Lagos Empowers 2,000 Physically Challenged Persons

Lagos State government has empowered over two thousand physically challenged people in the state as part of its efforts to take them off the streets and make them productive.

The government donated assistive devices and empowerment grants to them in commemoration of this year’s International Day of Persons With Disability (PWDs) towards uplifting their various businesses.

Speaking at the weekend during the Disability Entrepreneurship Empowerment Programme, (DEEP), held in Lagos which was organised by the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, (LASODA), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the gesture was to improve the plight of PWDs, empower them to be self-reliant and enable them cope with the daily challenges as well as ease their movement and participation in the society.

The governor who was represented by the commissioner for youths and social development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu, noted that the empowerment funds would increase the capacity of existing businesses of PWDs as well as those just starting up in line with his administration’s government of inclusiveness and job creation.

The event with the theme: “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fuelling Accessible and Equitable World,” according to the Governor is apt, as his administration has developed policies and interventions to give the vulnerable members of the society a sense of belonging through its developmental agenda.’’

The general manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA Mr Oluwadamilare Ogundairo stated that the event was part of the implementation of the disability law in Lagos.

Ogundairo said some non governmental organisations are also being catered for by the State government in addition to clusters of PWDs.