World Disability Day: Lagos State Govt Restates Commitment To Special Needs Children

The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to continue to deploy human and technological resources to improve the quality of life for special needs children and people in the State.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu stated this in her address at the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities organised by the Ministry of Education and held at the Police College Grounds, Ikeja, with the theme: “Transformative Solutions For Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World”.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Funmilayo Omotoso, said it is on record that the State Government runs an all-inclusive educational sector in line with global best practices.

She also disclosed that the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) remains committed to supporting campaigns to halt the stereotypes against people living with disabilities, just as she implored the general public to show kindness to them always.

In his remarks, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, represented by Permanent Secretary Local Government Establishment and Training, Mr. Abiodun Bamigboye said Lagos has a robust employment policy that is inclusive of people with special needs in the mainstream public service and Local Government Service Commission

He also outlined some of the initiatives embarked upon by the present administration for their benefits, including creating special parking spaces and construction of ramps in all public buildings to make mobility easy for disabled persons.

Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo also spoke on the various innovative transformations introduced by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for people with special needs in the state, listing them as regular capacity training and retraining of teachers in handling special children, increased partnership with the private sector to enhance the quality of living standard and massive enrollment drive of special needs children.

“In fulfilment of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s promise to assist people living with disabilities in Lagos State to realise their dreams and live a more comfortable life, the state government has empowered some of them through skills acquisition training programmes so that they can contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the State”.

The high point of the event was the presentation of awards to individuals and corporate organisations in appreciation of their contributions to the development of special needs education in Lagos State.