Yemisi Izuora
The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs [LASODA], has sought stakeholders partnership to fully address disability issues in the state.
The Agency said the state government is committed to giving People with Disabilities, PWDs, opportunity to explore their potentials and contribute meaningfully to development of the state.
Deputy General Manager, LASODA, Mr. Alejo Adegboyega Adeoye, who was speaking during a courtesy visit by the Citizens Center for Disability CCD, commended the Center for her numerous activities targeted at promoting the rights and welfare of PWDs, saying, “you are really making a positive impact in the lives of PWDs and complimenting the role of our agency”.
He also specifically commended the executive director, ED of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, for championing the course of PWDs leading to the establishment of LASODA which is still growing.
He also proclaimed the Agency’s willingness to partner with CCD, “we will further partner with you in what area possible try and create time to always come in lets partner in some areas”.
Also, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, LASODA, Mr. Oguntoye Akintunde, noted that LASODA cannot perform its roles and responsibilities alone and needs lot of collaboration to function.
The agency also called on CCD to be more visible and let the public appreciate her efforts by submitting the monthly reports of their activities to LASODA.
He also presented a copy of the report of another reseach the Centre also conducted on the Ford Foundation Project. The report is tagged“ Assessment of Provisions for Persons with Disability in INEC Preparations for 2019 Elections in Nigeria”.
The CCD, had paid a courtesy visit to LASODA as part of its lined up activity for her Ford Foundation funded project on Promoting Disability Bill and Citizens with Disabilities Participation in Electoral Process in Nigeria.
The Centre was accompanied to the event by representatives of Persons with Disabilities from various clusters including visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically challenged among others.
According to the Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, who led the team, the purpose of the meeting was to brief LASODA on the research outcome of a research the Centre conducted on Compliance of Public Institutions in Lagos State to the Provisions of the Lagos State Special People’s Law, Which was conducted under the above mentioned project”.
Anyaele, said the research was targeted at strengthening the implementation of LSSPL in the State as well as enhance the welfare of PWDs.
“There is weak enforcement of the law by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, he decried the substandard ramps provided by various ministries which he qualified as death traps, constructing bad ramps is a risk to physically challenged persons on wheelchairs, it will further compile their problem, by doing that you are putting PWDs at risk”, he added.
Anyaele further called on LASODA to see to the reconstruction of the ramps by erring MDAs.
It was also an opportunity for Mr. Anyaele to pledge CCD’s readiness to partner with LASODA in sensitizing state actors on the provisions of LSSPL, according to him, “on our part, we want to partner with you, CCD, will mobilize resources to sensitize Justice sectors and LGA Chairmen”.