A PWD | File photo
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recently held an event in Kano to engage with people of short stature.
The aim is to address the significant social, cultural, and economic challenges they face.
Y.Z. Ya’u, CITAD’s executive director, said the aforementioned condition is more than just physical — as it is a source of social barriers.
He noted that individuals with this kind of disability often endure discrimination, a lack of opportunities, and emotional insecurity, fuelled by “superstitions and misconceptions” that can lead to “dehumanisation and stigmatisation”.
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CITAD, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on good governance and accountability, said it is dedicated to challenging these harmful stereotypes.
Hamza Aminu Fagge, CITAD’s coordinator for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), explained the organisation’s strategy of empowering PWD communities through information communication technology (ICT), digital skills, and social media marketing.
He highlighted the organisation’s “fully equipped digital hubs” designed to help PWDs “compete equally in the digital space and all spheres of life”.
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Naja’atu Yusuf, a participant at the meeting, shared her personal experiences, stating that prejudice often begins the moment people meet her.
“They stare, make rude jokes or comments, and sometimes outrightly discriminate against us,” she said.
Yusuf also highlighted the difficulty persons with this kind of disability face in accessing education and healthcare.
She appealed to Nigerians to stop excluding them from employment and marriage, urging for a society that embraces diversity and inclusion.
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