Nation
Persons With Disabilities Seek Access To Airport Facilities
The Coalition of Disability Organisations has called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that airport facilities are made accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Convener of the Coalition/Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities,Mr David Anyaele, made the call in in Kano, when the group paid an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Justice, Mr Musa Lawan.
Represented by the outgoing Chairman of Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter, Mr Abdul Haruna, he said the call became necessary following the outcome of the group’s research on the challenges their members were facing at airports in the country.
“We are facing difficulty in boarding the aircraft, climbing the stairs of airport buildings due to the lack of or non-functional elevators and ramps.
“Communication barriers, absence of sign language interpreters, lack of Disability Desk at airports, lack of dedicated seats for PWDs, among others,” Anyaele said.
According to him, the research came up with recommendations for the relevant authorities to take note of.
He further explained that the visit was meant to sensitise the relevant authorities on the need to change the narrative.
Responding, the Commissioner expressed delight over the visit by the group.
“People living with disabilities have been neglected seriously for long. We must work together with the relevant authorities to do the needful for the betterment of this category of people”, he said.
He assured the group of his support toward addressing the challenges faced by its members, promising to send a memo to the Governor on their behalf in order to elicit the attention of relevant agencies.
A member of the group, Abba Shehu, a deaf, who spoke through an interpreter, recalled how he missed his flight due to the lack of an interpreter at the airport.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
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