By [Olusegun Ogunkayode]
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, has empowered at least 100 polio survivors with wheelchairs in commemoration of this year’s World Polio Day celebration.
The event, which began with an early morning awareness walk from the Old Parade Ground to Area One Roundabout and back, was followed by a novelty para soccer tournament. Both aimed at promoting inclusion and raising awareness about the fight against polio.
Hon. Gufwan, himself a polio survivor, led the walk and participated in the closing ceremony, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring a world free of the disease.
In his remarks, Gufwan expressed optimism that global efforts to eradicate polio would yield lasting results if stakeholders continue to collaborate, saying that “My biggest dream is for everyone to live in a polio-free world, and I believe it is achievable if we all join hands to fight against the disease.”
He further encouraged persons with disabilities to remain resilient, opined that disability should never be seen as a limitation. “Disability is not a death sentence, but something worthy of overcoming,” Gufwan emphasized.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of wheelchairs to beneficiaries and medals, as well as cash rewards to the winning para soccer team and other participants.
The World Polio Day celebration was organized by Rotary International, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other partners under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
The closing ceremony, held at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja, reaffirmed Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to eradicating polio and empowering survivors to live fulfilling lives.
