FollowDis ACT Campaign

Following the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act in January 2019, we launched the #FollowDisACT (curated from Follow the Disability Act) to drive, monitor and report the progress of the implementation of the Act. This campaign started with a media sensitization of media organisations and the public through various curated content to help society members understand the Act’s provision and its implications. We also run the following annual events to bring key stakeholders across sectors together to highlight and address various disability issues:

    1. Disability-inclusive Media Reporting: From 2018 to 2022, we trained over 100 media practitioners representing about 30 media organisations in disability-inclusive media reporting. Since the media actively shapes the public narrative, the program positioned media organisations to shape public perception about persons with disabilities. Our goal was to normalize disability as part of society by addressing the various cultural, religious and sub-conscious barriers to disability inclusion.
    2. Annual Disability Dialogue Series: the annual disability dialogue series started in 2014 to mark United Nations International Day of Persons with disabilities. This event brings together multi-sector stakeholders to share knowledge and global best practices and find lasting solutions to the needs of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. This event hosted by Access Bank plc in its headquarters has featured several keynote speakers, including the U.S Consulate, the first lady of Lagos State, speakers/leaders from the World Bank, Sightsavers, and the United Nations.
    3. Disability Inclusion And Leadership (DIAL) Awards: Since 2019, we have launched the Disability Inclusion and Leadership (DIAL) Awards to acknowledge, recognize and showcase individuals and organisations from various sectors championing disability inclusion in Nigeria. These awards also recognize state governments, agencies, and so on and serve as a platform for knowledge sharing on evidence for inclusion. Now in its fourth year, the previous recipient of the prestigious DIAL Awards includes the Lagos State government.