The Permanent Secretary of the Parastatal Monitoring Office (PMO), Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, has commended Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA for its outstanding prioritising the interest of PWDs, just as she encouraged the leadership of the agency to collaborate with other government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to promote inclusion in their programs.
She gave the commendation on Monday when she led a team on a work tour to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) on Monday.
“I am highly enlightened by the information and activities of LASODA. I urge you to liaise with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to participate in the annual Trade Fair, showcasing the remarkable talents of Persons with Disabilities,” Mrs. Ososanya said.
She also expressed interest in partnering with LASODA to advance Governor Sanwo-Olu’s goal of “leaving no one behind” and encouraged ongoing discussions to achieve this objective.
The General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, after welcoming the PMO officials, highlighted the agency’s core responsibilities and efforts made so far in promoting inclusion and championing the needs of PWDs.
She emphasized LASODA’s commitment to protecting the rights and integrity of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and advancing the objectives of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMESPLUS Agenda.
Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal outlined the agency’s strategies, including medical outreach, empowerment initiatives, education, transportation, monitoring, accessibility, sensitization, and employment interventions.
She noted that LASODA actively engages with various ministries, departments, agencies, and private organizations to support PWDs through skills development, financial assistance, medical support, and advocacy.
“Towards achieving our goals, we have recently supported one hundred Persons with Disabilities with ₦100,000 each to alleviate economic hardship,” Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal said.
She also mentioned ongoing collaborations with the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to provide comprehensive health coverage for PWDs under the Ilera Eko health package and also with the Lagos State Scholarship Board so that students with disabilities can be given priority when it comes to benefiting from the government’s scholarship programme.
Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal highlighted the importance of coordinating policies and programs to address the specific needs of PWDs and thanked Mrs. Ososanya for her visit and support.