

Ms Haruna, who was represented by the deputy national coordinator of the project, Abuka Ajanigo, said their contributions further gave credence to the fact that there is ability in disability.

She, therefore, thanked the World Bank for its immense support for PWDs in the country.

Also speaking, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle, said the ministry had worked tirelessly to ensure the country has a revised national policy for inclusive education.

Mr Epelle pledged the commitment of the PWD community to not just achieve the SDG goals but goals valuable to humanity, children and women with disabilities, as well as ensuring their rights and values were protected.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

The day also commemorates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted in 2006.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed globally on December 3 of every year.

(NAN)