Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC) has announced plans to establish a Disability Counselling Centre as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the state.
Chairman of the commission, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, disclosed this during a press briefing to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”
Ezewuzie said the centre—being developed in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme—will provide educational, psychological, and social support for children with disabilities and their parents.
According to him, the commission is also working on several other initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. These include an Access Market Pavilion, a cooperative society, and a credit facility to support entrepreneurs with disabilities.
He further revealed plans to appoint liaison officers at the local government, community, and ward levels to monitor the welfare of persons with disabilities, as well as intensify enforcement of accessibility standards in public and private buildings, parking lots, and construction plans.
Listing the commission’s achievements since its establishment in 2021, Ezewuzie noted the domestication of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), promotion of inclusive education, enforcement of accessibility compliance, and economic empowerment for hundreds of beneficiaries.
Despite these gains, he lamented that persons with disabilities in the state still face discrimination, stigma, limited access to public structures, restricted economic opportunities, and inadequate legal protection.
He said the commission remains committed to addressing these challenges through stronger policy advocacy, inclusive education, stricter enforcement of accessibility standards, and deeper collaboration with government agencies and partner organizations.
Ezewuzie reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to mobilize the disability community to take advantage of government programs and pledged sustained efforts to identify and support persons with disabilities across all 326 political wards in the state.
