Inclusivity: Sanwo-Olu Raising The Bar For Physically Challenged In Lagos

By TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

On May 29, 2023, Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during his swearing-in ceremony, witnessed by millions of Lagos residents physically and virtually, promised inclusiveness for all Lagosians through his government’s THEMES+ Developmental Agenda.

He said the ‘+’ represents inclusiveness to ensure that all the residents of Lagos State, irrespective of sex, age, status, tribe, and ethnicity, are adequately cared for. And of the group of residents adequately taken care of in the policy and programmes of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

Welfare is one of the primary responsibilities of any responsible and responsive government, and instructively, the commitment of the incumbent administration in Lagos State has given hope to thousands of Persons With Disabilities to know that the government also cares about them.

The Lagos State Government, under the administration of Sanwo-Olu, has made commendable efforts to ensure a better society for everyone, irrespective of physical or mental abilities.

Recently, Lagos embarked on a transformative journey towards building an all-inclusive society, with the main goal of ensuring equal representation and opportunities for all residents. At the forefront of this commendable initiative are the People With Disabilities (PWDs).

The creation of the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) readily attests to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to the initiative. LASODA is a pivotal force in fostering inclusivity across facets of governance and public life.

It is also worth noting that the PWDs were major beneficiaries of some of the state interventions and programmes, among which is the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project in Lagos, which empowered 165 PWDs in poultry, aquaculture, and rice value chains. 820 people living with HIV also benefited from various soft skills, all free.

Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation, has also empowered thousands of Lagos residents, who are physically challenged through different empowerment and skill acquisition programmes. Some of them have also benefited from soft loans and various grants initiated by the state government.

The Sanwo-Olu administration believes strongly that there is ability in every disability, and that is why the government ensures that people who are physically challenged are deliberately employed in different ministries, departments, and agencies to contribute their quota to the growth and development of Lagos State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, within the first five months in office, employed 20 physically challenged people at the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The governor’s action was commended by the Convener of the Centre for Disabilities, Comrade Kehinde Oshilaja, considering how the physically challenged were discriminated against.

“Without mincing words, this act has not only shown the kindness of our governor, it has also proved him to be an action man. The decision has confirmed him to be a professional in governance. Our group will never forget this expression of love by Governor Sanwo-Olu,” Oshilaja said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, during an interactive session with Student Union Leaders and Stakeholders in Lagos State on March 5, announced an increase in scholarship and bursary funds for students of Lagos State origin in tertiary institutions, noting that “Additional scholarships will now be extended to less privileged and physically challenged students in public tertiary institutions, regardless of their origin.”

Earlier in December 2020, Governor Sanwo-Olu donated 50 wheelchairs, 170 walking sticks, 75 white canes, and 69 crutches to 364 persons living with disabilities to assist the People With Disabilities (PWDs) in mobility. He donated the items when he, along with his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, had a special moment with them, in the spirit of the Yuletide.

In 2022, no fewer than 2,000 PWDs, received financial support from the Lagos State Government, while several physically challenged persons were given assistive devices ranging from Wheelchairs, Guide Canes, Hearing Aids, Motorised Wheelchairs, Cerebral Palsy Chairs, Braille Embossers and Laptops, among others.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the presentation to the beneficiaries at the 2022 Disability Entrepreneurship and Empowerment programme, tagged: “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation In Fuelling Accessible And Equitable World”, in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disability held at LTV premises, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on December 6, 2022.

During the event, 1,000 PWDs with entrepreneurial skills will get financial assistance to help build the capacity of their businesses, while 500 vulnerable and 500 elderly Persons With Disabilities received financial empowerment from the State Government.

Lagos State Government last year September also, provided hearing aids, an electronic device designed to improve hearing, to nine primary school pupils as part of efforts to reduce hearing impairment among schoolchildren.

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The Governor Sanwo-Olu administration a few weeks ago also declared the third Saturday in September of every year as a day for persons with Usher syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes blindness and deafness.

According to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, the declaration formed part of the policy of inclusion of the state government towards ensuring that “no one is left behind,” especially persons with disabilities.

Speaking recently during a meeting with some persons with Usher Syndrome at the agency’s office in Ikeja, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, said the rare genetic disorder that affects the three sensory organs of sight, hearing, and balance currently has no known cure but is preventable.

Oyetunde explained that the state government had always been practical concerning issues relating to people with disabilities, stressing that the THEMES+ developmental agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was all-inclusive in this regard.

She said, “Millions of people are affected by this genetic disorder worldwide, with the larger incidence occurring in the developing nations of Africa and Asia as a result of mass ignorance and a severe lack of genetic testing and counseling facilities.”

“The Usher Syndrome community has advocated the third Saturday in September every year as an international day on which all nations and states can join efforts to create awareness about the condition with the aim of halting its advent and possibly making it history, thereby reducing the future incidence of deafblindness worldwide.

“As the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, for and on behalf of the Office, I hereby proclaim the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs’ recognition of and full support for the Global Usher Syndrome Awareness Day 2024, being Saturday, September 21, 2024.”

The Executive Director of Lion Heart Foundation, Segun Okelola, while commending LASODA and the state government as the first state to recognise the Ushers Syndrome, noted that the declaration was a significant landmark in the fight against the onslaught of the deaf and blind conditions.

Security of life and prosperity is the basic responsibility of government, and this is one of the reasons why the Lagos State Government picked interest in the security of physically challenged people by partnering with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) through LASODA to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities.

According to the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, the collaboration will address critical issues surrounding accessibility and adaptability in both government and private offices, ensuring that PWDs can effectively utilise these spaces.

Speaking on the collaboration during a recent visit to the LASODA office in Ikeja, Mr. Amadu Okomayin, Head of Unit, PWD, NSCDC Lagos Command, expressed their willingness to collaborate with LASODA in enforcing disability laws regarding accessibility and other inclusive policies.

“We are here to offer our services by collaborating with LASODA to ensure that laws guarding the protection of the rights of PWDs are adequately enforced.

“We are all aware of the vital role that security agencies play in enforcing accessibility standards and protecting the interests of vulnerable populations. Through this partnership, LASODA and NSCDC will create a more inclusive society where PWDs can access and utilise public and private facilities with dignity and ease,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu and his family also have a special place for the Persons With Disability. The Governor on many occasions, has celebrated special moments with the PWDs. Hardly is there any major public event in the state without the people with special needs being accommodated.

Governor Sanwo-Olu celebrated his 59th birthday on June 25 with children living with disabilities at Lagos House, Ikeja. The birthday event organised by the Lagos State Executive Council was attended by about 250 special needs students and their teachers, who sang various Thanksgiving songs and displayed their talents to celebrate Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The Governor, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, cut his birthday cake surrounded by the children with special needs from different schools in Lagos State.

He pledged to continue to prioritise the welfare and access of children, particularly those with special needs, to qualitative and free education in the state.

Speaking during the birthday thanksgiving, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said, “We are showing our love to Mr Governor and the first family for their love and care, particularly towards children and children with special needs.

“Mr Governor gives so much of himself day in, day out without sleep most times, and we know that at the forefront of everything he does, children are paramount, particularly those with special needs. Year in and year out, he does so much for them, but we felt that on a day like this, there is no better time or better way to celebrate his 59th birthday than with the children.”

Speaking on how the PWDs have been positively touched in Lagos State, Mrs Adetoun Okulaja, a physically challenged person, said, “Governor Sanwo-Olu had helped the physically challenged in several ways in the state’s policy, morally, financially, and otherwise.”

These modest achievements, among numerous others, clearly reflect the unwavering commitment of Governor Sanwo-Olu to improve the lives of residents, particularly the persons with disabilities, special needs, and vulnerable in ensuring Greater Lagos for all.

Ogunbanke is a postgraduate student of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos.