PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation) has warmly congratulated the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on the historic appointment of Mrs Melody Omosah, a visually impaired legal practitioner, as a Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Civil Service.
The Foundation described the appointment as a significant milestone for disability inclusion in Nigeria and a demonstration that public service should be driven by competence, integrity and equal opportunity rather than disability.
The appointment, believed to be the first of its kind in Edo State, sends a powerful message that persons with disabilities can serve with distinction at the highest levels of government when given equal opportunities. It also offers renewed hope to countless Nigerians living with disabilities, particularly young people, that disability should never define the limits of their aspirations.
According to Obatunde Olubunmi Oladapo, Executive Director of PLAN Foundation:
“At PLAN Foundation, we firmly believe that disability is not inability. Governor Okpebholo’s decision is a strong affirmation of the principles of equality, dignity and inclusion. By appointing a qualified visually impaired professional as a permanent secretary, the Edo State Government has demonstrated that leadership is about recognising competence and creating opportunities for every citizen to contribute to society.”
For more than two decades, PLAN Foundation has championed the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities through advocacy, community engagement, policy dialogue, operational research and inclusive programming.
The Foundation has worked with governments, organisations of persons with disabilities, healthcare institutions and development partners to improve access to healthcare, education, sexual and reproductive health services, employment opportunities and social participation for persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
The Foundation noted that the appointment is consistent with the spirit of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD); and the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” which call for the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in public life.
PLAN Foundation also acknowledged other inclusive actions taken by the Edo State Government, including measures aimed at strengthening opportunities for persons with disabilities and promoting fairness and equal participation in governance. These actions demonstrate that disability inclusion can move beyond policy commitments to tangible representation in public institutions.
The Foundation expressed the hope that this landmark appointment will inspire other state governments, public institutions and private sector organisations across Nigeria to create more opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities to serve in leadership and decision-making positions.
PLAN Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with governments, organisations of persons with disabilities, development partners and other stakeholders to promote inclusive policies, strengthen disability rights and ensure that no one is left behind in Nigeria’s development.
PLAN Foundation is a member of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the World Patients Alliance (WPA), the International AIDS Society (IAS), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Stop TB Partnership, the International Alliance of Patients’ Organisations (IAPO), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD), the Global Health Council (GHC), as well as various other relevant regional and global networks, movements, and professional associations aligned with its vision of a Nigeria where the individual, family, and community are adequately empowered to protect themselves against poverty, underdevelopment, and the spread of diseases.
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Obatunde Oladapo,
Executive Director,
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation)
obatunde@planfoundation.org.ng
