Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to building a disability-inclusive society, insisting that removing all barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating fully in social, economic, and political life “is a must.”
The Governor made the declaration in a compelling goodwill message on Wednesday as Abia joined the rest of Nigeria and the global community to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
A Day of Reflection and Renewed Commitment
Governor Otti described IDPD as a significant moment set aside by the United Nations to inspire deeper understanding of disability issues and to emphasize the rights, capabilities, and contributions of persons with disabilities. He noted that the Day provides an opportunity for Abians to reflect on the status, challenges, and progress of disability inclusion within the State.
“We are joining the international community to pause and reflect on the state of persons with disabilities’ participation and contributions to the socio-economic development of our State,” he said.
Otti emphasized that disability inclusion is not only a constitutional responsibility but a moral obligation that must shape governance, policy, and public life in Abia State.
Otti: Inclusion Is the Foundation of True Social Progress
Speaking on the global theme for IDPD 2025 — “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress”— the Governor stated that the theme aligns perfectly with his administration’s development vision.
According to him, Abia State’s reform agenda places disability inclusion at its core, reflecting the values embedded in the Abia State Disability Law, the National Disability Act, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
“We are determined to guarantee the well-being of all persons with disabilities through the promotion of equal opportunities,” he said, reaffirming that no Abian should be excluded from government programmes simply because of disability.
Strengthening Institutions: Building Capacity to Sustain Inclusion
Highlighting landmark interventions under his administration, Governor Otti revealed that Abia has taken deliberate steps to ensure that disability inclusion becomes institutionalised in governance rather than treated as charity.
“To ensure the sustainability of our investments in persons with disabilities and to ensure that barriers removed never reappear, we have built the capacity of Permanent Secretaries across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies on disability inclusion, the Abia State Disability Law, and disability-responsive budgeting,” he disclosed.
The Governor said this step ensures that every arm of government understands its responsibility to design and implement programmes that do not leave persons with disabilities behind.
Accessibility Upgrades: Public Infrastructure Designed for Everyone
Governor Otti also pointed to the State’s expanding infrastructure upgrades, noting that accessibility has become a standard requirement in new public projects.
“Our public infrastructure is being upgraded to accommodate persons with different forms of disabilities,” he affirmed.
He cited the State’s newly acquired mass-transit buses, which are equipped with user-friendly features to support persons with physical disabilities, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. These measures, he said, are part of a broader plan to create a safer and more inclusive public transportation system.
Training Grassroots Institutions to Deliver Inclusive Services
Beyond the State capital, Otti’s administration has extended disability inclusion training to all 17 Local Government Areas.
“We have trained Local Government Area Mayors/Chairmen across the three Senatorial Zones on disability inclusion,” he said.
He added that over 800 Primary Healthcare Workers, Teachers, Parents, and Caregivers have been sensitized on supporting children with intellectual disabilities — a major step toward strengthening early childhood development, inclusive schooling, and community-based care across Abia.
‘We Will Continue to Say No to Discrimination’ — Governor Otti
Governor Otti reiterated his stance against all forms of discrimination and stigma targeted at persons with disabilities, declaring that such practices have no place in the Abia he is building.
“Therefore, we will continue to say no to all forms of discrimination, stigma, and isolation of Abians by reason of disability,” he stated in the release signed by Mr. David Anyaele, his Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities and Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission.
Looking Ahead: No One Will Be Left Behind
As the State celebrated IDPD 2025, Governor Otti assured Abians with disabilities that the government will continue to scale up interventions, reforms, and policies that promote inclusion.
“ As we restore the glory of Abia and make her truly the number one State in Nigeria—God’s Own State—no one will be left behind by reason of disability,” he said.
He extended warm wishes to the disability community, reaffirming that his administration is committed to prioritizing disability issues in the coming year and beyond.
The message from Abia State sends a strong signal: under Governor Otti’s leadership, inclusion is not an afterthought — it is the foundation of governance, development, and social progress.
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