Stakeholders Urged To Support Persons With Disabilities To Achieve Potential

By Chibuzor Okoye

The need for all hands to be on deck supporting persons living with disabilities to achieve their full potentials was brought to the fore as Anambra State Disability Rights Commission held a one day programme tagged “the journey so far”.

The programme held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka attracted members of the commission, persons living with disabilities, Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obiabo among numerous other stakeholders.

Addressing the participants, the chairman of the commission, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie who spoke virtually said that the Anambra State House of Assembly passed the State’s Disability Rights bill on thirteenth September, 2018 and was assented to by former Governor Willie Obiano on eighteenth December, 2018, and mandated the domestication of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

According to Barr. Ezewuzie, the Commission was established on third December 2021, with powers to implement the provisions of the law and create a one-stop shop for all disability issues and services in Anambra state, and that the commission commenced operation with practical attention to everyday needs of their members which includes shopping, transportation, access, recreation and technology.

The chairman noted that so far, they have made breakthroughs and successes on different areas like staff development and capacity building, inculcation of the spirit of volunteerism on Ndi Anambra, promotion of special sports, mobility training for the visually impaired, E-government and world meeting platforms among others.

Barr. Ezewuzie revealed that one of them, Miss Vivian Ezeonwumelu received 2023 Mandela Washington Fellowship award for Young African Leaders and that she is currently in the United States of America and maintained that the commission is poised to assisting their members in all ramifications with the support of the government and good spirited individuals.

For the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Obinabo, the State government will continue to do its part through her ministry in supporting the commission and their members in achieving their mandate and full potential through various means, including skill acquisition training and empowerment.

The event was also used to issue certificates to those who have successfully undergone computer trainings while those who won laurels at various national sporting events were also recognized.

Distributions of guide canes for the virtually impaired, sun glasses and others for those living with albinism, various speeches by s stakeholders towards the betterment of the commission were the highlights of the event. (ABS)