Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Anambra state, Prof. Obiora Nwosu has promised immediate admission for any Person With Disability (PWD) recommended to him by the state chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).
The VC made the promise during a Community Sensitisation on Persons with Disabilities Rights and Response Mechanisms held in Nkpologwu Community, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.
Nwosu was among stakeholders at the event who reaffirmed their commitment to inclusion and building communities where PWDs are not merely accommodated, but fully included and empowered.
“We’ll offer immediate admission for any PWD recommended to us by JONAPWD’s community coordinator, Mrs Chinenye Ezendu,” he said.
Representative of the President General of Nkpologwu Progressive Union, Okpala Naco also pledged to construct ramp at the community town hall, increase PWD participation in community scholarship opportunities and sustain their inclusion in community committees.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Nkpologwu Community, Ezike Ugochukwu promised to create awareness about disability rights in the community and Aguata LGA, while Ajugo Amaka Rose, Community Women Leader, pledged to champion the welfare of PWDs.
On his part, Chairman of Aguata LGA, Chibueze Ofobuike disclosed that PWDs had been included among beneficiaries of the state government’s empowerment programme.
He promised to prioritise PWDs in the LGA’s tertiary education scholarship application and support future JONAPWD programmes and the provision of assistive devices.
Earlier, State Chairman of JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu-Ernest Okeke charged stakeholders to champion the rights, dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in their various communities.
He urged traditional, religious and community leaders, families and other stakeholders to move beyond sympathy towards meaningful inclusion of PWDs in community life and decision-making.
He stressed that disability inclusion requires collective effort, noting that “Nothing about Persons with Disabilities should be decided without their meaningful participation.”
State Vice Chairman of JONAPWD, Comr. Ifeanyi Igwegbe explained that the sensitisation became necessary following ignorance of many PWDs and stakeholders of existence and contents of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law, 2018.
According to him, the programme was aimed at helping stakeholders understand the law, its implementation and their role as disability rights ambassadors.
The programme, organised with support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Phase II, funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA, witnessed presentation of copies of the State Disability Rights Law, 2018 to stakeholders to encourage wider knowledge and implementation of the law.
