Foundation, Partners Celebrate Women With Disabilities In Bayelsa

Persons with disabilities in Bayelsa State have called for greater inclusion, opportunities and support, especially for women, as stakeholders gathered in Yenagoa to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

The event held yesterday at Dormaris Hotel in Yenagoa was organised by the Do Foundation in collaboration with partners including the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Collins Cocodia Foundation, bringing together women with disabilities, advocates and community leaders to discuss empowerment, mentorship and social inclusion

According to the convener of the programme and founder of the Do Foundation, Barrister Dise Ogbise Goddy-Harry, the event was designed to empower women with disabilities, encourage mentorship and highlight the need for stronger institutional support for the group.

She noted that the programme focused on creating awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities and the importance of ensuring their participation in social and economic development.

Goddy-Harry also stressed the need for the passage and implementation of policies that protect the rights of persons living with disabilities in the state, adding that the Disability Bill would provide legal backing for access to opportunities, dignity and protection.

She said, “This year’s International Women’s Day celebration is quite unique because we and our partners decided to come together to celebrate persons with disability.

“We know they have a lot of challenges and those challenges needs to be addressed like the issue of discrimination, gender based violence and so many more.

“That is why we have gathered them together and to celebrate them. This year’s theme says ‘Give to Gain’, we want to build their capacity that is why we are giving back to them, the knowledge that we have in terms of their legal rights and that is why we are having this event today.”

Also speaking, a representative of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Teddy Bai, encouraged women with disabilities to see themselves as capable of achieving great things despite their challenges.

He said success was not determined by physical ability but by determination, intelligence and the willingness to make use of available opportunities, saying that several global innovations were driven by ideas rather than physical strength.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Political Matters, Hon. Collins Cocodia, said society must give more attention to persons with disabilities, especially women, adding that people living with disabilities often faced neglect despite their abilities and contributions to society.

He said initiatives such as mentorship, empowerment and provision of support tools would help them participate fully in community development and also announced that his Collins Cocodia Foundation would donate wheelchairs to women with disabilities as part of its support for the initiative.

In her goodwill message, the wife of the Ibenanaowei of the Ekpetiama Kingdom and chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, Queen Timinipre Dakolo, urged women with disabilities to remain confident and hopeful despite their circumstances.

She said disability should not define a person’s worth or ability to succeed and encouraged the women to embrace self-confidence and pursue their goals in life.

“Disability is not the end of life. What matters is the confidence you have in yourself and your determination to succeed,” she said.

The keynote speaker at the event, Barrister Benjamin Ogbara, said empowering women with disabilities would help build stronger communities and improve social inclusion.

He noted that mentorship, sharing of resources and leadership opportunities were important in ensuring that women with disabilities could contribute meaningfully to society which would lead to broader societal progress.

Some of the physically challenged women who participated in the programme expressed appreciation to the organisers, saying the initiative had given them hope and renewed confidence.

One of the participants, Rachel Tamama, said the programme had encouraged many women with disabilities to believe in themselves and pursue opportunities.

She said many persons with disabilities often faced discrimination in workplaces despite having the required qualifications.

“I am very happy that we are being recognized today. We also have abilities and we want the opportunity to contribute to society like everyone else,” she said.

Another participant, Tari Onyije, also called on government and private organisations to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities, especially women.

She said access to education, employment and support programmes would help improve their lives and enable them to support their families while urging institutions and communities to treat persons with disabilities with dignity and respect.

“Sometimes people look at us as if we cannot do anything, but we also have dreams and the ability to achieve them if we are given the opportunity,” she added.