By Oni Femi, Ekiti
The Disability Not A Barriers Initiative (DINABI) and Ekiti State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) have conducted a needs assessment on persons with disabilities to ensure their inclusion in the Ekiti State 2024 budget.
This was made known during a one-day workshop organised by the initiative with support from Disability Rights Fund (DRF) on Friday, September 15, with Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), office of the Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Ekiti State office of Disability Affairs and Ekiti State Ministry of Budget in attendance.
Speaking during the event, DINABI Executive Director, Olajide Funso highlighted how far the organisation has gone to make facilities and services in Ekiti state accessible to persons with disabilities. He tasked the group to identify their various needs to be included in 2024 budget.
Mr Owolabi Kayode, chairman, JONAPWD Ekiti State chapter, appreciated DINABI for being the voice of PWDs in the state. He also appreciated the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Biodun Oyebanji and the new Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Hon Adetoun Agboola for considering PWDs in the recent TESCOM recruitment.
Hon Adetoun Agboola, the S.A on Special Education and Social Inclusion, said she was impressed with how far DINABI has gone in advocating for PWDs in the state, she therefore encouraged Ekiti PWDs to keep doing things that will bring the attention of the Governor to them using ‘do no harm” principles.
Hon. Agboola further disclosed her plans to ensure more facilities in the state are accessible including schools.
Mr. Babajide Afuye from Ministry of Budget implored PWDs to be more conversant to the issues related to budget. He made it known that needs assessments should be incorporated in the budget in due course and urged the group to liaise with Ekiti state office for disability affairs and various Ministries responsible to make the needs be included in 2024 budget.
INN reports that the workshop led by a Technical Assistant, Dr Mike Omilusi identified areas of needs such as Health care, Education, Accessibility, sports and many others.