Anambra Disability Rights Commission Pushes for Accessibility and Equal Participation

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State have urged authorities to ensure full inclusivity and equal access in all areas of society, including education, employment, and healthcare. The group emphasized the need to remove barriers and end discrimination against PWDs.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, Chukwuka Ezewuzie, Chairman of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, highlighted the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including limited access to public buildings, healthcare services, education, and job opportunities. He explained that the media interaction was part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Ezewuzie noted that the commission has plans to promote inclusive education, enforce accessibility standards, provide economic empowerment, and advocate for policy reforms. He also referenced international summits in Berlin and Doha, which stressed that inclusivity and accessibility must be prioritized in national planning and budgets.

He added that Anambra State has become a regional leader in disability rights, being the first in the South-East to enact laws in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The state is also the first in the region to have a fully functioning Disability Rights Commission, and has appointed political officeholders and a permanent secretary with disabilities, setting a model for inclusivity and empowerment.