DuDu Foundation, NDDC empowers Persons with Disabilities in A’Ibom

*Edu Offong’s vision of inclusion touches lives in three senatorial districts

Dennis Udoma, Ikot Ekpene

The plight of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in Akwa Ibom State received a huge boost on September 17, 2025, as DuDu Foundation, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), rolled out an empowerment programme aimed at restoring dignity, promoting inclusion, and creating opportunities for the vulnerable.

The colourful flag-off ceremony, which held at the Ati Annang Foundation Hall, Ikot Ekpene, brought together stakeholders, community leaders, and beneficiaries from the three Senatorial Districts of Akwa Ibom State.

A Milestone for Inclusion: Wheelchairs, crutches, Point of Sale (PoS) machines, soap and detergent-making materials, start-up cash, and back-to-school kits for secondary school students were distributed to beneficiaries.

In all, 80 persons with disabilities and 60 students drawn from Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts benefited from the initiative.

Speaking at the event, Founder of DuDu Foundation, Edu Anthony Offong, said the empowerment scheme was not an act of charity but a deliberate effort to restore dignity, create opportunities, and affirm the rightful place of PWDs in society.

“For far too long, persons living with disabilities have been marginalised, their voices unheard. But disability is not inability. Within every individual lies talent, creativity, and resilience waiting for opportunities to blossom,” she stressed.

Partnership for Impact: Offong commended the NDDC for its collaboration, describing it as a model of what government institutions and civil society can achieve together when united by purpose.

She also lauded the support of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, whose presence, she said, inspired confidence in the programme.

Beyond roads and bridges: According to her, development should not only be measured by physical infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, but also by how society uplifts its most vulnerable members.

“When persons with disabilities rise, our nation rises with them,” she noted, urging sustained advocacy and support.

Profile of compassion: Edu Offong, a soil scientist by training and fellow of several professional institutes, established the DuDu Foundation out of a passion for service and compassion for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalised.

Through women’s empowerment, child education support, healthcare outreach, and advocacy for inclusion, the Foundation has touched hundreds of lives across communities.

With the tagline, “Touching Lives, Inspiring Hope, Empowering Futures,” DuDu Foundation continues to champion a society where equity, fairness, and dignity define progress

Looking ahead: The empowerment initiative for PWDs is only a beginning. The Foundation pledged to expand its reach in women and youth empowerment, educational support, healthcare delivery, and advocacy for inclusion.

For the beneficiaries at Ikot Ekpene, however, the programme was more than a handout; it was hope restored, dignity affirmed, and a promise of a brighter tomorrow.