Governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq explained his appointment of disabled people to high positions in his administration.

He claimed that he made these appointments on purpose to give people with disabilities a voice in matters of governance.

The governor announced the celebration of this year's International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Ilorin, the state capital.

The governor, who was represented by his senior adviser and counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, recalled holding the budget meeting with the management of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) at the School For Special Needs, Ilorin, at the start of his administration.

He stated that his administration has been able to repair many of the school's facilities to facilitate the learning of "our wonderful special students."

“Let me remind you that at the beginning of this administration, I noticed that the society often dissociates with special needs people. I purposely took the budget meeting with the management of all MDAs to the School for Special Needs to make everyone realise the challenges you are facing.

“Our desire is to recognise your contributions to national development and to give hope  to all of us that there is no limit to the height we can attain in the society irrespective of our peculiarities,” the governor said.

AbdulRazaq, who assured people with disabilities that his administration would always accommodate their needs within the limits of available resources, described the event's theme “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for persons with disabilities” as very apt.

“You will recall that one of you was appointed into this government to represent you in our administration. We have also appointed persons with special needs into senior roles in the civil service. This speaks to the fact that this administration is inclusive; it’s to allow you to lend your voice to issues of governance. I have no regrets over this important decision,” he said.

Barr Olaoye Jumoke, the director of the Human Rights Commission, emphasized in her remarks that human dignity, whether disabled or abled, should be respected and individual rights should be protected.

She reaffirmed the commission's willingness to always come to the aid of people with disabilities when their rights are violated.

Prior to this, Governor AbdulRazaq and President Bola Tinubu were thanked by Comrade Yusuf Bashir, the state chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, for their support of PLWDs.