2027: Persons with disabilities in Ogun vow unity, INEC partnership

Ayo Awobona, the newly elected Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Ogun State, Nigeria, has prioritized unity as the cornerstone of his leadership. He emphasized that bringing together disparate factions within the association is crucial for achieving greater inclusion and advancing the rights of members across the state.

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A lot, like I said earlier in my speech, depends on unity. If we really want to achieve much, we just have to bring ourselves together. That’s our number one assignment.

Awobona announced that his administration will focus on reconciling two existing clusters experiencing internal disagreements. He expressed confidence in resolving these issues to ensure a unified voice for the association. "Once we all come together as one, our voice will not be divided in any way, and we’ll be able to achieve all that we have set out to do," he stated.

Beyond internal cohesion, Awobona plans to deepen engagement with government institutions, public and private organizations, and the general public. The goal is to foster a better understanding of the challenges and capabilities of persons with disabilities, promoting their integration into society. "Society must see us as part of them," he remarked, highlighting the need for reorientation.

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We have two clusters now that are having issues. By God’s grace, we will try to resolve whatever is causing the problem and bring them back into the JONAPWD fold. Once we all come together as one, our voice will not be divided in any way, and we’ll be able to achieve all that we have set out to do.

Looking towards the 2027 general elections, Awobona called for increased political inclusion for persons with disabilities. The association intends to collaborate closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to boost voter registration and participation among its members. INEC's presence at the association's election was noted as a positive step, providing enlightenment on measures to make electoral processes more accessible.

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We are open to engagement with government parastatals, the public, the private sector, and society itself because we need a reorientation. Society must see us as part of them. We will bring all stakeholders together so they can understand who we are, how to relate with us, and how we can collectively move the association forward.