By Oziegbe Okoeki
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday disclosed that the Disability Trust Fund has been reactivated in the State.
He assured that the state government would always prioritize the needs of Persons with Disability (PwD).
Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure during an interactive session with disability persons at the State House, Marina, Lagos.
The Disability persons were given a number of assisted devices such as wheel chairs, white canes, crutches, walking sticks among others by the governor.
The Governor said, “I deliberately asked them to bring you here to have a good time. I want to thank you for all the suggestions you made, listening to you this afternoon has enriched us.
“The budget to the effect of disability trust fund has just been passed by the House to the tune of five hundred million naira. We will also do the appointment of the S.S.A. on Disability Affairs which you requested for, to relate with you better and we can jaw jaw,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Some of the representatives of the persons with disability who spoke at the event appealed to the Governor to look into the employment challenges facing them.
They also complained of non-accessibility at the local government level, stating that they were being treated like beggars.
A representative of Nigerian Association of the Blind, Lagos chapter, Mr Babatunde Mohammed urged the State Government to address clustering of students at the schools of Disability.
He suggested separating individual disabled persons from others, adding that that would ensure effective learning environment.
Olajumoke Otitoju from Iyaniwura Foundation, said there are no enough schools and care givers for the disabled.
She pointed out that intellectual disability should be properly handled at the early stage of their lives, saying that would minimize their disabilities.
Adisa Oyedele lambasted the local government chairmen for abandoning them, saying that the disability law was not made functional at the local level.