The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Anambra Chapter, says PWDs are the worst hit when it comes to fake news.
Mr Ugochukwu Okeke, state Chairman, JONAPWD, spoke out against a wave of fake news falsely portraying persons with disabilities as troublesome and aggressive.
He was speaking at a two-day training held in Awka, Anambra State, organized by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in collaboration with Social and Integral Development Center (SIDEC) with funding support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under Project IMPACT: Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation.
The training which focused on combatting and countering fake news and hate speech, saw the inauguration of Truth Ambassadors.
Okeke said the claims are not only baseless but also deeply harmful. This kind of misinformation fuels fear, stigma and discrimination.
“Aggression is not a disability trait—it’s a human behavior that’s not linked to disability.”
He warn that these stereotypes can lead to social isolation, harassment and even denial of services for people with disabilities.
Okeke urged the media and the public to fact-check information before sharing it.
“End the spread of fake news and treat persons with disabilities with the dignity and respect they deserve.
