Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) is the electricity distribution company licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to distribute and sell electricity to customers within Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, and Yobe states all in the northeastern part of Nigeria. The company, which was formally taken over by Quest Electricity Nigeria Limited on 1st January 2022, has recently demonstrated its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by employing two people living with abilities (PWLDs) among its workforce and also metering members of the People Living With Disabilities in Adamawa State.
The two new employees, Musa Saleh and Saad Mohammed, who are both members of the Adamawa State People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), are assigned to the Customer Service and Customer Care Departments, respectively, where they will cater for the needs of customers living with disabilities who are significant customers of YEDC. The Company has also provided them with assistive devices, to enable them perform their duties effectively. The company’s management said that the decision to hire people living with disabilities was part of its corporate social responsibility stance and its vision to be a customer-centric distribution company that delivers maximum benefit for all. On the other hand, Salamatu Abdullahi was part of the first batch of people metered for free by the company.
According to the World Health Organization in 2018, about 29 million of the 195 million people who comprise Nigeria’s national population were living with a disability. Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey revealed that an estimated 7 percent of household members above the age of five (as well as 9 percent of those 60 or older) have some level of difficulty in at least one functional domain, seeing, hearing, communication, cognition, walking, or self-care; and 1 percent either have a lot of difficulty or cannot function at all in at least one domain. These estimated rates, while significant, are probably even higher because currently available data likely underestimate the prevalence.
Persons with disabilities in Nigeria persistently face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to accessing basic social services and economic opportunities. They also face greater challenges brought about by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. YEDC’s initiative to employ people living with disabilities is a step towards promoting disability inclusion in Nigeria. It is hoped that other organizations and institutions will follow suit and create more opportunities for PLWDs to contribute to the development of the country.
Every year on December 3, the world celebrates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is a special day that recognizes the achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities in various fields of human endeavor. The United Nations General Assembly established this day in 1992, by adopting the resolution 47/31. The aim of this day is to increase awareness of the issues and opportunities that persons with disabilities face, and to promote their rights, dignity and inclusion in all spheres of society. The theme of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is: "United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities".
