The Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, Inclusion Summit 2023 has ended in Awka with a call on stakeholders to apply inclusiveness to issues relating to people living with disability.
The summit held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University attracted people living with disability, students, experts, professionals and role models in various life endeavour.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship programme of the United States government’s Young African Leaders Initiative, which has brought over five thousand young leaders from countries in Sub Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training.
The Fellows, between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
In an address of welcome, the President, Nigeria chapter of the association, Funmi Adebajo represented by Dr Ifeoma Umeh, said the gathering was to celebrate young leaders who have beaten the odds in spite of their disability and non-inclusiveness.
She expressed belief that through collective action and mutual encouragement, they can create a society that embraces diversity, inclusivity and equal opportunities for all
The Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Charles Esimone represented by the Dean Students Affairs, Professor Nonso Achebe, in his welcome address appreciated the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria for choosing the institution for its summit and explained that people living with disability should be encouraged and called for all-inclusive education for them.
In his paper presentation titled “Persons living with disability beating all odds in a challenging society”, the Managing Director, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Sir Chido Obidiegwu, identified the challenges people living with disability are facing in Nigerian society.
Also speaking the Director, Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Williams Obiozor, said in Anambra State a lot was done by the former administration to help persons living with disability and expressed the hope that the present administration will do more in that regard.
Video clips of some young people who have beaten the odds to make remarkable impact in their careers were shown to inspire participants.
Three persons living with disability, Chiamaka Ohanakere Rita Chude and Justice Asuzu were presented with awards by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria for their outstanding accomplishments in their careers.
The event with the theme, beating all Odds, featured cultural dance from students of Special Need School, Odakpu Onitsha.
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