The Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN) has urged the federal government to ensure the full and timely implementation of it commitments at the recently concluded 2025 Global Disability Summit(GDS) at Germany in order to improve the lives of people with albinism and Persons With Disabilities(PWDs) in the country.
Some of the commitments made by the government include; inclusive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, inclusive education, inclusive humanitarian action, inclusive climate change, health equity, accessible infrastructure, financing for disability inclusion among others.
Speaking in Kano during a one day media roundtable to promote conversation around the post-GDS25 summit on Wednesday, AAN Executive Director and President, Dr. Bisi Bamishe, in her keynote address emphasized on the role of the media as watchdog of the society in ensuring the implementation of government policies.
She said the media play a critical role in educating and informing the public, urging them to use that means to inform and educate them about the rights of PWDs, informing policy developments, and challenging harmful norms that lead to their exclusion.
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She therefore charged the media to promote these commitments, highlighting what they are, why they matter, and how they can improve lives while amplifying the voices of PWDs.
“Track and report on the progress or lack of these commitments, acting as a watchdog that ensures promises turn into policies, and policies into practice.”
While declaring the meeting open, the Kano state commissioner for information and internal Affairs, comrade Ibrahim Waiya, hinted of the state’s government plans of establishing a commission for PWDs to consolidate on its commitment to improving their lives.
He said the bill is currently before the state assembly and once it is passed, it would be managed by them, noting that the state has empowered over 2000 PWDs across the 44 local government areas.
In his remarks, AAN program manager, Joseph Akuse, said the Nigerian government through the minister for humanitarian affairs made the commitments on behalf of persons with disabilities at the recently concluded GDS at Berlin, Germany, where critical stakeholders around the world met to reason on having an enabling ground for PWDs to dwell in.
While commending the government for implementing some of the 2018 commitments such as the passage of the disability act, he however urged for its full implementation and the newly made commitments of April 2025.
