“We are not broken; we are uninformed. What we need is not sympathy, but systems that empower us.” This was the resounding message on Tuesday as people with disabilities (PWDs) in Enugu State made a passionate call on the state government to operationalise the Enugu State Disabilities Law 2023, which was signed into law by former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The appeal was made during a groundbreaking training held at Obukpa in Nsukka Local Government Area, organised by the Community Life Support (CLP), a non-governmental organisation focused on promoting gender justice, inclusion, and rights of persons with disabilities.
The multi-day training attracted dozens of PWDs from various communities and featured discussions on rights awareness, gender equality, personal empowerment, and access to legal protections. At the heart of the event was a collective demand for the immediate implementation of the domesticated disability law which, despite being enacted, remains dormant without structures for enforcement.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Paul Ezema, President of the PWD group in Obukpa, stressed that full implementation of the law would be a transformative step toward inclusion, equality, and empowerment for thousands of people with disabilities in the state.
“We commend the former governor for signing the Enugu State Disabilities Law, but our struggle continues until the law is fully implemented. We are calling on His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, to act without further delay. This training has shown us that true disability is not physical but a lack of access to information and opportunities,” Ezema declared passionately.
One of the most inspiring voices at the event was that of Ifeanyi Philomena Ugwueze, a visually impaired entrepreneur and postgraduate student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ugwueze challenged stereotypes with her powerful story of resilience, innovation, and leadership.
“Though I am blind, I run a business called Deep Love Vision Concept, where we manufacture perfumes, soaps, and detergents. I also train aspiring entrepreneurs. I was mentored by a Yoruba man I had never met before. Disability is not a limitation; it is society’s perception that limits us,” Ugwueze told the audience.
She urged fellow PWDs to reject internalised stigma and actively seek knowledge, join national disability associations, and claim their rightful space in society. “We are God’s perfect creation. Let’s act like it,” she added.
For participants like Obi Ajulu, the training went beyond skills—it was about mental liberation. “The sensitisation is helping us confront our deepest challenges—low self-esteem, societal rejection, and internal doubt. My mindset is changing already. I now see possibilities,” he said with gratitude.
The Programme Manager for Community Life Support, Celine Osukwu, underscored the significance of the law and other national protections available to persons with disabilities. She expressed disappointment at the slow pace of implementation across the country despite the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 2018.
“This law led to the creation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), which was a major win. It also gave a five-year window for all public infrastructure to become accessible by 2023. Yet, here we are in 2025, and most of those promises remain unfulfilled,” Osukwu said.
However, she expressed cautious optimism, recalling Governor Peter Mbah’s earlier commitment to fully operationalise the law in Enugu State in 2025. “We are watching and hoping the promise becomes a reality,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Prof. Simon Eze, CLP Coordinator in Enugu State, noted that the organisation is working to change entrenched harmful cultural practices, particularly those that disempower women and persons with disabilities.
“Our mission is equality, fairness, and inclusion. We are challenging practices like denying women the right to inherit property and excluding people with disabilities from decision-making spaces. From the feedback we are getting, our message is sinking in,” Eze said.
The event marked a powerful shift in the disability discourse in Enugu State—from charity to rights, from sympathy to empowerment. With the growing awareness, unity among the disability community, and consistent pressure on government institutions, hopes are rising that the Enugu State Disabilities Law 2023 may finally come to life—not just on paper, but in practice.
As the sun set over Obukpa, the voices of people long ignored grew louder and more determined: “We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding our rights.”
