The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter, an umbrella body of clusters of persons with disabilities (PWDs), wishes to commend the Executive Governor of Anambra State, his Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano (Ogugua Ndi Olusi) for establishing and constituting the members of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). As we all know, DRC is a Commission empowered by the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018) to ensure the full implementation of the law, which provides for welfare and total inclusion of PWDs in governance and in the society. By doing this, we can say again and again that Akpokuedike Global is a man of his words; filled with wisdom and fear of God.
We recalled that it was during his tenure as governor, that this law was passed into law by the State House of Assembly, and assented to as law, at a time we requested that it should be made a Christmas package (gift) to us. He did not relent but went on appointing most of us as aides, promoted our members in the civil service as Directors and Permanent Secretaries, rehabilitated, equipped and upgraded special education system, employment of qualified persons with disabilities into civil service, employment of more sign language interpreters, and established the office of the governor on disability matters headed by Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, who is also the Special Adviser (SPAD) on disability matters to mention but few. So, his eight years in office has been eventful; a blessing to Persons with Disabilities and fulfilling to all Ndi Anambra.
JONAPWD is also commending our dear governor for appointing Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie as the Chairman of the Disability Commission, and other eminent citizens of the state he equally appointed as representatives of different organisations and institutions as the Commissioners. The choice of Barr. Ezewuzie as the chairman of the Commission , and our state JONAPWD Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke as one of the Commissioners is a clear sign that our dear governor meant well for Ndi Anambra with disabilities By extension, we are congratulating all other Commissioners of the DRC. We trust you as we do to his Excellency. We are really hopeful that the Commission will achieve a lot even after the end of his tenure next month.
We are also congratulating our incoming Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, as he mounts over the leadership from March 17, 2022. We have no doubt that you will do more for us, Ndi Ikedinobi and Ndi Anambra generally, considering your antecedents as the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to mention a few organisations and institutions you led to an enviable heights. Prof. JONAPWD, judging from your recent comments and constituted transition committee members headed by our beloved sister, Dr Ngozi Ezekwesili, is sure that your administration will not forget us. Congratulations!
JONAPWD, is therefore appealing to the incoming administration led by our revered Prof., to kindly look at Anambra Talent Data bank to see how to improve on it for easy identification of applicants with disabilities as this will guarantee total inclusion of PWDs members into his administration. The reason is because we discovered that there is no provision for easy identification of PWDs in the portal. We fear that if nothing is done in that direction it may be difficult to find out and employ or appoint our members as aides and heads of Ministries and Parastatals in the incoming administration.
Once again, we are congratulating his Excellency, Chief Dr Willie Obiano for ending well and strongly by establishing Disability Rights Commission which is the climax of the things he has done for Persons with Disabilities in Anambra state.Thank you for being a God sent and a blessing to PWDs throughout his tenure. We are also congratulating our incoming Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo on his well deserved victory and readiness to take Anambra State to greater height.We are also hopeful that the administration of Prof. Soludo will be more favourable to Persons with disabilities too.
God bless the JONAPWD!
God bless Anambra State!
God bless Nigeria!
Signed:
Comr.Ifeanyi Igwegbe
PRO.
Comr.Ugochukwu Okeke
State Chairman.
