The Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission, Dr. David Anyaele, has said the commission’s core mandate is to dismantle barriers preventing persons with disabilities (PWDs) from fully participating in society, rather than simply providing financial handouts.
Anyaele stated this on Friday during a live interactive session on the “Good Governance” programme aired by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), where he responded to questions from listeners and highlighted the interventions and priorities of the newly established commission.
He said the establishment of the commission and the appointment of its leadership, comprising persons with disabilities, demonstrated the Abia State Government’s commitment to inclusive governance and represented a historic development in the state.
The commission chairman also challenged the perception that persons with disabilities are dependent on government assistance, noting that many PWDs are successful entrepreneurs, professionals and active contributors to the state’s economy.
According to him, the commission caters to people with different forms of disabilities, including physical, sensory, intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, with interventions designed around individual needs.
“Not every person with a disability needs a financial benefit. There are people with disabilities who are extremely flamboyant; they own companies and are actively contributing to society,” he said.
Anyaele explained that the commission’s responsibility goes beyond financial assistance to ensuring that PWDs can access education, employment, healthcare and other opportunities without discrimination.
“Our primary role is to protect PWDs and ensure that they do not suffer from barriers. If a person wants to go to school, we ensure they have access to the classroom and are not discriminated against. For the vulnerable, we assess their specific needs, whether it is skills acquisition or employment support,” he added.
On discrimination and cultural stigma against persons with disabilities, the chairman said the commission was taking concrete steps to challenge discriminatory practices across the state.
He cited a recent case involving a landlord who allegedly attempted to deny accommodation to a blind prospective tenant, stressing that disability must not be used as a basis for discrimination.
“We are using such cases to set an example. Nobody has the right to discriminate. Historically, our cultural practices have tagged PWDs as non-performers, but we will keep doing advocacy to change these behaviours because disability does not discriminate,” Anyaele said.
He further highlighted some of the state government’s interventions in the disability sector, including ongoing upgrades at the State School for the Blind and training for blind persons on the use of smartphones and assistive technologies.
Anyaele also commended the state’s investment in para-sports, noting that the Ministry of Sports has become a major employer of persons with disabilities while athletes from Abia have continued to record significant achievements at national and international competitions.
Speaking on efforts to take the commission’s activities closer to persons with disabilities at the grassroots, he disclosed that the commission was decentralising its operations through stronger engagement with local governments.
He explained that disability inclusion cuts across virtually every sector, including education, healthcare, agriculture, technology, employment and justice, making collaboration among government ministries and agencies essential.
“We are moving beyond mere ‘desks’ to establishing fully-fledged local government offices. We have already trained local government chairmen on disability inclusion and budgeting,” he said.
The chairman added that more than 850 education and healthcare officials across Abia’s 17 Local Government Areas had been trained on disability issues, relevant provisions of the disability law and inclusive budgeting.
According to him, the training is intended to ensure that public schools and healthcare facilities become more accessible and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.
Anyaele urged persons with disabilities in Abia who require support, skills acquisition opportunities or other interventions to formally approach the commission with their requests.
He disclosed that the commission’s current office is located at the Political Block, Government House, Umuahia, and assured residents that the commission remained committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities were not excluded from the state’s development agenda.
He encouraged PWDs and other residents seeking disability-related interventions to visit the commission or use its official communication channels to present their concerns and needs.
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