African Heritage Global Global Affairs Editor
In commemoration of the 2025 International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi has extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Chike Okogwu, the National Leader for Persons With Disabilities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and to the wider PWD community across Nigeria.
Gbandi hailed Dr. Okogwu as “a courageous voice, a steadfast advocate, and a national pillar for millions of Nigerians living with disabilities whose aspirations demand recognition, dignity, and full political inclusion.”
He praised Dr. Okogwu’s instrumental role in championing the ADC’s hallmark inclusion framework of 35% Women, 35% Youth, and 6% Persons With Disabilities, affirming that the model has strengthened Nigeria’s democratic ethos and inspired broader national conversations about equitable representation.
Importantly, Gbandi used the occasion to renew his long-standing advocacy for a complementary 15% representation quota for Nigerians in the Diaspora, emphasizing that Diaspora citizens are an essential pillar of Nigeria’s socio-economic engine. He noted that “just as the PWD community deserves guaranteed space in governance, Nigerians in the Diaspora who contribute significantly to national development must also be structurally represented in the political process with a dedicated 15% inclusion benchmark.”
Gbandi further commended the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerians with disabilities, acknowledging their contributions to culture, innovation, enterprise, and national progress despite persistent social and infrastructural challenges.
He urged government institutions, political parties, and policymakers to seize this moment as “a renewed call to build a Nigeria where inclusion is standard practice, where accessibility is guaranteed, and where every citizen PWD or in the Diaspora is given equal room to participate and lead.”
Reaffirming ADC’s commitment to an inclusive national future, he concluded: “To Dr. Okogwu and the entire PWD community: we stand with you today and always. Your strength charts the path to a better Nigeria, and your leadership reinforces our shared commitment to a fully inclusive, globally connected nation.”
