Disability law: In Benin City, PWDs exclusion rate is worrisome 

Fortune Oyem

Ann Ojugo is a young and vibrant woman who has made an indelible impact on advocacy especially in advocating for the well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs)in Edo state.

Ojugo, a Benin City, based resident in a chat said despite the signing of the disability Bill into law since 2022 by the immediate past Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, most persons with disabilities in the state still face many challenges including exclusion.

“Nobody pays attention to people with disabilities needs at all, people don’t even know if we live. In fact PWDs are seen as  second-class citizens, nobody wants to have anything to do with people with disabilities, both at the community level”.

She explained that the challenges are enormous.

“The challenges of PWDs range from discrimination, inaccessible medical facilities because there are no interpreters in the hospitals to interpret for the hearing-impaired cluster” Ojuigo said.. Persons with disabilities cannot go to school as I speak with you because there are no standard public special schools in Benin for children with disabilities. “Few private schools available are out of reach of common people.  it’s only few that can afford private schools” Ojuigo added

Ojugu, who is the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Edo chapter, added that the case was worse for women with Disabilities

“For women with disabilities, the case is times two. We suffer alot of sexual harassment from men and exclusion is one of the things we face in the society. It ranges from abandonment, discrimination, lack of Jobs, but we are hoping that now that we have set up a commission for persons with disabilities, we hope that the commission will do something”

Also Commenting , a virtually impaired and Executive Director of the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Barrister Melody Omosha decried lack of employment opportunities for persons living with disabilities in Edo state and faulted the Edo state Disability law.

“There’s so much exclusion when it comes to involvement of Persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
“The Edo state persons disabilities law is silent about the employment of persons with disabilities, so there’s no guarantee, there’s no law to protect them for employment, that’s abnormal, it’s not so with the Federal legislation, and it’s not so with most States.

Barrister Omosha further called for the review of the Edo state disability law to create a percentage of job allotment for persons with disabilities in the state.

In term of job opportunities, Barrister Omosha  said “While some states had made progress with a five percent job guarantee  for persons with disabilities, Edo state law is completely silenced about job opportunities for persons with disabilities “

A father of a child with disability and
Executive Director Christabel Otueroro Foundation, Mr Onome Otueroro said
inclusion should not just be about being kind but about being just.

“Our children don’t need pity. They need access. They need opportunities. They need to be seen, heard, and valued — not despite their differences, but because of who they are. Inclusion means making room — in schools, churches, playgrounds, workplaces, and society at large — for every child, no matter their ability and designing systems that embrace differences, not just tolerate them. “

He added that when Nigeria include children with special needs, it is essential we create environments that are more compassionate, creative, and human in oulook” Otueroro concluded

#Fortune Oyem a fellow of Africa foundation For Young Media professionals’ 2025 Disability and Inclusion media fellowship sent this piece from Lagos