By Okechukwu Onuegbu

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), comprising different clusters of PWDs, Wednesday, extolled the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano over his various achievements in the past seven years

Obiano, who on March 17, 2014 succeeded Mr Peter Obi of the then All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), had in the past seven of shepherding the state impacted the lives of PWDs with legislation, empowerment, training, employment into the state civil service and others.

Celebrating the governor in a press statement signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, also appealed to Obiano, to establish Disabling Rights Commission which is engine room for full implementation of Anambra Disability Law (2018).

The message read in full thus; “We, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter, heartily celebrate our amiable governor, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano (Oguguo Ndi Olusi) as he marks his seventh year in office as the governor of Anambra State. It has been seven good years of selfless service and utmost dedication to the welfare of Ndi Anambra, especially persons with disabilities.

Your Excellency, your love for persons with disabilities in Anambra state is unparalleled. Thus, on 18th December, 2018, you gave a life-time Christmas gift to PWDs in the state with the signing of the Disability Rights Bill into law, thereby changing the issue of disability rights from a subject of charity to an object of right. This has ensured the safety of PWDs against all forms of discrimination, intimidation and marginalization. It has also ensured the socio-political inclusion of PWDs in the state

Also, you have not only given persons with disabilities in the state a voice in your Cabinet but a vote with the appointment of a special adviser on disability matters. Thus, you have ensured that issues concerning PWDs receives prompt Executive attention thereby fulfilling the provisions in Article 29 of CRPD , SDGs Goal 10 (indicator 10.2) and Section 52 of Anambra Disabilities Rights law 2018.

Similarly, you have demonstrated your concern for the economic welfare of PWDs with the appointment of over 200 qualified PWDs into the state civil service in 2017 and 2020 respectively as provided for in section 41(1) ASDRL 2018, Article 27 of CRPD and SDGs goal 8 (indicator 8.3). This has put smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries as they are now able to take care of their needs and those of their families.

Frankly speaking, Your Excellency, you have demonstrated in no small measures your belief that a society is known by the way it treats its weak ones. You have demonstrated your belief that, indeed, there is ability in every disability. The inclusion of persons with disabilities issues in your 2021 budget speech and increasing budget provision to take care of the needs of persons with disabilities was deliberate not for any political reason.Your recent approval for the set up of the Anambra state Disabilities Rights Law implementation Committee which will at interim before the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission as provided for in section 3 of the ASDRL 2018 will forever remain evergreen in our heart.

The office of the Governor on Disability on Matters you established in 2016 and political appointments given to persons with Disabilities has made Anambra state to be in the lead of other states of the federation in providing the best services to persons with Disabilities.What a caring Governor!.

We, therefore, seize this opportunity to extol your unalloyed support and magnanimity to persons with disabilities together with your wife- Chief Dr Ebelechukwu Obiano(Osodieme). Kudos for selecting Disability friendly individuals to work with you. Jide ka i ji, Oguguo Ndi Olusi! Your gigantic developmental strides are evident to all who have eyes to see, ears to hear and mouth to talk about. Ndi Anambra, persons with Disabilities in particular could not have prayed for a better governor.
Our major demand on this special day of the present adminstration is the establishment of Anambra Disabilities Rights Commission.This is to guarantee full implementation of the Anambra Disabilities rights Law 2018.


Long live, Oguguo Ndi Olusi!
Long live JONAPWD Anambra State Chapter!
Long live Anambra State!

Comr. Ugochukwu Okeke E. C
State Chairman