By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC), said it has resolved to setup fund and implement other initiatives geared towards uplifting the persons living with disabilities (PWDs) across 326 electoral wards as part of efforts to drive governor Chukwuma Soludo's agenda to provide liveable and prosperous city to all.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Barr. Chukwuka Ezewuzie, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Awka, the State capital, explained that setting up the fund committee for PWDs was also among decisions reached at end of their recent quarterly meeting.
According to him, the committee which was as stipulated by Section 16 of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law 2018, would be headed by Bishop Moses Ezedebeago, a member of the Commission, as Chairman.
He listed other initiatives to be implemented by the Commission to include appointment of commission liaison officers (CLOs) in 326 electoral wards, 179 communities, 21 Local government areas, and maintaining regular collaborations with local government chairmen, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious institutions, among others.
"We are determined to pulling persons with disabilities out of poverty using establishment of Access Market Pavilion (AMP); cooperative society for persons with disabilities; credit facilities for entrepreneurs with disabilities; trade fair for merchants and skilled persons with disabilities; and others," he added.
He further commended governor Chukwuma Soludo for employing PWDs in the State civil service, including enrollment of their members in the ongoing one youth two skills scheme, inclusion in distribution of cash crops, among others, assuring that plans were on the way to ensure all public places are accessible as provided by the law.
The Commission, according to Ezewuzie, had at their quarterly meeting, reviewed and revised all activities of the commission implementing the " Solution Vision for persons with Disabilities in Anambra State".
"The Commission will continue, expand, and intensify effort to bring Mr. Governor's Solution Vision to persons with Disabilities in 326 political wards of Anambra State. These activities bring disability services to the grass root as desired by Mr. Governor," he added.
He further commended all the friends and associates of the commission, especially the Rule of Law, and Anti-corruption program (RoLAC), a program of the European Union implemented by International IDEA for sponsoring accessibility audit research of Ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Anambra state, the result of which he said were currently yielding fruit and bringing solution to accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in the State.
"The Commission is grateful to Dr Lady Pat. Okeke, a member of the Commission and the wife of Chief G.U Okeke who built and donated two classroom and hostel blocks to Central School (Special School for the Deaf) Odakpu Onitsha. For two years in a role, the staff and volunteers of the Commission have benefited from Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders. Miss Vivain Ezeonwumelu (The Chairman's social media secretary) and Chidimma Ajemba the Commission's public relation officer (PRO) and the head of Media have travelled to the United States of America on a six-week leadership program of this fellowship on the sponsorship of US Government."