The General Manager Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal has called on everyone to join hands with the government to ensure the rights of PWDs are adequately protected in Lagos State.
She made the call at a meeting with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) Lagos State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Mr Abudlwahab Matepo, at the Scian Centre, Apple Junction, Lagos on Wednesday.
Oyetunde-Lawal said that there is a need for a change in approach to the realisation of the government’s objectives geared towards enforcing an inclusive society where everyone regardless of disability status would strive.
In her words, “I am urging us all, especially Persons with Disabilities to become the Ambassadors of LASODA by promoting awareness in our respective groups, communities and places of worship, etc”.
“This is a collaborative call for all stakeholders to ensure they report cases of abuses or concerns to the Agency for necessary action, as LASODA cannot be everywhere”, she affirmed.
Speaking further, the General Manager pointed out that the Agency will continue to develop policies and programmes tailored precisely for every member of the disability community, just as she appealed to both corporate and private organisations to ensure there is humanity to the disability interventions in their organisations.
In her words: “Don’t just construct ramps, be sure they are usable by persons with disabilities; other services should also be provided with the peculiar needs of PWDs in mind”, she added.
While speaking on empowerment initiatives for the group, she urged them to share specific areas of interventions needed to enable LASODA to work in line with them.
Respondent, the Chairman, Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), Mr. Abdul-Wahab Matepo appreciated the General Manager for her willingness to understand their requirements and promised to present the empowerment needs of the Association to the Agency as soon as possible.
LASODA, on behalf of the State Government, presented wheelchairs to the Association for the use of its members.
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