By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Media practitioners have been urged to play a more active role in advancing disability rights and tracking the implementation of the Bauchi State Persons with Disabilities Commission Law.
Speaking at a media roundtable organized by the IKRA Foundation for Women and Youth Development, development journalist Bashir Hassan Abubakar emphasized that disability must be framed as a human rights and inclusion issue rather than one of charity.
The event, supported by the Global Affairs Canada, under PLAN International’s ASPIRE Project, brought together stakeholders to address implementation gaps, accessibility challenges, and institutional responsibilities.
Abubakar charged journalists to shift from “speaking for” persons with disabilities to “reporting with” them, providing platform space for affected individuals to express their lived experiences and challenge harmful stereotypes.
He noted that the media’s duty extends beyond covering the passage of legislation to monitoring funding, public building accessibility, and government compliance.
According to him, the success of the law will ultimately be measured by its tangible impact on the daily lives and welfare of persons with disabilities across the state.
Reiterating these points, Rukayya Bilyamin Othman, Assistant Head of Programmes at IKRA Foundation, challenged investigative reporters to probe the operational funding of the newly established Commission.
She pressed journalists to evaluate whether public schools and civic infrastructure are becoming genuinely inclusive, stressing the need to hold public officials accountable to their commitments.
Complementing this, Gender Desk Officer of the State Ministry of Justice, Maimuna Ahmed Esq, represented by Saratu Zagi Esq, outlined the legal protections guaranteed under the law and specified the mandatory obligations required of government institutions.
Earlier, Isma’il Umar, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at IKRA Foundation, highlighted the roundtable’s goal to assess current progress, identify structural bottlenecks, and ensure disability communities are actively involved in policy decisions. Describing journalists as vital accountability partners, Umar urged participants to maintain continuous follow-up coverage.
The engagement concluded with a panel discussion focused on overcoming systemic barriers, ensuring equal opportunity, and establishing clear mechanisms to measure the long-term progress of the disability law.
