The Albino Foundation, Ekiti chapter, has called on the National Assembly to enact a law to stop all forms of discrimination against people living with albinism in the country.
The group also urged the incoming administration of Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari, to prevent discrimination based on colour and biological composition of members saying this is necessary to ensure an egalitarian society.
A former Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Muyiwa Igbalajobi, who made the call while delivering a paper in Ado Ekiti yesterday during an event organized by the Foundation, said the law would help to integrate Albinos into the society.
Igbalajobi lamented that some challenges being confronted by Albinos in the areas of employment and marriage saying this is killing the potentials of members and reducing them to beggars in the country.
He said the proposed law should ourtrightly end discrimination and criminalise stigmatization of the sufferers as inferior beings that should be subjected to all forms of dehumanization.
He said: “There is urgent need for the National Assembly for the passage of a bill into law that would mainstream albinism into the Nigerian family system.
“This law will assist the albinos in the areas of employment, welfare packages, and prevent regular discrimination and stigmatization these people are facing in Nigeria.
“It will also help in the participation of albinos in the socio-economic and political programmes . There is the desire by albinos to be involved in programmes by local, state and federal government of Nigeria.
“This involvement will encourage mutual integration between the albinos and the general public and remove all negative tendencies and impressions about them”.
Igbalajobi urged the group to continue to mobilize its members to have formal education, describing this as the most potent instrument that would make them relevant in the country.
The Coordinator of the group, Com Muyiwa Abegunde and a Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and a leader of the Albino Foundation, Dr Ebenezer Ogunlade , appealed to the government at all levels to look into the prevalence of albinism in Nigeria for proper policy formulation .
Abegunde lamented how some of the sufferers are being deprived of education, even by their own parents on account of the status of members and health challenges confronting them, particularly the prevalent skin cancer.
He urged the Federal Government to design a special healthcare and education systems for the group to mitigate all forms of health hazards bedeviling the members.
“There is rampancy of skin cancer among albinos likewise educational progression is being impeded by natural sight problem. So, government must design a special education system for them to encourage them to have formal education.
“Education is a right with no prejudice to a particular child or adult. It has no respect for the colour of the skin or race, king or slave, age or sex. Necessary steps need to be taken to enhance the learning process of persons with albinism.
“The classroom teachers or literacy facilitators should appreciate the problems of pupils, students and adults with albinism so as to be able to manage those challenges facing them in their learning situations”, he said.
