Mrs. Ann Ojugu has been re-elected as the Chairperson of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Edo State, pledging to advocate for the establishment of a Disability Commission to support individuals with disabilities and enhance funding opportunities.
Ojugu secured her second consecutive four-year term during a closely contested election held on Saturday in Benin, receiving 105 votes against her opponent Emmanuel Omoike, who garnered only six votes.
Upon her swearing-in, Ojugu expressed determination to have the commission operational within her new term, emphasizing its importance for policy development and attracting foreign donations.
“My plan is to intensify efforts to ensure that before the next four years, we get the commission working in the state. This commission is very important because it will help drive policies and attract foreign donors,” she stated.
The electoral committee, chaired by Mr. Victor Imahingbe, also announced Kingsley Osadolor as the new Vice Chairman. Osadolor triumphed over competitors Mathew Akabue and Justice Odigie, securing 57 votes to their 34 and 18 votes, respectively.
Reflecting on her first term, Ojugu highlighted her initiatives to create job opportunities and improve accessibility through disability-friendly infrastructure. She cited the new secretariat building as evidence of progress made during her leadership. “You see that many of us got jobs during that period, and we are hoping that even more will come in this new term,” she said.
Moreover, Ojugu called on the government and society to recognize that disability should not limit an individual’s potential. “The government needs to be sensitised. We need to make sure that even if a person has a disability, that disability does not define who they are. It is society that defines who we are,” she asserted.
She expressed gratitude to JONAPWD members for their continued support and reiterated her commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment for persons with disabilities in Edo State.
