by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Awe, Doma, Kaena Federal House of Representatives 2027; The Man Who Truly Fits the Cap
*Breaking Climate Response Barriers: SAVWIN Urges Borno Ministry of Women Affairs, Other MDAs to Prioritize Inclusion of Women and Girls With Disabilities in Disaster Response Action*
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
FOOTBALL: Gombe Deaf United FC Captain Donate Kits to Team Mates
by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
12th March, 2025
In a show of support and appreciation, the first choice captain of Gombe Deaf United Football Club, Abdulkadir Turaki has donated football kits to his club "Gombe Deaf United FC"
The generous donation which comes at the heels of his return to the country after a short spell in the neighbouring republic of Niger was recieved by the club's head coach Mr. Blessed Chales on behalf of the team.
Speaking to ANN correspondent shortly after the donation, Turaki emphasizd his continual commitment to the progress and development of the club
He said, "this support is borne out of my admiration to the team"
"Its my own little way of saying thank you to the club for all the memorable years we plung and stick together as a team. I will continue to support the team to realise it full potential" he added.
Earler, the Team Manager of the club, Mr. Daniel Yusuf Labelang expressed gratittude to the team captain for his show of philantropy. Praying other players would toe the path of the captain in the future.
"What Mr. Abdulkadir Turaki did is worth emulating. Anyone can do the same. That way, we can promote the football club to greater heights. I wish i had the means to do the same! Thank you very much, Mr. Abdulkadir" the Team Manager noted.
Reacting to the player's excellent contribution to the team development, Head Couch of the team Mr. Blessed Charles praised the player's kind gesture, acknologing his immense contributions to the progress of the club both on pitch and off pitch.
The items donated by the club captain ANN reports include the brand new ball plus orange and light blue coloured dual training vests.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Towards An Inclusive Climate Response Action : SAVWIN Visits Borno JONAPWD, Seeks Stronger Collaboration to Promote Disability Inclusion in Disaster Response Approach
by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
6th March, 2025
Sound Abilities for Vulnerable Women Initiative Nigeria (SAVWIN), a foremost women-led, disability inclusion-focused organization as part of its continual campaign and commitment towards advocating for Climate Justice and Inclusion for Women and Girls with Disabilities and other PWDs grpups in disaster response intervention action in Nigeria recently took its advocacy campaign to the headquarters of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Borno State chapter.
The advocacy visit to JONAPWD office, Ability News Network reports, was led by the Executive Director of Sound Abilities for Vulnerable Women Initiative Nigeria (SAVWIN) Ms. Miyausa Wayuta in company of her SAVWIN team and were warmly received by the Chairman of Borno State JONAPWD chapter, Mal. Ahmadu Umar accompanied by one of the Coordinators of the association, Mal. Mohammed Mustapha.
Earlier in her remarks, the SAVWIN Executive Director stated the reason of her team visit as pivotal, stressing that the objective of her team's calls on the Borno JONAPWD was essentially to furnish the JONAPWD community on a sensitive project she and her team are embarking upon titled “Advocating for Climate Justice and Inclusion for Women and Girls with Disabilities.” in Borno state.
She expressed optimism that JONAPWD would support the process and participate actively. Emphasizing that "the project seeks to bridge the gaps in disaster response and ensure that women with disabilities are not just beneficiaries but active contributors to mitigate climate change and improve policies and interventions"
"To achieve these goals" Wayuta noted, the support and collaboration of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Borno State chapter would be necessary"
The SAVWIN Executive Director further stated "that the adverse effect of climate change affects persons with disabilities, especially women, girls and children"
She added "this is exacerbated by lack of accurate and adequate information, resources and services coupled with poverty"
Citing the insideous effect lack of accurate information on climate change has on Women and Girls with Disabilities and other PWDs the SAVWIN Executive Director noted, "the resultant effect is mobility challenges and non-participation in decision-making leading to neglect. It can be noted that, lack of inclusive and accessible policies exacerbates their situation leaving women and girls with disabilities with fewer opportunities to thrive, adapt or recover"
The Executive Director also said "that insufficient economic resources is a major factor that increases women’s vulnerability to climate change, emphasizing that "In reality a handful of women with disabilities have some source of income, they are underemployed. This situation limits their abilities to prepare for and or respond effectively to climate disasters" she lamented.
Baring her mind on the issues of policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, the Executive Director expressed her dissatisfaction for having little to none participation of persons with disabilities on decision making on climate change.
Her words, "when these policies and laws are made, persons with disabilities should be part of the processes. That would give them the opportunities to speak out how they are affected"
According to her, "It is important that the voices of persons with disabilities with particular attention to the women and girls are heard and their experience valued to ensure equity and diversity"
Earlier in his swipt response, the Borno State Chairman of JONAPWD Mal. Ahmadu Umar, expressed immense gratittude to the SAVWIN team for finding his office worthy for the objective visit. He assured the team that JONAPWD door is open at any time they are called upon, they will be willing to assist in any capacity to ensure a successful project implementation.
He praised the SAVWIN team for coming up with such worthwhile initiative which according to him could chart a new course for the vulnerable women and girls with disabilities and has far-reaching direct bearings on the lives of PWDs community in Borno state, he reassured the visitors that they should feel at home, as the JONAPWD also shared the same view”
Finally the JONAPWD top leader prayed that the Almighty would grant the team safety throughout the period of the project implementation in Borno state.
Monday, March 3, 2025
RAMADAN: SSAP Abba Isa, SMEDAN Distributes Food Items to FCT School of the Blind
by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
3rd March, 2025
....Presidential Aide inspires the students with fantastic personal Journey
....SMEDAN pledges 5% commitment to disability inclusion in its programmes
....As School authority appeal for more teaching aid support
In their gigantic, groundbreaking and humanitarian effort to cusion the effect of the current economic hardships on the lessprevileged Nigerians specifically the students with disabilities. The Senior Special Assistant to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Muhammad Abba Isa partnered with Mr.Charles Odii, the current Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to put jouyous smile on the faces of visually impaired students of FCT School of the Blind, Abuja, gifting them with assorted food items plus to help alleviate their sufferings in this Ramadan period.
The Senior presidential Aide while acknowledging the actualization of the humanitarian project he and his partner extended to the visually impaired s"tudents wrote on his official facebook page: "In the spirit of Ramadan, I partnered with the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii, to extend humanitarian support to the FCT School of the Blind"
"We provided essential food items and financial assistance to ease the students’ burden and encourage them to pursue their dreams without limitations" he wrote.
During my visit, the senior presidential aide used the opportunity availed him to share his outstanding personal struggle as a PWD, lifetime successes and accomplishments with the students in order to encourage them to believe in their natural abilities and potentials in spite of their disability status.
He wrote, "i shared my personal journey to inspire them, emphasizing that disability is not a barrier to success. I also commended the dedication of the school’s teachers and caregivers, assuring them of our continued support"
"This initiative reinforces our collective responsibility to ensure no one is left behind. I urge the government, private sector, and kind-hearted Nigerians to join us in supporting inclusive education for visually impaired students" he added
Earlier, the SMEDAN Director General, Mr. Odii used the occasion to emphasize the SMEDAN’s commitment to disability inclusion.
He pledged "that 5% of the agency’s programs will be dedicated to persons with disabilities"
Responding to the unusual show of philantrophy demonstrated by the two leaders, the school authority expressed immense gratitude but also highlighted urgent needs like learning aids, Braille machines, and wheelchairs.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
CLIMATE CHANGE: SAVWIN Canvases Support for Women with Disabilities in Disaster Management and Intervention Response in Borno State
by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
2nd March, 2025
In a groundbreaking effort to kick start the implementation of a project that seeks to advocate for disability-inclusive climate change, disaster management and intervention response in Borno State to promote the active participation of women with disabilities in the process. Sound Ability for Vulnerable Women Initiative Nigeria (SAVWIN), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that focuses on educating and empowering women with disabilities, girls, and children, as well as catering for the welfare of the elderly, has recently embark on series of advacacy visits to various Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to amplify voices on the urgent need for inclusion of women with disabilities and other PWDs in the ensuing global calls for climate change actions.
The project Ability News Network gathered recieved support from the Disability Right Fund ( DRF) and plunged into action in early January this year with SAVWIN's strategic advocacy visits to several key partners and stakeholders including the Department of Climate in the Ministry of Environment (Borno State Environmental Prevention Agency BOSEPA), Principal Officers of the Borno State House of Assembly and the member, House Committee on Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Water and Sanitation, Zadaya Kanem, Ministry of Women Affairs, Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities, Borno State Agency for Coordination of Sustainable Development Goal, among others.
The advocacy visits according to the statement released by SAVWIN "aligns with the global and national commitments which include: the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), specifically Article 6, that recognizes the unique challenges faced by women with disabilities, and Article 11, that mandates the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies"
"The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 13 (Climate Action), calls for inclusive participation and urgent action against climate change"
It is however gathered that the "project seeks to bridge the gaps in disaster response and ensure that women with disabilities are not just beneficiais but active contributors to climate change policies and interventions"
$peaking during an advocacy visit to one of the working stakeholders "Zadaya-Kanem Polio and Disabilities Initiative" in Maiduguri on 28th January 2025, SAVWIN's Executive Director, Miyausa Wayuta, admitted that "Zadaya-Kanem’s voice, network, mobilization capacity, influence and commitment are instrumental in ensuring that the rights of women with disabilities are not overlooked in the fight against climate change"
Acknowleging the persistent unbearable socioeconomic and health challenges faced by the Borno state populace caused by climatic disasters the SAVWIN's Executive Director said "Borno State has faced some of the most devastating climate-related disasters in Nigeria—floods, desertification, and extreme weather conditions—exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, particularly for women with disabilities"
"Despite their resilience, women with disabilities remain among the most marginalized in disaster response and climate action. They are often excluded from policy discussions, emergency response strategies, and adaptation programs that directly impact their survival and well-being. This must change"
She added, "we seek the support and collaboration of Zadaya-Kanem Polio and Disabilities Initiative. Your voice, network, mobilization capability, influence, and commitment are instrumental in ensuring that the rights of women with disabilities are not overlooked in the fight against climate change"
"We call upon policymakers, civil society organizations, community leaders, and government agencies to take bold steps in prioritizing disability inclusion in climate-related policies and disaster response efforts. No woman should be left behind simply because she has a disability. Together, we can build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all"
Emphasizing the importance of collaboration with relevant stakeholders to achieve the lofty objectives of her organization mission of deriving inclusivity in the onerous fight against climate change. She highlighted key essential areas of which her NGO aim to focus on in order to promote the inclusion of women with disabilities in the climate change and disaster response action:
1.Hold a two-day workshop for 60 women with disabilities, equipping them with knowledge on climate change policies, adaptation measures, and advocacy strategies.
2. Establish a grassroots Climate Action Network for Women with Disabilities in Borno State, to amplify their voices and advocate for inclusive climate policies and programs.
3.Organize Town Hall meetings with key stakeholders—including the Borno State Emergency Agency, ministries of environment, agriculture, women's affairs, and other relevant agencies—to ensure that the needs of women with disabilities are factored into disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation plans.
4. Engage with policymakers, including the Borno State House of Assembly and key government ministries, to push for the inclusion of women with disabilities in climate adaptation strategies and disaster risk planning.
5. Leverage media platforms—TV, radio, social media, and documentaries—to raise public awareness and drive policy change regarding disability-inclusive climate action.
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