Anambra State is number one in disability inclusion and no other State comes close. Before now, the plight of persons with disabilities was merely a political talking point, discussed during and forgotten after elections. Not any more, the events of the past seven years of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration present incontrovertible evidence of a paradigm shift from talk to walk, from charity to opportunity, from privilege to right.

Obiano’s administration has been a game changer for the disability community. Chief Obiano approved the establishment of the Office of the Governor on Disability Matters following his appointment of a person with disability as a Senior Special Assistant on Disability Matters. Akpokuedike later elevated him to the position of a Special Advisor and a member of the State Executive Council.

In 2017, the governor employed several persons with disabilities into the state civil service and promoted civil servants with disabilities who had been stagnated in various positions. In March 2018, Governor Obiano employed five sign language interpreters, employed the first deaf sign language interpreter in Nigeria and appointed a Special Assistant on Sign Language communication. The Governor also employed three computer and Braille instructors.

In Sports, the Governor encouraged and promoted athletes and medalists with disabilities. Their trainers and coaches also received handsome packages from him. Akpokuedike has always had sustainable Christmas gifts to the Disability Community since the inception of his administration.

In 2018, Obiano signed into law, a bill for the protection of the rights, welfare and prohibition of discrimination against persons with disabilities, even before the Federal Government did so. Anambra is the only state in the south east to have such legislation for PWDs.

In December, 2020, despite the economic crunch and recession, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS, Governor Obiano, besides actualizing the pledge of gainful employment as a wedding gift to four persons with disabilities, gave the best Christmas gift to the Disability community by employing 131 persons with disabilities into the State Civil Service. Akpokuedike also, in 2020, gave approval for the establishment of disability rights law implementation committee.

When he began the construction of the legacy project, Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Oguguo Ndi Olusi co-opted a member of the disability community into the Airport committee to provide the crucial advice on handicap accessibility in all terminal buildings.

Furthermore, the Chairman of the State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) is not only an Executive Assistant to the Governor on disability services but also a member of the Anambra State Capital Expenditure Bilateral Discussion Committee.

Anambra was the first and probably remains the only State to appoint a visually impaired Permanent Secretary and possibly, the only State that had two permanent secretaries with disabilities in the State cabinet.

Governor Willie Obiano and his wife, Osodieme, invited and dined with the leaders of the disability community in their country home. His Commissioners and heads of MDAs now automatically include persons with disabilities in their budgets and programs. Is there any Governor who has done this much?

Authorities in all states and local government areas across the country should toe this empowerment path of Governor Willie Obiano to ensure disability inclusion and equal opportunity and participation of people with disabilities across Nigeria.

The entire Disability Community in Anambra, in appreciation, pray that God continues to bless Governor Obiano and his wife, Osodieme, who, through her pet project, continues to give artificial limbs to thousands of the physically challenged persons, helps to fix the lips of babies born with cleft lips and palate. She also continues to rehabilitate persons with mental disabilities and build homes for indigent women. Indeed, Anambra leads and others follow.

WRITTEN BY CHUKS EZEWUZIE

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