By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, has approved the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities zonal office for the entire South East region in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.
In a bold move and in full support of advancing the course of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) community in the South East Zone.
Governor Otti, who received a delegation from the NCPWD, led by Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary in the Government House, reaffirmed his state’s commitment to the principles of inclusion in all ramifications. He noted that he is pleased to approve the Commission’s zonal office in his state because the people and government of Abia State as presently constituted do not discriminate in any guise against the PWDs community, women, or relate to persons based on religious considerations or where they come from.
The Governor further stated that he prides himself as an inclusive Governor which he has demonstrated by appointing the Head of Service of the State from a state outside of the southeast zone. Executive Secretary, NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, thanked the Governor for the gesture and expressed profound appreciation for the donation of the office building which he said will serve as a southeast zonal office. According to him, the gesture remains one of the greatest things to happen for the PWDs in Nigeria and the entire PWDs from the Zone.
He said the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities as an institution established by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the provision of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 with the mandate to improve the quality of lives of the over 35.5 Million persons with disabilities in Nigeria is pleased with the magnanimity of the government of Abia State.
The Executive Secretary added that upon appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6th August 2024 with a directive to turn around the Commission and ensure that the Commission improves the quality of lives of the over 35.5 Million PWDs across the 774, LGAs, in the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT Abuja; in the aspect of education, employment opportunities, empowerment, skills acquisition, among others. Hon.
Gufwan further said the Commission is happy that as a critical stakeholder towards achieving the task, the governor demonstrated commitment by accepting to cite the zonal office in Abia State.
