The Community Advancements Initiative for Self-reliance (CAI4SR) has called on media practitioners in Nigeria to adopt inclusive reporting when addressing issues related to persons with disabilities. This appeal was made during a media engagement and training program organized by CAI4SR in Osogbo, Osun State, with support from Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM). The program aimed to equip journalists with the skills to promote awareness about disability rights and laws.
The training program, attended by journalists and media professionals, focused on the importance of creating awareness about the disability law in Osun State, which was passed in 2024. Participants were tasked with promoting the law to educate the public and eliminate stigmatization against persons with disabilities (PWDs). The Executive Director of CAI4SR, Mrs. Eni Ayeni, emphasized the need for media practitioners to report on disability issues from a context-specific perspective rather than a sympathetic one.
Mrs. Ayeni urged journalists to educate the public about the Disability Law, which holds individuals accountable for violating the rights and privileges of PWDs. She noted that the main goal of the program is to create awareness about the law and its implications. According to Ayeni, the training has yielded positive results, with journalists now publishing reports that incorporate disability terminologies and context-specific perspectives.
The training program also featured a call to action from Mr. Olayemi Alabi, a communication strategist and founder of Storyteller African. He emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and commended the Osun State government for its efforts to integrate PWDs into the system. However, Alabi appealed to the government to ensure effective implementation of policies and rights.
CAI4SR is actively engaging with the Osun State government to ensure the implementation of the disability law. According to Ayeni, the organization has engaged with the Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretaries of various agencies, leading to the designation of disability desk officers across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). This development aims to provide a single point of contact for PWDs to address their concerns and access services.
The project, which is in its second year of a three-year cycle, aims to promote awareness and implementation of disability rights in Osun State. Ayeni expressed optimism that by the end of the project, there will be remarkable changes in the state's approach to disability rights. The media engagement and training program is a key component of this effort, aiming to equip journalists with the skills to promote inclusive reporting and awareness creation.
Journalists who attended the training program renewed their commitment to prioritize inclusive reporting and promote awareness about the disability law. The collaboration between CAI4SR, the media, and the government is expected to play a crucial role in promoting disability rights and implementation of the law in Osun State.
Key points
- The Community Advancements Initiative for Self-reliance tasks media practitioners on inclusive reporting and awareness creation on disability law and rights.
- Journalists were trained to report on disability issues from a context-specific perspective rather than a sympathetic one.
- The Osun State government has been urged to ensure effective implementation of policies and rights for persons with disabilities.
