ENUGU — The Executive Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, has donated an 18-seater bus to the Special Needs Adult Group in the council area to improve mobility and participation of persons living with disabilities.

The donation is intended to provide the group with dedicated transportation for its activities, programmes, engagements and participation in events within and outside the local government area.

The initiative is part of the council administration’s efforts to promote inclusion and ensure that persons living with disabilities are actively involved in community development.

According to the administration, the support is designed to go beyond assurances by providing practical assistance that would enable members of the group to participate more actively in community life and pursue opportunities with greater dignity and independence.

Monthly Stipends

The donation of the bus is in addition to monthly stipends being provided to members of the Special Needs Adult Group since Odo assumed office in 2024.

The administration said the continued financial support was intended to complement the transportation assistance and help address some of the socioeconomic challenges faced by persons living with disabilities.

It said the combination of regular financial assistance and the provision of a dedicated bus reflected its approach to disability inclusion, addressing both immediate welfare needs and the need for mobility and participation.

For the beneficiaries, the 18-seater bus is expected to ease transportation challenges and enable members to attend programmes, participate in engagements and represent their interests more effectively.

The administration said the intervention was also aimed at reinforcing the principle that persons living with disabilities are valued members of the community whose dignity, participation and contributions should be recognised.

It added that the continued support for the Special Needs Adult Group remained part of efforts to build an inclusive local government where development reaches all citizens, regardless of physical ability.