The Founder of The Albino Foundation (TAF), Mr Jake Epelle has called on Media Professionals to ensure that the activities of Persons With Disabilities PWDs are given optimal coverage during the forthcoming elections.
Mr Epelle made the call in Abuja, at a capacity building workshop on inclusive media reportage for the 2023 general election.
He disclosed that the foundation was planning to launch Election Hub with details of eligible PWD voters, maintained that the support of the media was necessary to achieve such feat.
According to the CEO of TAF, data from the election hub will guide the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on areas to deploy resources and facilities such as braille machines and others that will aid PWDs to vote on election day.
“We are deploying what we call the PWD Election Hub and we are also launching the PWD dashboard to monitor the election process. The dashboard will actually tell you the eligible PWDs who are going to vote in the forthcoming election”.
“We are also launching an app in which the media can use in its reportage. All of these would be formally launched. We are waiting for INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to give us a date on when it will be launched”. Mr Ekpelle noted.
He explained that PWDs do not participate in the previous elections due to voter apathy. “They are not just interested in getting involved because they do not know the provisions that are available for them to participate effectively and they do not know the process and procedures to follow to participate in the electoral process.”
Mr Ekpelle appealed to journalists to help deepen report and highlight issues affecting PWDs so that policy makers and international partners would be aware of the main challenges the organization was facing.
President Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Mr Chris Isiguzo while stating that over 200 journalists have so far been trained on election coverage, advised media professionals to give more attention on the marginalized group.
“Engage more on conflict sensitive reporting, let’s report authentic stories that promotes national peace and development. Nigerian citizens needs us more at this time for credible information on electoral process, we must not fail them”
The Executive Director of International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, refreshed the Journalists memory on how to “Report Until Something Happens” (RUSH).
“You must be well informed about the issue before rushing to report, always counter fake news and change societal misconceptions about PWDs”.
In her presentation, Program Manager TAF, Ndifreka Ferdinand, disclosed that the organization intends to mobilize about 700 observers across the country to monitor the election, while over 85,000 PWDs are already registered with INEC for the election.
Call for Supply of Laptops and Office Chairs
TAF Africa, a leading disability inclusion organisation advancing the rights, inclusion, and meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in governance, democratic processes, education, and economic empowerment, is inviting quotations from competent and reputable vendors for the supply of laptops and ergonomic office chairs. This procurement is being carried out under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SGDN) Programme, Component 5B, to equip project staff with the tools they need to deliver on programme objectives. Objective To procure durable, high-performance laptops and ergonomic office chairs for project staff in line with the operational requirements of the EU-SGDN Programme, Component 5B. Scope of Supply S/N Item Minimum Specification Quantity 1 Laptop Computers Intel Core i7 (11th Gen or higher), 16GB RAM or higher, 500GB SSD or higher, backlit keyboard, touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, integrated webcam, original Windows 11 Professional (or latest version) 4 Units 2 Office Chairs High-back ergonomic design, adjustable seat height, adjustable armrests, lumbar support, breathable mesh or premium upholstery, five-wheel base, 360° swivel, gas lift mechanism 6 Units All equipment must be brand-new, come with a minimum one-year manufacturer warranty, and be delivered fully packaged with warranty documentation. Who Can Apply Interested vendors should be able to provide: Certificate of Incorporation (CAC) Valid Tax Clearance Certificate Company Profile demonstrating relevant experience Evidence of at least three similar supply contracts Manufacturer’s Authorization (where applicable) Evidence of warranty support Quotation in Nigerian Naira (NGN), inclusive of taxes, transport, and delivery costs Delivery timeline Evaluation Criteria Submissions will be assessed on compliance with technical specifications, vendor experience, product quality, delivery schedule, warranty and after-sales support, cost competitiveness, and completeness of documentation. Delivery and Payment The successful vendor must complete delivery within 14 calendar days of contract award or issuance of a Purchase Order. Payment will be made after successful delivery, inspection, acceptance of items, and submission of all required documentation. How to Submit Send the following by email: Financial quotation Pictures of items Years of warranty Required supporting documents Email subject line: “Supply of Laptops and Office Chairs” Send to: procurements@tafafrica.co Submission deadline: 12th August 2026 General Conditions TAF Africa reserves the right to accept or reject any quotation without assigning a reason. Submission of a quotation does not constitute a commitment to award a contract. Only shortlisted vendors will be contacted for further clarification or negotiation. All supplied equipment must be genuine, brand new, and free from defects.