The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating all barriers hindering the participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in societal affairs and functions.
The governor, who made this known in a goodwill message on Wednesday in Umuahia, declared that the removal of such barriers “is a must.” The governor’s goodwill message was issued by his Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities and Chairman, Abia State Disability Commission, Mr David Anyaele.
The governor’s message came as Abia residents joined other Nigerians and the global community to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), celebrated yearly on December 3.
Otti described the Day as one set aside by the United Nations to promote broader understanding of disability issues, with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities. He said that the Day also focused on the gains to be derived from integrating PWDs fully into political, social, economic, and cultural life.
According to him, “We (Abia State people) are joining the international community to pause and reflect on the state of persons with disabilities’ participation and contributions to the socioeconomic development of our state.”
Reaffirming his administration’s dedication to disability inclusion, the governor noted: “We are determined to guarantee the well-being of all persons with disabilities”.
“The state government will achieve this through the promotion of equal opportunities, guided by the Abia State Disability Law, the National Disability Act, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
Speaking on the theme for the 2025 IDPD Day, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” Otti said the theme aligns perfectly with the value Abia places on disability inclusion.
“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.
“We have built their capacity on the Abia State Disability Law and disability-responsive budgeting. This will help ensure that no one is left behind in government programmes and activities by reason of disability,” he said.
He further highlighted ongoing efforts at improving accessibility – “Our public infrastructure is being upgraded to accommodate persons with different forms of disabilities.
“The newly acquired mass-transit buses, for instance, are equipped with accessibility features for persons with physical disabilities, pregnant women, and the elderly,” he said. The governor also disclosed that similar capacity-building initiatives had been extended to the local government level.
He said, “We have trained Local Government Area Mayors/Chairmen across the three senatorial zones on disability inclusion. “Additionally, over 800 Primary Healthcare Workers, Teachers, and Parents/Caregivers have been sensitised on supporting children with intellectual disabilities in Abia State.
“Therefore, we will continue to say no to all forms of discrimination, stigma, and isolation of Abians by reason of disability.”
Otti, while wishing all Abians with disabilities a happy celebration, emphasised that his administration remained fully committed to scaling up the state’s response to disability issues in the coming year and beyond.
“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 added.
