The Chairman of the Taraba State Disability Commission, Mr. Ali Mstudi Tenrika, has reaffirmed his commitment to prioritising the welfare, rights, and overall well-being of persons with disabilities across the state, promising decisive actions that will improve their livelihoods and ensure they are fully included in governance and development.
Tenrika made the pledge in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, during the inaugural meeting of the commission with its members, where he unveiled a number of strategic plans aimed at strengthening the commission’s operations and ensuring that persons with disabilities are no longer left behind in the state’s development agenda.
Addressing members of the commission, Tenrika emphasised that the new leadership would focus on practical steps that would not only identify persons with disabilities across the state but also create opportunities that would enable them to live dignified and productive lives.
Statewide Tour to Identify Persons With Disabilities
As part of the commission’s immediate priorities, Tenrika announced plans to embark on a statewide tour across all local government areas of Taraba State to determine the actual number of persons with disabilities living in the state.
According to him, the exercise is necessary to ensure that no person with disability is ignored, excluded, or subjected to discrimination, whether in public institutions or within their communities.
He explained that the commission intends to gather accurate data that would guide policies, programmes, and interventions tailored to the real needs of the disability community.
“Our priority is to ensure that no person with disability, whether registered or not, is discriminated against, neglected, or marginalised in public institutions and in communities across the state,” Tenrika stated.
Strengthening the Commission Through Best Practices
The chairman further disclosed that the commission had already begun deliberations on strategies to strengthen its operations and institutional capacity.
One of such strategies, he revealed, includes organising study tours and engagements with other disability commissions and institutions within and outside Nigeria in order to learn global and national best practices in disability inclusion.
The move, he noted, would enable the commission to adopt innovative policies and programmes that would better serve persons with disabilities in Taraba State.
He stressed that the commission was determined to operate as a responsive and proactive institution, capable of addressing the needs and aspirations of the disability community.
Empowerment, Employment and Opportunities
Tenrika described the establishment of the Taraba State Disability Commission as a major milestone in the struggle for recognition and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the state.
According to him, the agency will not only serve as a platform for advocacy and protection of rights, but also as a mechanism for job creation, empowerment, and socio-economic development for persons with disabilities.
“We are very happy that the governor has taken the bold step to ensure that people with disabilities are liberated from their sufferings,” he said.
“The establishment of this agency is not only an avenue for job creation but also a platform to empower every person with disabilities in the state.”
Gratitude to Governor Agbu Kefas
The commission chairman also expressed profound appreciation to Agbu Kefas, the Governor of Taraba State, for what he described as a historic intervention in the lives of persons with disabilities.
Tenrika noted that the governor’s decision to establish and constitute the commission signaled a new era of recognition, respect, and inclusion for persons with disabilities in the state.
He said the initiative had already begun to inspire hope among many members of the disability community who had long felt neglected.
Grassroots Representation Across Local Governments
To ensure that disability inclusion reaches the grassroots, Tenrika disclosed that the commission plans to identify and engage at least six persons with disabilities from each of the 16 local government areas of the state.
These representatives, he explained, will serve as community focal persons, helping the commission to monitor challenges faced by persons with disabilities at the local level while ensuring that government programmes reach the intended beneficiaries.
The initiative is expected to promote active participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes, thereby strengthening inclusiveness across the state.
A Shift From Years of Neglect
Reflecting on the past, Tenrika lamented that persons with disabilities in Taraba State had for many years received little attention from previous administrations.
He described the situation before the current government as deeply challenging, with many persons with disabilities facing discrimination, exclusion, and lack of opportunities.
“Before the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas, the situation was very pathetic, as no government in the past gave us the level of attention and recognition we are now receiving,” he said.
“In the past, what we faced was discrimination. Our people were not given opportunities.”
Recognising the Diversity of Disability
Tenrika also emphasised that disability is not limited to physical impairment alone but includes a wide range of conditions such as hearing impairment, visual impairment, and other forms of challenges.
He stressed that different categories of persons with disabilities require different forms of support, depending on their circumstances and level of education or skills.
According to him, the commission intends to adopt targeted interventions to address these diverse needs.
“A person with disability may have hearing deficiency or other challenges. If such a person is educated, he needs employment; if he is semi-literate, he needs empowerment; and if he is an artisan, he also needs support to grow his trade,” Tenrika explained.
Hope for a More Inclusive Taraba
With the renewed commitment by the commission’s leadership and the support of the state government, stakeholders believe that the establishment of the disability commission could mark a turning point in the quest for inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities in Taraba State.
For many members of the disability community, the commission represents not just a government agency but a symbol of hope, recognition, and the possibility of a more inclusive future where every citizen—regardless of ability—has the opportunity to thrive.
As the commission begins its work, expectations remain high that the promises made during the inaugural meeting will translate into concrete programmes, stronger protections, and meaningful empowerment for persons with disabilities across the state.
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