Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI) today joined other coalition members of Count Disability Nigeria to make the call for inclusive disability data collection exercise in Nigeria. This call was made at a Project Orientation meeting held at Denis Hotel, Abuja organized by the Count Disability Nigeria Coalition led by Disability Right Advocacy Centre (DRAC) and Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), Mimi-Jean Foundation and JONAPWD Anambra Chapter as members with support from Disability Right Fund (DRF).
The Project Lead, Dr Irene Ojuigo while introducing the project to the leaders of Disability Community stressed the need for disability data which is a necessary tool for proper planning and development. She encouraged the disability community to take ownership of the project and drive it to success. She called on all stakeholders to put all hands on deck and ensure the commitments made by the Federal Government at the Global Disability Summit on Disability Data using the Washington Group of Questions in data collection is fully implemented.
Giving his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the newly established National Disability Commission, Dr James Lalu thanked the Coalition for embarking on such an important project. He said he was present at the Global Disability Summit and that disability data took the center stage at the meeting. He promised to work with the National Population Commission to ensure the coming census takes cognizance of disability issues into its activities using the Washington Group of Questions.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of DINABI, Olajide Funso who spoke on the Overview of Current Disability Data/Statistics in Nigeria said the disability data in Nigeria is inconsistent, unreliable, non-disaggregated, estimation-based and completely under-represent the disability community. He said while the 2006 Nigerian Census reported 3,253,169 people with disabilities, the World Report on Disability, published in 2011, said about 25 million Nigerians had at least one disability while another report also claimed that no fewer than 19 million Nigerians are living with disabilities. This conflicting figures obviously can not be relied on for planning and implementation.
Various speakers also spoke at the event which includes the founder of Mimi-Jean Foundation, Betty Mube; Mr Lawrence Idemudia, Mr Chris Agbo of Qualitative Magazine, Barr Ikem Uchegbulam and Dr Adebayo among others.