The Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons has organised a training workshop to strengthen the capacity of council chairs on the implementation of the disability law and disability-inclusive governance.

The training, held in Umuahia on Thursday, was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme Phase II.

It was funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Nigeria.

The commission’s chairman, David Anyaele, said the workshop was in line with the mandate of Governor Alex Otti regarding the inclusion and participation of PWDs in leadership across all segments of government.

Mr Anyaele, also the special assistant to the governor on persons with disabilities (PWDs), said the training was the first of its kind in Nigeria and hoped the council chairs ensure their budgets are disability-friendly.

He also delivered a lecture on “Disability Rights and Models, Disability Laws in Nigeria, and Disability Inclusive Budget.”

In a speech, the wife of the governor, Priscilla Otti, called on council officials to work together to raise awareness, build capacity, and ensure the local governments were havens of inclusivity and opportunity.

Mrs Otti, represented by the wife of the deputy governor, Adaeze Emetu, said, “The challenges are clear: low awareness, weak institutional capacity, and the absence of disability-inclusive budgeting have hindered progress.

“Many of our local government institutions remain unaware of their statutory obligations, and as a result, PWDs continue to be marginalised in policy development and service delivery.

“As we move forward, let us remember that disability-inclusive governance is not a specialised issue. It is a fundamental aspect of good governance.”

Also, the commissioner for poverty alleviation and social protection, Ngozi Felix, informed the council chairmen that disability law placed a direct and significant responsibility on their shoulders as the closest tier of government to the people.

Ms Felix, represented by the ministry’s technical assistant on donor-funded programmes, Obinna Uzuegbu, said the workshop was designed to equip the chairmen with the knowledge, tools, and understanding necessary to champion disability inclusion in their respective LGAs.

In a remark on behalf of other participants, the chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Anthony Nwaubani, commended the organisers of the workshop, saying it had deepened their knowledge about disability inclusion.

“This programme is an eye-opener because we have learnt some other things that we may want to go back and reflect on in our arrangements, structures, and facilities in our LGA to make provisions for the PWDs,” Mr Nwaubani said.

(NAN)