Foundation Engages Media to Deepen Inclusive And Accurate Reporting On PWDs

The Sustainable Families Healthcare Foundation (SFHF) has partnered with media organisations to promote inclusive, accurate, and balanced reporting on persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, the Executive Director of SFHF, Peters Ogunmayin, commended the media for its role in advancing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

She noted that the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception, driving policy reforms, and increasing the visibility of PWDs across the country.

Ogunmayin explained that the engagement forms part of a new initiative by the foundation aimed at raising nationwide awareness on disability rights.

“We are focusing on disability awareness to educate Nigerians. Today’s engagement brings together the media and persons with disabilities to strengthen their capacity to share information and return to their communities better informed,” she said.

She added that the programme also seeks to educate the public on the provisions of the Disability Act, which has been approved by the Federal Government and enacted into law.

“In the FCT, implementation is ongoing, while some states have already begun domestication. This is why we are creating awareness and building capacity to help stakeholders understand the policy and their roles,” she stated.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), FCT chapter, Christ Agbo, emphasised the importance of the media in shaping societal attitudes.

“The media influences societal narratives. It is central to disability advocacy because it helps change perceptions about persons with disabilities,” he said.

Agbo called for improved training for journalists to ensure accurate and sensitive reporting of disability issues.

He also highlighted key challenges faced by persons with disabilities in the FCT, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, accessibility, and policy implementation.

According to him, many roads lack sidewalks, and where they exist, they are often inaccessible to wheelchair users or visually impaired persons due to poor design, obstruction by traders, and open manholes.

He further questioned the level of implementation of policies such as the five per cent employment quota for PWDs, as well as the limited number of inclusive schools in the FCT.

“Are persons with disabilities adequately captured in development programmes? Are existing policies being effectively implemented?” he asked.

Agbo stressed the need for a dedicated agency in the FCT to address these gaps, coordinate interventions, and ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are fully integrated into government policies and programmes.

Also speaking, disability expert Musa Muazu described the media as a vital bridge between communities and society.

“Where our voices cannot reach as individuals or communities, the media can. There are ways of communicating without distorting or discriminating,” he said.

He emphasised the need for continuous training of media practitioners on disability awareness and inclusive reporting, noting that challenges of discrimination against persons with disabilities persist in Nigeria.

Muazu disclosed that while 27 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have enacted disability laws and 23 have established implementing agencies, the Federal Capital Territory is still working towards setting up a commission to enforce its disability policy.

“We are hopeful that before 2027, the FCT will establish an agency to effectively implement its disability policy, given its status as the nation’s capital,” he added.