Sunday 4th April 2021 was another historic day and one which has received many accolades by constituents and well-wishers as the Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly and member representing Ankpa 1 constituency, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed officially handover keys of houses he built for people living with disability in Ankpa LGA of Kogi State.
The Honorable member from Ankpa 1 state constituency who is ranked as one of the best legislators in Kogi State with several constituency development projects, social services and Legislative activities said in his speech that, what prompted him to embark on this project was to see how people with disability are inducted into the societal activities with equal rights and privileges. People with disability are often seen very negatively from the society and are faced with stigma, discrimination and most times deny access to basic services such as public and social interactions and access to public health. He noted that his first step was the introduction of a Bill for a law to Establish the Disability Office, Guarantee and protect the rights of persons living with Disability, and other matters connected therewith on Wednesday 12th December, 2018, which received huge support from the wife of his Excellency the Governor who also brought a similar bill and was harmonized, passed into law and signed by Governor Yahaya Bello. This has placed Kogi State among the nine states in the Federation to have enacted disability laws to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and also broken the jinx of putting the state above other North central states.
The state Legislator in his appreciation to the Governor stated that, the naming of the house after the late mother of the Governor is to show an appreciation for a life well spent by carrying every children as her own while alive and equally nurtured a man who become a leader with wisdom, discipline and love. May Allah continue to grant her soul internal rest.
Dignitaries present were, the Personal Assistant to the Acting All Progressives Congress National Chairman (APC), Hon. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Chief whip of KGHA Hon. Mukhtar Bajeh, Honorable members from Ankpa 2, Olamaboro and Omala State constituency, the Onu Ankpa HRH Alh Abdulmalik Umar, Acting Eje Ankpa, the Rector Kogi State Polytechnic, the Provost College of Education Ankpa, Chairman of Persons with disability from National and State including all their executives members, Chief Ambassador Tony Ogah, State focal person Action Aid among others.
One among the beneficiaries of the House project, Mamuna Zaria who said, she has been in the present condition for decades thanked Rt. Hon. Ahmed Muhammad for remembering them and making Laws for their well being and prayed for Allah to bless him and others who have contributed in making this day a reality.