By Lawrence Nwimo
The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has, Tuesday, inaugurated the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Orient Daily reports.
The commission is headed by Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, Chairman and CEO; Barr. Chinenye Okeke (Secretary Deputy Director representing Ministry of Justice); Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman JONAPWD Anambra; Mrs Obianyo Anthonia, Director Rehab representing Ministry of Women and Children Affair; Miss Victoria Okonkwo – Unit Head Ministry of Basic Education, representing Ministry of Education, Anambra State and Mr Tony Oli representing Anambra State Sports Commission.
Other members were Dr Pat Okeke representing Private Sector, Mrs Eucharia Anekwe representing Civil Society Organizations, Bishop Moses Ezedebego representing Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Mr. William Umeh, a retired Director of Education.
Governor Willie Obiano (middle), in a group photograph with the members of the commission
Inaugurating the Commission at the state government house, Awka, Gov. Obiano reeled out the body’s responsibilities as contained in section 12 (a-u) of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law, 2018 to include: implementing policies that would be in line with the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and all other disability matters.
He stated that the law provided the body to oversee issuance of guidelines for education, social development and welfare of persons living with disabilities, issuance of direction to special schools for persons living with disability as well as issuance of guidelines on all manner of disabilities, preventive and curative exercises.
He also charged the Disability Commission to collaborate with Ministries, Parastatals or Cooperate bodies in issuing codes and directive for structural design to make them accessible to and usable by persons living with disabilities.
Chairman of the Anambra Disabilities Rights Commission and Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Disabilities Matters, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, in a vote of thanks, assured to do everything within his capacity to move the disabilities community forward through the Commission.
Ezewuzie extolled the Governor for his numerous achievements and interventions to the plights of people living with disabilities in the state and said: “the passions for the things of people living with disability is innate to the governor’s family.
“What the Governor is doing today is a consolidation of his 8 years achievement to the disability community in the State. The governor has passion for people living with disability and had fulfilled all promises made to the community in Anambra State.”
Earlier, the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu said the Governor had employed no fewer than 400 persons with disabilities into the State Civil Service, including 3 Permanent Secretaries drawn from the Disabilities community and sign language experts to communicate with persons with disabilities in the State.
He also said protection, inclusion, economic libration and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the state has been the hallmark of the outgoing administration.
The event observed a minute silence for late Maduabuchi Nnofu, a visually impaired coordinator of National Association of People Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Aguata zone who was burnt beyond recognition at the weekend over a piece of land.