By Debbie T. Ojuade
Unemployment has increased in Nigeria over the years. It has escalated to the extent that many youths are committing atrocities. It is so sad that most persons with disabilities are now being lured into these atrocities.
Employment is a livelihood source for mankind to survive, thrive, grow, develop, and earn a living.
According to the World Bank Group, out of 18 million persons with disabilities, PWD, in Nigeria, only 0.3 per cent are gainfully employed. The Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, thus said that about 63 per cent of adults with disabilities in Nigeria are unemployed, and 30 per cent of school children are those with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable and neglected in society. The notion about persons with disabilities from society is extremely unbearable. There are people with disabilities who have formal education. In contrast, some have informal education, which does not mean they should not have an opportunity to work and earn a living.
A lot of people with disabilities are frustrated that some have died by suicide, and some of them have got involved in illegal business. At the same time, some have resorted to begging in the street, all because of lack of employment and to survive.
In an underdeveloped country like Nigeria, abilities and potential should be utilised for the country’s growth and development. Everyone should be involved in working. Abilities or potential should not be hidden, rejected, or even idle.
I met with Mr Abdulqadir E. Olusola, a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, who graduated from the National Open University Of Nigeria (NOUN) and obtained a BSc in political science. He told me he had sent many application letters to different firms, even the government office, but had yet to secure a job. I also met Mrs Rebecca, a person with a disability that has autism.
She has skills in catering, is also a graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), and obtained a BSc in public relations. However, she could not get a client and secured a job because of her disability.
Private company owners often reject persons with disabilities to work. Most of those private owners are not enlightened about what disabilities are all about, not to mention what accessibility means to persons with disabilities. They only see disabilities. They do not see abilities, potential, or skills.
The society keeps saying people with disabilities’ needs are special. It is not special, but it is essential and necessary like everyone else because it’s our way of living. Some persons with disabilities indeed need life support, but it does not mean their needs are special.
It is essential and necessary.
Most non-governmental organisations have employed persons with disabilities through the empowerment of skills acquisition, for them to be self-employed, and through partnerships with private companies.
The government should build connections between private company owners, enlighten them, create awareness, network and partnering them to provide employment for persons with disabilities so they can reach their full potential and be useful for their society and themselves instead of being a liability to the society.
Provision of employment is necessary, an accessible workspace or environment should be compulsory in every organisation, and the government is expected to implement a law that ensures that every organisation has an accessible environment for all persons with disabilities.
Society should treat persons with disabilities with equality, respect, and not mere sympathy.
