The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities, Ayuba Gufwan, has praised Governor Alex Otti for his support of the disabilities community in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues during a working visit to Governor Otti in Abia State, Gufwan expressed gratitude for the Governor’s efforts in establishing a commission for persons with disabilities in the state. He revealed that there are 35 million people living with disabilities across the country.
“We are deeply appreciative that, upon your assumption of office, you established the Abia State equivalent of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
“I commend you and express the heartfelt appreciation of the 35 million persons living with disabilities in Nigeria. We say thank you for what you have done for us.wa
“We are 35 million, and we don’t have an office anywhere other than the official one in Abuja, which makes it very difficult to administer this huge number from a single location,” said Gufwan.
Gufwan also explained that their visit to Abia was to request the Governor’s assistance in providing a facility to serve as the Southeast Zonal Office of the National Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities. He noted that Abia was selected due to its reputation for hospitality.
In response, Governor Alex Otti assured the delegation that his administration does not discriminate against persons living with disabilities or any other group, including individuals of different religious beliefs or ethnic backgrounds.
Otti stressed that having a disability does not define a person as disabled and pledged to support their request by providing a location for their Southeast headquarters in Abia State.
