06/08/2026
ADC'S OCHO OBODOEZE CHUKWUMA UNVEILS "ABILITY FIRST POLICY" FOR PWDs IN ENUGU
_Pledges 5% Quota in Jobs, Grants, and Government Program
The 2027 Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Enugu State, *Ocho Obodoeze Chukwuma*, has promised to prioritize the rights and welfare of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, through a new "Ability First Policy" if elected.
In a policy statement issued on Sunday, Chukwuma said his administration will be built on the belief that every person is created with dignity and deserves the opportunity to live a meaningful life.
"Disability must never be a barrier to education, employment, business, mobility, or full participation in society," he said.
According to him, the Ability First Policy will ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in all major programmes and development initiatives of his government.
A key component of the policy is a guaranteed *minimum of 5% representation* for PWDs in government employment, business grants, skills acquisition programmes, empowerment initiatives, and other intervention programmes.
The candidate also pledged that the needs of persons with disabilities would be factored into the planning and ex*****on of roads, transport systems, public services, and community development projects to prevent exclusion.
To address physical barriers, Chukwuma said his government will introduce and enforce accessibility standards for all public buildings and facilities.
The standards, he noted, will apply to government offices, schools, hospitals, markets, shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, transport terminals, and recreational centres.
"Every new public building shall be designed with accessibility in mind, while existing public buildings will be progressively upgraded to remove barriers and improve access," he added.
Chukwuma said his ultimate goal is to build an Enugu where every citizen, regardless of physical ability, can move freely, access public services, compete for opportunities, and live with dignity, equality, and respect.
