By Muhammad Amaan
Stakeholders in Kano State have launched a community awareness campaign aimed at amplifying rights-based messages and promoting safer, inclusive and protective communities across the state.
The Poster Dissemination and Awareness Campaign Launch, held on Friday was organised under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, in partnership with V-PeSDI, AHIP and Bridge Connect Africa as participating Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Held under the theme, “Amplifying Community Messages for Safer, Inclusive and Protective Communities,” the campaign seeks to use accessible, visually engaging and community-friendly communication materials to raise public awareness on critical social, protection and rights-based issues.
A statement issued by the Coordinator of the Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI), Aftahana Dahiru Sarina, said a key feature of the event was the official unveiling of the awareness posters developed by participating CSOs.
The official unveiling was performed by Chief Registrar, Kano State High Court of Justice, Hussaini Muhammad,
The posters were subsequently handed over by Tahir Salisu, Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice, to support their wider dissemination and use as community awareness and advocacy tools.
The event also featured opening remarks, goodwill messages from stakeholders, an overview of the campaign, thematic presentations by participating CSOs, stakeholder reflections, a commitment session, questions and comments, discussions on next steps, group photography and media engagement.
Among the participating organisations was the Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI), which contributed to the campaign by developing and presenting awareness materials focused on the rights, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
V-PeSDI’s contribution focused on critical issues including accessibility, disability rights, equal participation and the need to challenge negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding disability.
“ACCESSIBILITY IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE”
The message reinforces the principle that accessibility should be understood as a fundamental right rather than charity, favour or special treatment. It calls attention to the responsibility of government, service providers and other duty bearers to promote accessible public spaces, buildings, services and facilities for persons with disabilities.
The poster also draws attention to the Kano State Persons with Disabilities Law, encouraging members of the public to recognise accessibility as an integral part of the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities.
“DISABILITY IS NOT INABILITY”
The message challenges harmful stereotypes and misconceptions that often portray persons with disabilities as incapable or dependent. It emphasises that disability does not prevent individuals from learning, working, accessing healthcare, contributing to their communities or participating meaningfully in social and economic development.
Recognising the importance of communicating with communities in languages they understand, V-PeSDI also developed a Hausa-language disability inclusion poster carrying the message:
“DUK WANI MAI BUKATA TA MUSAMMAN, YANA DA BAIWARSA”
The use of Hausa is particularly significant for grassroots mobilisation and public awareness, as it enables important disability inclusion messages to reach community members in a familiar and accessible language.
The message reinforces the abilities, potential and dignity of persons with disabilities while highlighting the responsibility of government and society to provide appropriate opportunities, support and an enabling environment for their meaningful participation.
According to V-PeSDI, the posters are designed not merely as publicity materials but as community advocacy and information tools capable of stimulating conversations, challenging attitudes and encouraging practical action.
The campaign provides an important platform for raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities, challenging stigma and discrimination, promoting accessible infrastructure and services, and encouraging equal participation in community life.
The initiative also underscores the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in efforts to build safer, inclusive and protective communities.
The collaboration between government institutions and Civil Society Organisations further demonstrates the value of bringing together different areas of expertise to address social and rights-based challenges through coordinated public awareness and community engagement.
For V-PeSDI, the campaign represents an opportunity to ensure that disability inclusion remains central to conversations on community safety, protection, access to justice, participation and development.
While the launch marks an important milestone, stakeholders emphasised the need for sustained dissemination of the posters across communities, public institutions and other strategic locations to ensure that the messages reach the people for whom they are intended.
Beyond visibility, the campaign is expected to contribute to improved public understanding, more positive attitudes and practical actions that promote inclusion and protection for vulnerable groups.
The Poster Dissemination and Awareness Campaign therefore reinforces the importance of sustained collaboration among government institutions, CSOs, communities and other stakeholders in building a society where everyone can participate with dignity and without discrimination.
Ultimately, the campaign carries a simple but powerful message; “Inclusion is not charity. It is a matter of rights, dignity, responsibility and equal participation.”
