NIIA, TAF Africa, AAN, others advocate inclusion for People with Albinism.
It was an ambience of absolute inspiration for the community of People with Albinism yesterday, as the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) hosted the UN International Albinism Awareness Day.
The event which pulled together diverse resource persons, majorly focused on the need for the Nigerian society to take deliberate steps in embracing People with Albinism without any atom of discrimination by ensuring they function optimally in the social space.
While welcoming guests to the well-attented symposium, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said the day was set aside to celebrate inclusion and the strength we derived from it.
Prof. Osaghae who decried the lack of domestication and implementation of some international laws aimed at giving sense of belonging to people with albinism in Nigeria, added that inclusion goes beyond tokenism but a deliberate switch from the realm of awareness to that of consciousness.
In similar vein, the founder of TAF Africa, Dr. Jake Epelle, Ag. President, Albinism Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Bisi Bamishe, the representative of the Executive Secretary, National Commission for People with Disabilities, Dr. James David Lalu and others charged the albinism community on determination, social contribution and self-esteem as what matters is not the colour of skin but content of character.
Various speakers at the event, urged the Federal Government to expedite assent to the Bill on People with Albinism in order to engender thorough inclusion.
Other aspects of the symposium included health talks on prevention and management of skin deceases, optics defects and other health challenges associated with albinism.
Skin care products were also freely distributed to People with Albinism who were present courtesy the National Commission for People with Disabilities.
