COMMENTARY ON THE CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 2025, ANAMBRA STATE

By Chidinma Ajemba

Today December 3rd, across the world and here in Anambra State, we join millions of voices to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).

This year’s United Nations theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” calls on us to build communities where every person, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute to the collective growth of our society. It challenges us to move beyond sympathy to genuine inclusion where accessibility, participation, and equality are part of our social fabric, not afterthoughts.

Here in Anambra, the story of persons with disabilities is one of courage, resilience, and transformation. Every day, they push through physical, social, and institutional barriers to prove that disability does not mean inability. Their lives remind us that progress is not measured by wealth or technology alone, but by how well a society uplifts its most vulnerable members.

Yet, we must acknowledge the reality: many persons with disabilities in our state still face significant challenges.
In our schools, inclusive learning remains a struggle for learners with special needs.
In our hospitals, the absence of sign language interpreters often leaves the deaf community unseen and unheard.

Our roads, markets, and offices are still built without ramps, shutting out wheelchair users from everyday participation.
People with visual impairments continue to move without tactile walkways or accessible information.
Persons with albinism still fight stigma, skin cancer, and lack of affordable sunscreen, while those with sickle cell conditions bear heavy medical and social burdens.

These are not just personal struggles, they are societal gaps that slow down collective progress.

Anambra made a significant leap in 2018 with the enactment of the Anambra State Disability Rights Law, a law that affirms equality, dignity, and accessibility for all. The establishment of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission further strengthened the framework for protecting and promoting disability rights. These efforts are commendable but laws must live beyond paper. They must be felt in classrooms, hospitals, workplaces, and every corner of public life.

This is where partnership, accountability, and shared responsibility come in.
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, which is an umbrella body uniting all clusters of persons with disabilities in Anambra State, continues to lead this movement, amplifying voices, engaging policymakers, and championing inclusion across all disability clusters. Through advocacy, awareness, and empowerment, JONAPWD is fostering a more inclusive Anambra where persons with disabilities are not just beneficiaries of aid, but
active agents of change.

To truly foster a disability-inclusive society, we must all play our part.
Government ministries and local councils must ensure accessibility in all public facilities and services.
Educational institutions must make inclusive learning a reality.
Healthcare providers must integrate accessible and affordable services, with interpreters and assistive technologies available for all.
Public transportation must accommodate everyone — because movement is freedom, and freedom is dignity.

As this year’s theme reminds us, social progress is only possible when inclusion is intentional. Persons with disabilities are not objects of charity but partners in development, innovators, leaders, and contributors to our shared future.

Across Nigeria, research shows that one in every ten adults lives with a disability. That means in every school, market, and community in Anambra, there are individuals with ideas, talents, and dreams waiting to be recognized and empowered.

So, as we commemorate the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let us envision and build an Anambra that truly reflects the spirit of inclusion.
A state where equality is practiced, not preached.
A state where accessibility is a right, not a favour.
A state where diversity is our strength, and every person regardless of ability has a fair chance to live, learn, work, and lead.

Now fostering a disability-inclusive society is not an act of kindness, it is a duty of justice.
And advancing social progress is only possible when no one is left behind.

Let us therefore, continue to work together — government, civil society, and communities to make Anambra a true home for all, where everyone belongs, and everyone matters.

Chidinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State