Group Urges Gov Nwifuru to Include Welfare of Children with Disabilities in Ebonyi Dev Plan
A public interest organisation, the Give Back the Smile Group (GBS) has called on the Ebonyi State Government to integrate the interest of People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) into infrastructure development plans.
The group in a communique issued in Abakaliki on Wednesday and signed by the duo of Mrs. Rosemary Idika and Dr. Anthonia Nwachi, decried the total neglect of PLWDs in government’s public infrastructure projects and policies.
The group noted that roads and public buildings in the state are designed and constructed without recourse to the interest of PLWDs, while Ebonyi State currently lacks educational and skill acquisition facilities for special needs children in the state.
According to the group, roads in the state lack walkways that could accommodate wheelchair and people using crutches, just as overhead pedestrian bridges in the state lack ramps for wheelchair.
The group pointed out that there are no government schools for special needs children in Ebonyi State, while hospitals in the state lack specialists in special needs care.
Part of the communique reads:
“We have noticed that the living condition of PLWDs in Ebonyi State are worsened by the unfortunate fact that the society pretends that they do not exist. This attitude is most visible in the fact that their conditions are not factored into social amenities in the state thereby completely excluding them from having quality life.
“In Ebonyi State, for instance, have no public road that made provisions for movement of special needs, ramps are in very few public buildings. They don’t have any pedestrian bridge that Carter for the needs of special needs people.
“In terms of education, there are no special needs school. Even in the mainstream school, no provision for inclusive education.
“In the hospital, do you know that, they do not have an occupational therapist or speech therapist! These are health care professionals that are very important in the care of these children.
“It is a well-known fact that the cost of caring for children with special needs is so high due to the need of multiple specialists, constant need for assistive devices and medications.
“We note that every special needs child has a right to LIFE, a right to EDUCATION, a right to QUALITY LIFE, a right to HAPPINESS.
The group concluded by calling of the government to step in to ensure that children with special needs in Ebonyi State were integrated into the society so that they can play their own role in the overall progress of the society.
“We are therefore, calling on the Ebonyi State Government as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria to in addition to providing educational and healthcare facilities for people with special needs also make healthcare services for them free,” the communique concluded.
Below is the full communique:
Communique issued by Give Back the Smile Support Group on the Unfortunate Neglect of Special Needs Children in Ebonyi State
OCTOBER 16/10/2025
The Give Back the Smile Support group (GBS) is a group of parents with special children. The group was formed with the purpose of putting smiles back on the faces of Special Needs children, their families and caregivers.
As, we all know, parenting a special need child is not an easy task, and as such most of the parents and caregivers are emotionally stressed most times due to the highly demanding needs of their children and wards.
After the meeting of members of the GBS on Sunday October 12, 2025 it was agreed that we embark on intensive awareness campaign to call the attention of the Government of Ebonyi State to integrate the needs and interest of children with special needs into the state’s development plans.
The decision stems from the following:
- We have noticed that the living condition of PLWDs in Ebonyi State are worsened by the unfortunate fact that the society pretends that they do not exist. This attitude is most visible in the fact that their conditions are not factored into social amenities in the state thereby completely excluding them from having quality life.
- In Ebonyi State, for instance, have no public road that made provisions for movement of special needs, ramps are in very few public buildings. They don’t have any pedestrian bridge that Carter for the needs of special needs people.
- In terms of education, there are no special needs school. Even in the mainstream school, no provision for inclusive education.
- In the hospital, do you know that, they do not have an occupational therapist or speech therapist! These are health care professionals that are very very important in the care of these children.
- It is a well-known fact that the cost of caring for children with special needs is so high due to the need of multiple specialists, constant need for assistive devices and medications.
- We note that every special needs child has a right to LIFE, a right to EDUCATION, a right to QUALITY LIFE, a right to HAPPINESS.
- We are therefore, calling on the Ebonyi State Government as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria to in addition to providing educational and healthcare facilities for people with special needs also make healthcare services for them free.
Signed:
Mrs. Ogeri Rosemary IDIKA
Dr. Anthonia Nwachi
