Democracy is defined as the government of the people,for the people and by the people. The practice of democracy ensures the representation and respect of interest of every constituency included in the political jurisdiction ,that is, the entire populace .However in spite of the large constituency of over 19 million Nigerians living with disabilities, Government policies and Legislation are devoid of adequate provision for their peculiar interest as bonafide citizen of the country.
Worse still ,the active participation of persons with disabilities in Nigeria politics is still being hindered by social stigma and prejudice. The plight of persons with disabilities in Nigeria is worrisome as they bear the brunt of socio-economic hardship that majority of the citizens encounter in their daily effort to survive.
In the light of the above, a group of passionate Nigerians with disabilities, led by Mr Cosmas I.B.okoli, started a socio-political pressure group called Movement for the empowerment of Nigerians with Disabilities (MEND) in year 2002 . The formation of the group was to create a platform for all Nigeria with disabilities to join forces and speak with one voice. However, before we could launch the Organisation,another Organisation, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Deltans came into existence with the same acronym (MEND). Coupled with other exigencies, we decided to change our name, hence we settled for the name Association for comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disabilities (ASCEND).
Between 2002 and 2005, Mr.Cosmas.I.B.Okoli consulted with a cross section of Nigeria with disabilities and their benefactors on the best way to ensure total emancipation, empowerment and integration of people with disabilities into mainstream society. Finally ASCEND was launched in 2006.