TO THE HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT, PLATEAU STATE
Honourable Commissioner,On behalf of the Board, Management, and members of the Equal Basis Development Initiative (EBDI), I sincerely appreciate you for granting us the opportunity to meet with you today. We also commend the Ministry for its leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability, climate action, and the implementation of the Plateau State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan.
The Equal Basis Development Initiative (EBDI) is a disability-led, non-profit, and non-political organization committed to promoting the rights, dignity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Our work spans climate justice, disability inclusion, social integration, gender equality, good governance, human rights, peacebuilding, inclusive education, economic empowerment, and health.
We are currently implementing a Disability Rights Fund (DRF)-supported project titled: “Driving Disability-Inclusive Climate Policy and Resilience: Advancing Global Disability Summit Commitments in Plateau State.”
The project aims to ensure that persons with disabilities are meaningfully included in climate change policies, programmes, disaster risk reduction, and resilience-building efforts across Plateau State. It aligns with Articles 11 and 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We are pleased that Plateau State has developed a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan. We believe that the active inclusion of persons with disabilities in its implementation, validation, monitoring, and review will strengthen its effectiveness and ensure that no one is left behind.Progress recorded:
• 50 persons with disabilities were trained on climate change, advocacy, disaster risk reduction, and resilience.
• 30 trained participants were inaugurated as members of the Plateau State Climate Action Network of Persons with Disabilities.
• We appreciate the Ministry’s support through the Deputy Director of Environment, Mrs. Silvia Zi, who represented the Honourable Commissioner at the inauguration.
We respectfully seek the Ministry’s continued partnership to:
1. Support the validation, implementation, and review of the Plateau State Climate Change Policy and Action Plan with disability inclusion.
2. Promote meaningful participation of organizations of persons with disabilities in climate governance.3. Nominate a representative to feature in our forthcoming radio talk show on disability-inclusive climate action.
4. Support capacity building on climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and resilience.
5. Strengthen collaboration with EBDI to advance inclusive climate action.
EBDI remains committed to working with the Ministry to build a climate-resilient Plateau State where no one is left behind.
Thank you, and God bless Plateau State.
