National Disability Commission in Nigeria Elects Ezewuzie National Vice Chairman ,South East Zonal coordinator.
Felix Oti, Awka
The National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies in Nigeria has elected The chairman of Disability Right Commission (DRC) Chuks Ezewuzie Esq, as the National Vice-Chairman and South East coordinator of the National Forum of Disability Commission.
Ezewuzie gave the hint in Awka during a press briefing which is part of the activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)
The theme of the programme is “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”
The above theme underscores the understanding of the message of the United nation that no meaningful social progress is achievable or attainable without an inclusive society.
This is best expressed by the United nation mantra for the disability community — “Nothing about us without us.”
This year’s focus captures to most important elements in the key combination of socioeconomic wellbeing of persons with disabilities. Inclusivity and accessibility hold the key for any social and economic development of any society.
This is why the two international summits held this year by the United nation emphasized these two elements. The global disabilities summit in Berlin, Germany, and social development summit in Doha Qatar both Issued communiques highlighting the indispensibility of inclusivity and accessibility in any plan or budget for advancing national development.
The Berlin summit proposes that the 15% of the world budget should be set aside to take care of the disability population which constitutes 15% of the world population.
According to him ,” The election was held in Abuja during the National Disability Summit hosted by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
“Anambra State is the Light of the Nation shining through the WIRED system of prospective livable and prosperous homeland. WIRED equals work,, invest, relax, enjoy and develop.”
“” There is no doubt that the emergence of our State into this strategic leadership role stems from our remarkable achievements in inclusion and accessibility policies for the disability community, as well as the impactful accomplishments of our Commission since inception.
“Recall that the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission was established in 2021 to implement the provisions of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law 2018, to promote and protect the rights, interests, and welfare of persons with disabilities, and to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in Anambra.
Our State thus became the first in the South East to enact a law which domesticated, as required, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Anambra State is also the first in the South East to have a Commission that works daily to provide the much-needed protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
It was the first State to appoint a political office holder with a disability who has both a voice and a vote in the State Executive Council.
It was also the first in West Africa to have a Permanent Secretary with visual impairment and, at some point, three Permanent Secretaries with disabilities serving as the Chief Accounting Officers of their respective Ministries.
Anambra knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Therefore, we are proud to celebrate the fact that we are no longer the only State with these inclusive developmental strides for the disability community. Other States have followed—Sokoto State (which consulted with us), Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and most recently, Enugu—all now have disability laws and have made various political appointments benefiting persons with disabilities.
Due to our leadership in Anambra State, most South-East States have now established Disability Commissions to serve the interests of persons with disabilities.
Anambra State was also the first State to embark on massive employment of persons with disabilities into the civil service workforce.
Following Anambra’s leadership, Nigeria now has a strong and growing forum of political appointees with disabilities.
The disability community remains fully onboard with the vision of this administration to transform Anambra State into a livable and prosperous homeland, a preferred destination to live, invest, learn, work, and relax/enjoy.
The State Disability Rights Commission remains committed to motivating and mobilizing the disability community to key into all programs and projects designed to achieve the solution vision and mission of Mr. Governor to identify and care for persons with disabilities at the kindred level within the 326 political wards of Anambra State.
