As the world celebrates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDD), a group, Deaf Teachers Association of Nigeria (DTAN), is calling on the government to pay closer attention to the needs of the physically challenged in Nigeria.

IDD is marked worldwide every December 3.

Ahead of this year’s event, a statement issued in Lagos by DTAN, signed by its National Secretary-General, Omopariola Bolarinwa Anthony, said: “It is our hope that government at all levels will recognise this day and open their doors to us. This will enable us to present our needs before them.

“We also hope that the PWDs Act will be presented and signed into law in states across the country, that have not done so and full implementation resumes. 

“The 2019 version of this epic event is channeled to target empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as anticipated in the 2030 Agenda which pledges to leave no one behind and recognises disability as a cross-cutting issue to be considered in the implementation of its 17 point sustainable development goals.

“This year, the theme of the event is, ‘Promoting the Participation of Persons with Disabilities and their Leadership: Taking Actions on the 2030 Development Agenda’.

“Sequel to this, DTAN, the umbrella body of all deaf professional teachers teaching across the length and breadth of Nigeria including the FCT, join other persons with disabilities around the world to mark this occasion and to assure of our readiness to join hands with the United Nations and her subsidiary organizations to promote inclusive, equitable and sustainable development goals as part of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

“At DTAN, our goal is to advance deaf education in Nigeria through commitment and dedicated service. We also aim to ensure that deaf education is given pride of place in the society.”

The statement further said: “On this occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, DTAN joins millions of PWDS in Nigeria and all over the world to celebrate this occasion. We congratulate all our esteemed teachers and all members of the disabled community on this auspicious occasion.”

The annual observance of International Day of persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by the UN General Assembly resolution 47/3.

It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with Disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of the situations of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. Since 1991, IDD has been celebrated all over the world.