SUCCESS STORY ON DISABILITY RIGHT BASE APPROACH AND GRANT SUPPORT

Queen Christopher is a 29year old woman from Kogi state, Nigeria. She studied Accounting at the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja. She spends most of her time at home due to discrimination and stigmatization. Queen was introduced to the Association of People with Disabilities(PWD) by Mr Hassan, the former chairman. As a member of this association, she has received support from The Leprosy Mission Nigeria(TLMN) and other organizations in Kogi State.

She was also trained on entrepreneurship skills and given the sum of N50,000 as a startup grant, to sell recharge cards by TLMN which is currently yielding between N8000 to 10000 profit monthly.

Queen and other members of the association were trained on “Rights Based Approach and strategies for promoting the rights of People living with Disabilities”. This training has built their capacity by developing and strengthening the skills they need in order to thrive in their community. 

“I want to thank God for sending Leprosy Mission Nigeria to support me and other PWDs, thank you for giving us voice, for letting us know our right and I can now take care of myself. I want to thank the Leprosy Mission Nigeria for their support and you people should not get tired of helping us there are some other PWDs to be supported”

Following the signing of the Disability Right bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari and the efforts made by TLMN on Rights-Based Approach, People with Disabilities can now apply for jobs in government organizations as the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 states that, all employers of labour in public organizations shall have persons with disabilities, constituting at least 5% of their employment. 

Queen is Currently employed by a Federal Polytechnic in Imo State, Nigeria.