Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved the establishment of the South East zonal office of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, NCPWD, in Umuahia, the state capital.
The governor made the announcement while hosting a delegation from NCPWD led by its Executive Secretary, Ayuba Gufwan, at the Government House, Umuahia. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness and non-discrimination.
“We are a government that prioritizes inclusion. We don’t discriminate against persons with disabilities, women, or anyone based on religion or ethnicity. Merit and competence guide our decisions,” Otti said.
The governor, who was conferred with the title of Pillar of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria, assured the delegation that his government would provide a befitting office for the zonal headquarters within two to three months.
“The zonal office complex will be a reference point in the country, and I encourage persons with disabilities not to see their condition as a limitation. Disability does not condemn you. Rise above it and achieve your goals,” he advised.
Gufwan, expressed gratitude to the governor for his support, describing the gesture as a significant milestone for the over 35 million persons with disabilities, PWDs, in Nigeria.
“This approval is a game-changer for the PWDs in the South East and across Nigeria. Governor Otti has set an example of inclusive governance, and we are immensely grateful,” Gufwan said.
He further noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the commission to establish zonal offices across the six geopolitical zones to implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
David Anyaele, Special Adviser to the governor and Chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, described the development as a dream come true.
“This is the happiest day of my life. Governor Otti has proven to be the most inclusive governor in Nigeria. His efforts and those of Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, are transforming the lives of PWDs in Abia State,” Anyaele said.
He pledged to continue working to remove barriers limiting the progress of the PWD community in the state.
