Essential Ndubuisi
Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, MWFAAN, Inclusion Summit 2023 has ended with a call on stakeholders to apply inclusiveness to issues relating to people living with disabilities.
The summit held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, attracted people living with disabilities, students,experts, professionals and role models in different life endeavours.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship programme of the United States government’s Young African Leaders Initiative,YALI,which has brought over five thousand young leaders from countries in Sub Saharan Africa to U.S for academic and leadership training.
The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35 are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries.
In an address of welcome, the president, Nigeria chapter of the association,Funmi Adebajo represented by Dr Ifeoma Umeh, said the gathering was to celebrate young leaders who have beaten the odds inspite of their disabilities and a non-inclusive society.
She expressed belief that through collective action and mutual encouragement, they can create a society that embraces diversity, inclusivity and equal opportunities for all.
The Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof Charles Esimone represented by the Dean Students Affairs, Prof Nonso Achebe in his welcome address appreciated tMWFAAN for choosing the institution for it’s Summit, noting that he is glad that the fellowship has passion for people living with disabilities adding that UNIZIK believes strongly that disability is not a death sentence and not a reason for one not to be excellent in performance.
He explained that people living with disabilities should be encouraged and called for all inclusive education for them .
In his paper presentation titled “Persons living with disabilities beating all odds in a challenging society”, the Managing Director, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Awka, Sir Chido Obidiegwu, mentioned the challenges people living with disabilities are facing in Nigerian society, the people culpable and stressed the need for government to enforce disability laws that are already in existence pointing out these laws are useless if not enforced.
He also advised people living with disabilities to shun self-pity,turn their misfortune to fortune as well as apply God-factor where their human strength ends.
Also speaking the Director, Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research, UNIZIK, Prof Williams Obiozor, said in Anambra State a lot were done by the former administration to help persons living with disabilities and expressed hope that the present administration will do more in that regard.
Video clips of young people who have beaten the odds to make remarkable impact in their careers were shown to inspire participants.
Three persons living with disabilities: Chiamaka Ohanakere, Rita Chude and Justice Asuzu were presented with awards by MWFAAN for their outstanding accomplishments in their careers.
The event with the theme “Beating all Odds”, featured cultural dance from Special Needs School, Odakpu, Onitsha.
