By Sampson Boroh
A gender rights advocacy group, DO Foundation, in collaboration with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, has celebrated women living with disabilities in Bayelsa State as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day 2026.
At the event, the organisers called on state and federal lawmakers to urgently pass and assent to the Bayelsa State Persons with Disabilities Bill, saying the legislation would strengthen the protection and inclusion of persons living with disabilities.
The programme, organised in partnership with several groups including Okpoitari Diongoli Foundation, Chief Collins Cocodia Foundation, JUOTA Global Nigeria Ltd, Comfort Kitchen, and Heart Healers Foundation, attracted women with disabilities, civil society advocates and community leaders.
Speakers at the event encouraged the participants not to lose hope despite the challenges associated with disability, stressing that their abilities and contributions remain important to society.
Delivering the keynote address, Benjamin Ogbara urged the women to continue to believe in their potential while advocating for stronger legal protections.
Also speaking, Timinepre Dakolo and Teddy Bai encouraged the participants to remain confident and resilient in the face of life’s challenges.
Legal practitioner Jennifer Esenwa, Principal Lawyer at PJ Esenwa Law and a member of the Law Society of Alberta, Canada, stressed the importance of laws that guarantee equal rights and opportunities for persons living with disabilities.
Chairman of the occasion, Collins Cocodia, also called for stronger support systems that would enable women with disabilities to participate fully in economic and social life.
Other stakeholders, including International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bayelsa, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps gender desk, echoed the call for policies that promote inclusion and equal opportunities.
The event ended on a cheerful note as participants received gifts and take-home packages, while organisers also promised to provide wheelchairs and other forms of support to assist the women in their daily lives.
