ASDRC Reiterates Commitment to Better Policy, Inclusive Education, Accessibility for PWDs

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC) has reiterated its commitment to addressing its challenges through stronger policy advocacy, inclusive education and stricter enforcement of accessibility standards.

It also pledged to battle the challenges through deeper collaboration with government agencies and partner organizations.

Chairman of the commission, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, disclosed this during a press briefing to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”

He reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to mobilize the disability community to take advantage of government programs and pledged sustained efforts to identify and support persons with disabilities across all 326 political wards in the state.

Ezewuzie further announced plans to establish a Disability Counselling Centre as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the state.

According to him, the centre—being developed in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme—will provide educational, psychological, and social support for children with disabilities and their parents.

“The commission is also working on several other initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. These include an Access Market Pavilion, a cooperative society, and a credit facility to support entrepreneurs with disabilities.

“We will also appoint liaison officers at the local government, community, and ward levels to monitor the welfare of persons with disabilities, as well as intensify enforcement of accessibility standards in public and private buildings, parking lots, and construction plans.

Attributing the numerous feats of the Commission to its unique leadership in the state, ANSDRC boss further hinted that most South-East States have established Disability Commissions to serve the interests of persons with disabilities.

“Anambra State was also the first State to embark on massive employment of persons with disabilities into the civil service workforce.

“Anambra remained the first state in West Africa to have a Permanent Secretary with visual impairment. The state at some point, had three Permanent Secretaries with disabilities serving as the Chief Accounting Officers of their respective Ministries.

“Anambra also became the first in the Southeast to enact a law which domesticated, as required, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

“Anambra is also the first in the South East to have a Commission that works daily to provide the much-needed protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

“Anambra was the first State to appoint a political officeholder with a disability who has both a voice and a vote in the State Executive Council.

“Anambra knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Therefore, we are proud to celebrate the fact that we are no longer the only State with these inclusive developmental strides for the disability community.

“Other States have followed—Sokoto State (which consulted with us), Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and most recently, Enugu—all now have disability laws and have made various political appointments benefiting persons with disabilities,” he added.