We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Nigeria Disabled Women Crafts (TV)
HEADLINE: Nigerian NGO Trains Disabled Women to Make, Sell Crafts
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: Thursday, 04/21/2022 at 4:04 am
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV_x_ RADIO__
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: wpm
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE ))
((INTRO))
[[An aid group in Nigeria is helping hundreds of women living with disabilities to become their own bosses by learning how to make crafts and sell them. The group recently held a trade fair to showcase the products – as Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.]]
((NARRATOR))
Rabbi Mustapha has mastered the art of soap making.
Stirring and pouring the liquid soap into bottles, she brands them and prepares them for distribution.
Mustapha earns a weekly income from her business. But as a physically disabled woman, life has been tough.
((Rabbi Mustapha, Soap Maker With Disability))
"When I saw my sisters and brothers going to school I asked my parents, ‘why don't you want to put me in school?’ But they said, ‘no you can't go to school.’ That made me cry a lot."
((NARRATOR))
Despite the stigma, Mustapha managed to get an education.
And now, making liquid soap helps her pay for her children’s schooling.
((Rabbi Mustapha, Soap Maker With Disability))
"Once I take out some money to buy chemicals for my soaps, then I use the rest to pay for my children's school fees."
((NARRATOR))
An estimated 30 million people in Nigeria are living with disabilities. They are among the country’s poorest because of the stigma and marginalization they suffer.
Advocates say women and girls face even more difficulties than their male counterparts.
The Nigerian nonprofit Disability Rights Advocacy Centre, or DRAC, is trying to address that problem by teaching disabled women craft-making, including sewing, soap and bead making, and catering.
The nonprofit recently hosted a trade fair for disabled women to display their products to more customers.
Irene Patrick- Ogbogu is the founder of the nonprofit.
((Irene Patrick-Ogbogu, Disability Rights Advocacy Center) ((in English, 18 secs))
"Because of the stigma associated with disabilities, most times people do not patronize them. And so we looked at all of this and felt [[cutaways]] how about also helping them break that barrier of patronage and that's how we came up with this idea, we call it the Abuja Inclusion Fair."
((NARRATOR))
The inclusion trade fair was the first for disabled Nigerians – and won praise from disability activist groups.
((Lawrence Idemudia, Natl. Commission for Persons With Disabilities ((English, 11 secs))
"We will do more as the funds are made available so that persons with disabilities in Nigeria can have a sense of belonging, a shift from the whole narratives."
((NARRATOR))
Ona Peters was among those attending the fair.
((Ona Peters, Customer)) ((English, 10 secs))
“I bought a neck bead and it's really nice. Very well made. Looked really pretty. I came to do something else in the market and then I saw them."
((NARRATOR))
As for Mustapha, she will continue making her soaps, hoping for the next big opportunity.
((Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Abuja
BylineTimothy Obiezu
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English