As part of activities marking the 2025 World Polio Day, Rotary International, through the National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC), has paid a courtesy visit to the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in Abuja.
The visit, led by Mrs. Grace Sadiku, popularly known as Mama Polio and Kaduna State Polio Field Coordinator, was conducted on behalf of the National PolioPlus Chair. It formed part of Rotary’s ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to sustain a polio-free Nigeria while promoting inclusion and empowerment for polio survivors and other persons with disabilities.
In her remarks, Mrs. Sadiku commended the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of persons with disabilities, many of whom are polio survivors. She also extended an invitation to the Commission to participate in the national commemoration of the 2025 World Polio Day, scheduled for October 24, which aims to raise awareness and celebrate the milestones achieved in the global fight against polio.
Responding, Hon. Gufwan—himself a polio survivor and Chief Executive Officer of Wheelchairs for Nigeria—welcomed the Rotary delegation and reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to support the celebration. He lauded Rotary International for its pivotal role in the eradication of polio and continuous advocacy for the wellbeing of survivors.
“If the government, organizations, and society at large can continue to provide strong support systems, polio survivors will not only become self-reliant but also contribute meaningfully to national development,” Gufwan stated.
Citing Franklin D. Roosevelt, the former U.S. President and polio survivor, Gufwan emphasized that disability should never define a person’s potential, noting that Roosevelt’s leadership stands as proof that “there is ability in disability.”
The forthcoming 2025 World Polio Day will feature high-level engagements, community outreach programs, and public sensitization campaigns across Nigeria, focusing on sustaining progress in polio eradication and advancing inclusion for persons with disabilities.
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