As part of its policy of inclusiveness, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has organised a stakeholders' meeting with representatives of clusters of People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in the State.
The one-day programme, held recently at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) building in Alausa was aimed at ensuring that PLWDs, like every other person, are accorded equal access to everything required to make life worth living.
In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Dr. Olugbenga Ayoola Aina, said that the estimated figure of over one billion people experiencing disability makes it worthy to focus on the group and deploy available resources that will prevent PWLDs from dehumanising conditions.
Dr. Aina stressed that in line with Article 25 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the State Government has put in place different policies and programmes to give physically-challenged people opportunities to express their potential in various areas.
He averred that the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) was established to specifically attend to issues affecting the PLWDs.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Amaka Momah-Haruna, the representative of UNFPA, said the stakeholders’ meeting was long overdue because the organisation had noticed that the physically challenged were being sidelined in many areas of life.
In the same vein, General Manager, LASODA, Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo, said that the agency would not relent in contributing its quota in terms of sensitisation and advocacy in championing the needs of the PLWDs.
Ogundairo, represented by Mr. Kelani Akeem Tolu, HOD, Social Development and Integration, noted that PLWDs deserve to enjoy their full rights and, therefore, the society must focus on issues affecting the sector as part of their culture.
Contributing to discussions at the event, the Director of Youth Department in the Ministry, Mr. Abdulateef Saka, disclosed that the government’s inclusiveness policy gave rise to the decision to include PLWDs in Lagos State Youth Parliament.
Representatives of all the clusters were unanimous on the need for the Government to empower and patronise them through inclusion in the law-making process as well as assisting them with transportation, housing and health.
In their presentations, the facilitators, Dr. Y.O.A. Shogbamimu from the Lagos Ministry of Health and Mr. Benson Ohemu from USAID emphasised issues affecting the PLWDs and how they can be tackled.
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