By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Head of management and learning YIAGA Africa a non-governmental organisation, NGO, Safiya Bichi, has emphasized the need for synergy among NGOs in the country to enable them achieve their aims and objectives.
Bichi disclosed this when she spoke at a one day advocacy strategy workshop on capacity strengthening on advocacy strategy to activate Disability Rights Legal Framework in Benue state, organised by the Inclusive Friends Association, IFA in conjunction with Strengthening Equality and Inclusion of People with Disability held Thursday at the Metropolitan Hotel & Resort Makurdi.
She noted with displeasure that most advocacies failed because of lack of direction or different ideological perceptions of those behind it, insisting that for advocacies to succeed there must be clear direction.
Safiaya, described civic advocacy as an organized efforts of individuals and groups to address social, political, educational or environmental issues as well as to ultimately promote change in the society such as the one those with disabilities in Benue were pushing for which she noted as critical component of participatory democracy.
In a welcome remark Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, Grace Jerry, represented by Molly Joshua Director of Programmes, IFA said the significance of the event was to create a formidable alliance of voices.
She said IFAs relentless efforts has led to the establishment of a disability commission in Abia but lamented that the situation is not the same in other states of the federation such as Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba among others.
In another remark, programme manager IFA Stephen Idoko, expressed appreciation to the National Endowment for Democracy, NED, for funding the project as well as other stakeholders and participants for their various contributions to the success of the advocacy project.
