By Victor Nwegede
When the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JNAPWD), Ebonyi State chapter, Mr. Chieme Odumegwu, declared that the signing of the Disability Rights Bill into law would address “over 95 percent of our challenges,” it was not mere rhetoric. For thousands of Ebonyians living with disabilities, the proposed law represents a lifeline — a long-awaited promise of equality, dignity, and inclusion in a society where systemic barriers have long pushed them to the margins.
The bill, currently before the Ebonyi State House of Assembly after scaling second reading, has emerged as a focal point of advocacy by disability rights campaigners. Introduced as an executive bill by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru administration, it seeks to align state laws with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari. If assented to, it would outlaw discrimination, mandate accessibility in public institutions, and guarantee equal opportunities in education, employment, and governance.
For Mr. Odumegwu, the journey to inclusivity has been long and difficult. But he believes Governor Nwifuru’s assent could transform the struggles of people like him into testimonies of resilience and triumph.
“The bill has already scaled second reading. Once His Excellency assents to it, we are confident that more than 95 percent of our challenges as persons with disabilities will be solved. This is about human dignity, not sympathy. We want to participate equally in society without fear of exclusion or discrimination,” he told journalists in Abakaliki.
The remarks came during the birthday celebration of the State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, whose residence in Abakaliki became a sanctuary of hope and charity. Coinciding with World Humanitarian Day (August 19), the event was less about pomp and more about people. Over 300 persons with disabilities — the blind, lame, deaf, and dumb gathered alongside other indigent citizens to receive gifts, food, and financial support.
For Mrs. Aligwe, who has earned a reputation as one of the administration’s most empathetic voices, the occasion was symbolic.
“God didn’t make a mistake by placing me in charge of human affairs in the Ministry of Human Capital Development and Monitoring. Under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, we are mandated to touch the lives of the vulnerable, give them hope, and lift them from pits to palaces,” she declared.
She drew a striking contrast between the cultural revelry of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival, celebrated the day before, and the humanitarian compassion she chose to emphasize on her birthday. “True celebration is not just about eating yam or cutting cake. It is about feeding the hungry, embracing the vulnerable, and lifting the less privileged,” she said.
The centrality of humanitarian service is not accidental. Governor Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs has provided a policy anchor for ministries and agencies to mainstream inclusivity. At its heart is a philosophy that governance should respond directly to the people’s felt needs, especially those at the fringes of society.
Mrs. Aligwe interprets this as a call to build “stomach infrastructure” not in the pejorative sense of handouts, but as a genuine effort to ensure no Ebonyian goes hungry or excluded. “Our governor wants us to care for the welfare of all Ebonyians. To lift them from their vulnerable conditions, to give them something to eat, to restore their dignity. That is what we are doing,” she explained.
In a rare show of solidarity, members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly echoed support for disability rights during the celebration. Chief Mrs. Chinyere Nwogbaga, who represents Ebonyi North East State Constituency, emphasized the legislature’s role in guaranteeing inclusion.
“We have already enacted laws that give room for the less privileged and disabled to be accommodated in governance, in appointments, and in policy implementation. Our governor has shown commitment, and through the First Lady’s pet projects, the disabled have found a voice. We are determined to legislate in their favour, because they cannot be discriminated against among us,” she said.
On whether humanitarian services should receive more institutional recognition, Nwogbaga hinted at possible legislative backing. “If those who render selfless service to humanity bring their concerns to the Assembly, we will not hesitate to act. Government is always ready to support any initiative that improves the welfare of citizens,” she said.
Nigeria’s 2018 Disability Rights Act was hailed as a landmark piece of legislation. Among other provisions, it criminalized discrimination against persons with disabilities, mandated accessibility in public buildings, and set up the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD). Yet, implementation has been uneven.
Out of the country’s 36 states, less than half have domesticated the law. Many others, including Ebonyi until recently, have lacked state-level legislation to enforce rights, leaving disabled citizens vulnerable to neglect.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that at least 15 percent of Nigeria’s population lives with some form of disability. In Ebonyi, this translates to hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom face barriers to education, healthcare, mobility, and employment. The absence of a binding law has compounded their struggles, making advocacy for the bill’s passage urgent.
For this reason, JNAPWD’s optimism is tempered by caution. “We know that passing a bill is one thing, but implementation is another. That is why we are calling for strong enforcement mechanisms and adequate funding once the governor assents,” Odumegwu stressed.
While legal frameworks are crucial, the lived realities of persons with disabilities reveal the need for more practical humanitarian support. That is why Commissioner Aligwe’s gesture resonated deeply.
At the event, Comrade Tony Nwizi, Director General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), praised her as a “true humanitarian,” urging both local and international actors to rethink the scale of humanitarian interventions. “World leaders must go beyond rhetoric. Humanitarianism should be about structured policies that guarantee the dignity of the vulnerable,” he said.
Prince Friday Oketa, Coordinator of Echiaba Development Centre, echoed similar sentiments. For him, philanthropy must complement governance, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The celebration featured a Catholic mass led by Rev. Fr. Kenneth Nomeh, founder of Nso n’Agha Adoration Ministry, who underscored the moral obligation to serve humanity. His homily drew parallels between Christ’s ministry to the marginalized and the state’s responsibility to its disabled population.
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Key among them is funding. Disability rights groups warned that without budgetary allocations, the bill risks becoming another “paper tiger.” They also stressed the need for awareness campaigns to dismantle entrenched stereotypes that see disability as a curse rather than a condition.
Accessibility infrastructure is another hurdle. Many public buildings in Ebonyi lack ramps, tactile paving, or sign language interpretation services. Even in schools, children with disabilities often face segregation or lack of specialized support.
Employment remains a pressing concern. Studies showed that persons with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from the labour market, often confined to informal trading or begging. The proposed law seeks to mandate a quota system for public sector employment, but implementation will test the government’s resolve.
Still, hope runs high. For many of the disabled participants at Mrs. Aligwe’s celebration, the event symbolized not just charity, but recognition. Recognition that they are not invisible, that their voices matter, and that a legal framework could soon guarantee their rightful place in society.
As dusk fell on her Abakaliki compound, songs of gratitude from the visually impaired mingled with laughter from children with hearing aids. It was a portrait of resilience, painted against years of neglect but brightened by new possibilities.
For Mr. Odumegwu and his colleagues at JNAPWD, the message was clear: the struggle for rights is not about pity, but parity. And for Governor Nwifuru, whose assent is eagerly awaited, the bill offers an opportunity to cement his legacy as the leader who mainstreamed disability rights in Ebonyi.
The journey to disability inclusion in Ebonyi is far from over. The bill is still awaiting the governor’s assent, and implementation challenges loom large. Yet, the convergence of advocacy, humanitarian gestures, and political will is setting the stage for change.
If signed and implemented faithfully, the Disability Rights Bill could indeed solve “95 percent” of the challenges identified by JNAPWD — transforming Ebonyi into a model of inclusive governance in Nigeria.
Until then, persons with disabilities in Ebonyi wait, not in despair, but in hope.
