The IREDE Foundation (TIF), an NGO that supports children who have lost limbs, has asked for the adoption of Persons With impairments (PWDs) laws and inclusive budgeting for kids with impairments.
At a town hall meeting on mainstreaming disability-inclusive budgeting for children with disabilities in Abuja, Mrs. Crystal Chigbu, the executive director of TIF, said this.
According to Chigbu, the need for the call arose because, despite the fact that Nigeria has a number of PWD-related policies and legislation, budgetary provisions for their operationalization at all levels of government have fallen short of expectations.
According to her, PWDs still face the same problems with marginalisation and discrimination, among other things, even throughout the budgeting process.
“About two years ago, we conducted a baseline line survey and discovered that there was no funding set out for schooling for children with impairments, which is why they are not mainstreamed into education.
“So, you find out that a lot of children with disabilities stay at home because they are unable to attend school, and even those who wish to attend inclusive schools are likely living quite distant from the schools.
“The students are left behind because the teachers lack the necessary tools to deliver effectively.The entire purpose of this endeavour is for us to alert the authorities about this.
This is so that in the future, we can begin to budget for the education of children with disabilities because we know that if it is budgeted for, it is more likely to be implemented.
Chigbu claims that because of the very nature of our endeavour, it is imperative for us that this occurs.
According to her, the charity advocates for the full adoption of inclusive education legislation frameworks at all levels and motivates efforts to ensure that children with amputees and their families can live autonomous, boundless lives.
“We believe that students with disabilities should have equal access to high-quality education in regular schools, alongside their peers without disabilities. Inclusive education is not just a concept; it is a key component of the foundation.
“Children who grow up in inclusive environments develop empathy, compassion, and understanding, which in turn contributes to a more inclusive society.
“Inclusive education boosts a child’s social skills, self-esteem, and general well-being in addition to their academic performance.
When we support inclusive education, she added, we’re laying the groundwork for a time when kids with disabilities can live independent, self-sufficient lives.
According to Chigbu, the town hall meeting brought together a variety of stakeholders, including representatives from organisations for individuals with disabilities, parents, and policymakers who can in some way influence choices at the national and state levels.
She claimed that doing this would guarantee children with impairments high-quality educational access.
According to Mrs. Angela Ajala, a TIF board member and education expert, inclusive education aims to cultivate inclusive minds that value diversity and teamwork as well as equal access.
Prioritising disability-inclusive budgeting, according to Ajala, would enable educators and schools to give special education students the support and resources they need, ensuring that no child was left behind.
According to her, the town hall meeting offered a great chance for participants to share their experiences and think about the best ways to develop and put into practise collaborative practises that would lead to inclusive education for children with disabilities.
Together, we have made great strides in integrating disability-inclusive budgeting for kids with impairments. Our adventure is far from over, though.
“Let’s rekindle our sense of cooperation, for it is only by working together that we will be able to truly make inclusive education a reality for every child. However, we cannot stop here.
Let’s reaffirm our commitment to prioritising inclusive education in the budget.
Disability Rights Fund (DRF), according to Mr. Theophilus Odaudu, the Programme Manager for West Africa, supports PWD organisations that work to improve disability rights.
The ‘leaving no one behind and not in for us without us’ premise, according to Odaudu, is the foundation’s basis for supporting the project for children with impairments.
“As a group, we help people with disabilities and go even farther to support those who are marginalised in the community, such as disabled children whose voices are rarely heard.
In order to ensure that concerns relating to children with disabilities are not neglected, this initiative aims to project the needs of children with disabilities, advance their rights, and demand for increased budgetary allocation.
Odaudu stated that although Nigeria has many rules and laws on paper, their implementation presents a hurdle.
Therefore, he urged organisations to maintain their lobbying efforts to ensure that policies were not just written down but also carried out.
Additionally, he urged for enhanced budgetary allocation, responsibility, and oversight to determine how it could be best directed to ensure that disabled children benefited from it. (NAN)
