DEVELOPMENT STRIDES OF BABA JANG IN THE AREA OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT On assumption of power, the Jonah Jang administration made history as the most gender sensitive government in the history of Plateau State by appointing more women than any other previous one. Women no longer belong to the shadows in the State; they are now in the corridors of power and have continued to contribute immensely to the growth and development of the Plateau State under the current administration, discharging every duty assigned to them in a most creditable manner. The Government has taken steps and key initiative aimed at further mainstreaming gender issues in governance. By way of summary, the Jang administration pays attention to service geared towards executing various programs, projects and advocacies, and awareness programs aimed at ameliorating the social and economic conditions of women, the vulnerable, deprived, physically challenged, the unreached, and the broken hearted members of our society; developing the power, skills, knowledge and experiences of these categories of people as individuals and as groups; thus enabling them to undertake initiatives of their own to combat social, economic, political and environmental problems; and also enabling them to fully participate in the democratic process and development in general. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT i. Purchased a Hilux (Toyota), Peugeot 505 station wagon and seventeen (17) motor cycles for supervision of self-help projects in the state. ii. First Community Development Council (CDC) inaugurated in the State in 2008. iii. Capacity building workshop for community development staff on the implementation of FADAMA projects/programmes organized in 2008. iv. Hosting all directors of community development of the thirty six (36) states and FCT for their annual conference, the highest decision and policy formulating body on community development in the country in July 2008. v. Plateau State Community Development staff and LGC community development staff went to Bauchi for five days on inter-state exchange programme. vi. Attended the National Community Development Council held in Minna, Niger State in 2009. vii. Celebrated annual Community Development Day which comes up every November. viii. Establishment of Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) with counterpart funding to the tune of 100 million Naira and office accommodation of N2.4 Million. ix. A total of 108 projects were completed at the cost of N54, 900,000.00. WOMEN AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES a. New Year visit to hospitals, orphanages and NGOs homes in the state, in collaboration with the First Lady, Ngo Talatu Jang. b. Celebration of 2008 International Womens Day with exhibition of womens products from the 17 LGAs and women NGOs. c. Graduation of the 10th set of widows at the Widowhood Centre, Mangu with takeoff grants and materials. d. Two-day workshop on maternal mortality focused on challenges, cancer, stress/depression, H IV/AIDS and the girl-child. e. Participated in trade fairs both local and national through budgetary provisions by government. f. Gender main stream workshop organized for stakeholders on women issues. g. In 2009 in collaboration with the WAYE foundation, a campaign rally was organized for women-in the 3 senatorial zones on cancer awareness h. 2010 New Year visit in collaboration with the wife of the Governor to hospitals, young peoples homes, and Gidan Bege. i. Government sent research teams to research on: women as work tools, domestic violence against women; and high bride price on the Plateau. j. One-day sensitization workshop organized for law enforcement officers on international treaties on women. k. Two-day workshop organized for Information Officers and Women Development Officers at the LGC level on gender mainstreaming. l. Workshop organized for traditional rulers on the findings of research on: women as work tools, domestic violence and high bride price. m. Translation of MDGs and Convention on the Eliminations of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in local languages and -distributed to the public. n. Baseline survey on gender disaggregation conducted in the state. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHILD WELFARE a. In January 2008, a childrens party was organized in collaboration with the wife of the Governor. b. In February r’2008, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs undertook a National Situation Assessment and analysis of orphans and vulnerable children in the 17 LGAs of the state. c. In 2008 (May 27‘) Childrens Day was celebrated with the theme: “A Nigeria fit for the child” which was attended by the Governor and other top government functionaries. d. The Day for the African Child was celebrated in June 2008, preceded by the second sitting of Childrens Parliament in the state. e. The state benefited from Global Fund Round 5 to the tune ofN 1, 932,000.00, and was disbursed to 100 orphans and vulnerable children. f. Election into Children‘s Parliament was conducted with support of funds from government. g. The 2009 National Childrens Day was celebrated in the state. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE i. Successful launch of Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Week in 2008. ii. The Ministry conducted election of the Nigerian Legion in February 2009. iii. Assistance to physically challenged persons to undergo computer training. iv. Purchase of food and working materials for Rehabilitation Centre and Zawan Blind School. v. Treatment and repatriation of 29 inmates of the Good Samaritan Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Sabon Gidan Kanar. vi. Assistance extended to some indigent members of the society. vii. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, a National Baseline survey of persons with disabilities was conducted in 4 selected LGAs of the state in 2009 (Jos North, Riyom, Bokkos and Mangu) viii. Graduation of sets, 25 and 28 of School of the Blind Zawan ix. Hosting of 2008 National Council of Women Affairs and Social Development in Jos. x. Celebrated the Disabled Day with the distribution of wheel chairs to disabled persons in collaboration with HELPING HANDS, a Non—Governmental Organization. DISABILITY REHABILITATION BOARD On the issue of disability and development, the administration has envisioned a networking strategy to achieve greater feat within the shortest possible time. This informed the multi-sectoral approach and collaboration with donors, governmental departments and Non-Governmental Organizations in the state. This is based on the belief that Government, ministries and extra-ministerial departments and agencies, faith-based organizations and NGOs have specific responsibility for people with disabilities. Empowerment of people with disabilities goes beyond rehabilitation to a more complex and multi-faceted developmental approach; this we are focusing on building in Plateau State. We continue to view people with disabilities from the enablement perspective we see the ability rather than the disability. We are committed to promoting inclusive development in every perspective; and that is why the ministry is- committed to the development of accessibility policy; accessibility to the built environment (public buildings and roads) and transportation, accessibility’ to information and communication technology etc. We are holistically committed to the promotion and sustainability of inclusive development in Plateau State. In view of our commitment, the Government has secured the services of Enablement, based in Amsterdam; an internationally recognized consultancy organization to conduct a baseline survey with need analysis of people with disabilities so as to give it international credibility and acceptance. This is to enable us answer pertinent questions of donors and provide evidence—based background in the development of solid based projects and programs capable of attracting donor funding and support. We are also focusing on tapping from the United Nations Global Fund on disability. The baseline survey proposal is currently under review for consideration. BELOW ARE SOME OF OURACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS SECTOR; Economic Empowerment i. In partnership with the National Poverty Eradication Programme, 30 people with disabilities were provided loans of N25, O00 each in December, 2008 through the Kerana Microfinance Bank, Bukuru. ii. In partnership with the National Directorate of Employment in 2009, fifty (50) people with disabilities were trained in different trades. iii. In partnership with WAYE Foundation of the Plateau State First Lady, about 20 people with disability have been offered admission for six-month skills acquisition training with start up package at the end. This is in line with the global standard of 10% reservation for people with disabilities. iv. In partnership with WITTY International Development Foundation, 200 people with disabilities have been accepted to commence a nine-month entrepreneurship training and were paid N1 0,000 monthly allowances and a loan package at the end of the training. v. Through the MDG office, about 51 skill acquisition forms were distributed for people with disability to participate in their 2008 Conditional Grant Scheme on skills acquisition for youths. Health i. In partnership with the Centre For Gospel Health and Development of the Anglican Archdiocese of Jos, the office secured 1,000 units of long lasting mosquito-treated nets which were distributed proportionately in all the 17 local government areas in the state. ii. In our determination to achieve inclusive health care delivery system in Plateau State, a formal request for the establishment of disability desk office at the Ministry for Health was made through the Governors Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Disability. This was formally opened and the ministry sponsored the training of the officer in Holland in 2011. This unit is currently taking care of disability prevention, accessibility to primary health care and provision of technical support to private hospitals in the state to take care of the needs of people with disabilities. iii. The ministry also in collaboration with the SSA on Disability has secured partnership with Eyes from Zion, an Israeli international volunteer organization, an Israeli international volunteer organization for mass cataract surgery for 1000 eyes in Plateau State. This partnership will be formalized soon. iv. We are currently initiating partnership with Dana and Reeve Foundation based in the United States of America; the first international organization in the world to have discovered a healing for spinal cord injury survivors and paralysis. We are hoping to develop a Neuro Recovery Network (NRN) Centre in Plateau State for the healing of spinal cord and paralysis victims through working therapy. Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) The Community Based Rehabilitation is a World Health Organization programme implemented around the world. The following were achieved under this sub-heading. i. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in partnership with the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Local Government Service Commission, established CBR coordination offices in all the seventeen local government councils to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in community development and leadership. ii. With the sponsorship of the Local Government Service Commission and the ministry, a contingent of 22 delegates from Plateau State comprising of all the Directors of Social Services in all the Local Government Councils contributed at the Fourth Community based Rehabilitation Africa Network conference organized by the Community Based Rehabilitation African Network in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development from 26th to 29th October, 2010. iii. During the conference stated in ii above, Mr. James David Lalu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs was elected by all delegates from the 22 African countries and those from Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean into the 9-member Executive Committee of the Rehabilitation Africa Network for a consecutive period of six years. iv. In our determination to ensure the implementation of the community based rehabilitation in Plateau State, the Ministry secured partnership with the Netherlands Leprosy Relief and the Christian Blinded Mission, a German Non- Governmental Disability organization based in Abuja for technical and financial support. v. Consequently, an approval was secured by the office of the SSA to the Governor and funds were released from the Local Government Service Commission for the sponsorship of the training of Local CBR coordinators and their assistants and some relevant personnel. This is to be managed by a consultant. Crisis Intervention During the recent Jos crises and terrorist attacks, the Government discovered that people with disabilities were often affected. Many were disabled due to the crises but were always neglected by relief agencies both private and the government. This prompted the taking drastic action to respond to the needs of the disabled as follows: i. In partnership with the Christian Blinding Mission Nigeria, the sum of twelve million six hundred and fifty thousand naira (N12,650,000), was raised to assist people with disabilities affected in recent crises and attacks at Dogo Nahawa, Riyom, Rasat and Zot villages. These were distributed in close supervision by the Association of People with Disabilities in the state. ii. In partnership with the CBM, and the SSA on Disability Affairs, the ministry, jointly organized a four-day workshop for people with disabilities, NEMA and government representatives. iii. Also in partnership with CBM and the SSA Disability Affairs, a national conference was held in Jos, supported by the SSG‘s office on inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency response in Nigeria. Over 600 participants were in attendance. The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency was represented by his National Director on Relief and Rehabilitation. iv. The conference above facilitated the creation of the Vulnerable Care Unit at the NEMA Head Office on 24th of August 2010 Governance i. This section highlights some contributions in collaboration with Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) Disabled Forum made towards the inclusion of people with disabilities in governance at the local government level in Plateau State which made Da Dr. Jonah David Jang the most Disability-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. ii. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs (and a person with a disability) is today a member of the Federal Inter—ministerial Committee on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on People with Disabilities through community based rehabilitation in Nigeria. OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Participated in the 3“ Biennial National Conference on Community Development in Nigeria held at Asaba, Delta State in November 2011; Celebrated 2011 Community Development Day in 2011 with the theme: ‘OPTIMIZING COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR JOB CREATION AND SELF RELIANCE’. Targeted participants were community leaders which cut across the 17 LGAs in the State. The programme was aimed at encouraging community participation in development; Eighteen (18) self-help projects were completed at the cost of thirty one million two hundred and seventy five thousand naira (N31 ,275,000.00); Forty four (44) other projects across the state are also at various stages of completion at an estimated cost of one hundred and seventeen million and ninety four thousand naira (N117, 094,000.00); Organized a workshop for Child Protection Network in collaboration with UNlCEF. Child Protection Network is an organization made up of lawyers, judges, the police, and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for the protection of the child; A Committee Task Force on revenue generation set up and was able to improve significantly, the revenue base of the ministry through effective revenue collections and remittances; In collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service, the ministry approved a reasonable number of its staff to go for training programmes in colleges and universities. 3 staff are currently undergoing Masters programme (MSc) in social work, two (2) are on degree programmes in social work, all at the University of Jos, and 3 are undergoing Diploma programmes at the Plateau Polytechnic; Training and capacity building and development of women in the state as enshrined in the Ten-Point Agenda (No. 7 on women, youth, and social development through capacity building), of the Redemption administration. Widows were trained, graduated and the 13“ set of trainees at the Mangu Widowhood Centre graduated; Workshop on economic empowerment of women and young girls on skill acquisition and capacity building with raw materials was conducted; In collaboration with Women in Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE), the Ministry supported the training of students in various skills; Coordinated the distribution of eggs in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to the 17 LGAs, hospitals and health centres in the state. Using the same strategy, the ministry created awareness on accessing antenatal facilities and immunization. We recently organized a meeting with the wives of the newly constituted Transition Committee Chairmen (TIC) on women issues towards reaching grass root participation of women in development; Participated at the 13th National Council of Women Affairs, Ekiti State this year where key decisions were taken on mainstreaming gender in all government agencies and government policies; In conjunction with stakeholders, 2011 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Week Celebration was successfully organized; In conjunction with the Nigerian Legion, 85 widows-5 from each of the 17 LGAs of the state-were empowered with loan of five thousand naira (N5,000.00) each and a wrapper. This was from the proceeds of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration; Organized a workshop on disaster risk reduction for participants in collaboration with NEMA North Central Zone in the zone in April 2012. Target participants were women NGOs, wives of legislators, women political office holders and politicians; The ministry keyed into the Plateau Oneness Forum Economic and Gender inclusiveness in Plateau State; four-year strategic plan (2011 - 2015). PROJECTION IN THE YEARS AHEAD IN REHABILITATION BOARD Project Limb For All by the year 2015 a. This project was initiated to provide prosthesis (artificial limbs) free of charge to amputees who cannot afford it. It is a partnership with the Tolaram Charity Foundation corporate social responsibility outfit of Tolaram Group of Companies, manufacturers of indomie noodles, Noble Carpets and Rugs and PanaBiz electronics based in Lagos. A total of 246 prospective beneficiaries have been identified, photographed and sent to donors. About 221 attended the programme in Abuja in March 2012 and persons received their custom made limbs in Abuja in May, .2012. Annual donations of 400 limbs have been envisaged for Plateau State till 201 5. b. Establishment of a commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in line with the Law 2005.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 19:07:13 +0000
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