The Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun, has pledged continued support for the Deaf community and assured Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) of his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Ajose Ezekiel Tekobo, the Chairman gave the assurance during the first anniversary celebration of Deaf Awareness Day organised by the Oto-Awori Deaf Development Association on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Oto-Awori Council Secretariat.
Hon. Abiodun urged members of the Deaf community to remain united and communicate their challenges to the council for appropriate attention. He assured them of the council’s willingness to collaborate with them to promote their welfare, inclusion and participation in civic activities, while encouraging them to continue to make their voices heard on matters affecting their community.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State Association of the Deaf (LSAD), Mr. Issa Ahmadu Usman, represented by the Secretary-General of the Lagos State APC Deaf Support Group, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju, called on the LCDA management and staff to adopt more inclusive policies by learning Nigerian Sign Language, creating employment opportunities and treating Deaf residents with dignity and respect. He described Deaf persons as resilient and hardworking, stressing that effective communication and accessibility are essential for inclusive governance.
Usman also urged political leaders in Ojo Constituency to sustain their support for the Deaf community, noting that investment in education, healthcare, business support and other opportunities would reduce dependency and promote equal participation. He appealed to the council to make its services more Deaf-friendly and ensure that Deaf residents can access government services without communication barriers.
Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of the Oto-Awori Deaf Association (ODA), Mr. Abiodun Okoibhole Edusi, appealed to the LCDA Chairman to introduce policies that would expand opportunities for Deaf persons, including employment, vocational training and business support. He also called for the establishment of a Disability Desk within the council and the appointment of a qualified Deaf person as a disability aide to the council chairman to strengthen inclusive governance and ensure that the needs of PWDs are adequately represented.
Edusi expressed appreciation to Hon. Abiodun for supporting the anniversary celebration through the provision of the council secretariat and financial assistance. He also thanked the Oloto of Oto-Awori Kingdom, lawmakers and other dignitaries for their support, stressing that the proposed initiatives would promote equal opportunities and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the Deaf community.
In his presentation on the theme, “Advancing Accessibility and Equal Opportunities for All,” Dr. Mohammed Olalekan, a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), called on the LCDA to prioritise education and inclusion of PWDs. He urged the council to establish a special education programme and a dedicated disability desk to coordinate the needs and participation of PWDs, while advocating for a joint association of PWDs in Oto-Awori to strengthen representation and collaboration.
Dr. Olalekan further called for employment and empowerment opportunities for PWDs, stressing that they deserve respect, dignity and equal access to education, healthcare, politics, employment and other areas of society. He commended the council for including PWDs in the programme and urged it to support children with disabilities to gain admission into LASU and other higher institutions, expressing hope that the council would act on the recommendations and enable PWDs to become fully active participants in the development of Oto-Awori.
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