…We will implement more Landmark events soon, says General Manager
By Adewale Adeyanju, INN reporter
The grand finale of the annual Trade Expo and Talent Hunt show organized by Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, took place on Wednesday 23rd March, 2022. It was held in the Adeyemi Bero auditorium of the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. Winners emerged in each of the three major competitions of the event.
There were three competitive categories, namely Arts Exhibition, Singing and Dancing.
So-Said Charity Home emerged overall winner in the Arts Exhibition and Dancing. Meanwhile, Safrel Speech and Language School won the singing category of the competition.
General Manager of LASODA, Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo, who addressed participants at the event noted that one of the reasons for establishing the Office is to celebrate the uniqueness and inherent talents of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) which, according to him, the event exemplified.
He acknowledged the doggedness and desire to break even among the various participating groups at the competition. Mr Dairo had words of commendation for the display of talent by the singers, dancers and art exhibitors.
Ogundairo enjoined Persons Living with Disabilities, PLWDs, to be more endearing, develop a spirit of synergy and endeavor to be more resolute in making impact wherever they find themselves – adding that the event further attests to the fact that there is ability in disability.
The General Manager also made reference to the Special Peoples Law. He stressed that the Law, among other things, advocated social inclusion for PWDs as well as offer a life of fulfillment and productivity for persons with disabilities.
He went on to assure of more landmark programs and policies in the State. These, he said would soon be unveiled by the State Government for the benefit of persons with disabilities.
According to Dairo: “Some of these initiatives are already unfolding. For instance, we held the first ever Sports Festival for Persons with Disabilities last year. The festival was the first of its kind in Nigeria. At some point this year, the agency will hold a one of its kind empowerment programme and several beneficiaries would emerge.”
The General Manager seized the opportunity to disclose plans by LASODA to recognize some corporate Organizations and NGOs who have been positively disposed to uplifting the standard of living among PWDs. Also included were service providers who had added proven value to lives of PWDs.
In Dairo’s words: “As part of the proposed empowerment initiative, a number of PWDs would benefit from different assistive devices that will be made available by the State Government to enhance standard of living of Lagosians with disabilities. He noted that more PWDs have enrolled under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme as part of the present administration’s social inclusion initiatives.”
The General manager maintained that the various giant strides and successes being recorded by LASODA are possible because the Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is dedicated and committed in his resolve that no one should be left behind in the delivery of his administration’s THEMES agenda.
He went on to challenge various beneficiaries of government programmes and policies involving PWDs to always show gratitude to the government. That way, the government will be encouraged to implement more policies that favour Persons with Disabilities.
On her part, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde pleaded with PWDs that are yet to register with LASODA to do so in order to benefit from the various empowerment initiatives being rolled out by the government.
She urged PWDs to be involved in contributing their quota to the development of Lagos State as against isolating themselves from governance and hiding their disabilities.
The 2nd, 3rd and 4th winners of the competition’s Art Exhibition are :Tolase farms, Patrick Speech school, and Safrel Speech and Language Development Centre, Odungunyan, Ikorodu
In the singing category, Adeyinka Adeyemi, Christ Light School and Esther Salami emerged 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively.
The dancing category had Safrel Speech and Language Development School as first runner up, followed by Adigun Olawale, with Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Owutu Ikorodu coming next.
The special homes, organizations, entrepreneurs and institutions that participated in the exhibition included Tolase Farms, owned by Deaf Business woman, Ms. Tolase Kolapo. Abbey Liquid Soaps, Walex Crafting, Hope of Glory Troupe, directed by Mrs. Ireti Oye-Olajide. Also participating was So-Said Charity Homes, Patrick Speech Centre, Down Syndrome Foundation, which sponsored some members of the Down Syndrome community on Barbing exhibitions where they showcased attractive haircuts that wowed onlookers.
The Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development, through two of its centres: Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, Owutu, Ikorodu-Lagos and Rehabilitation Training Centre, Majidun, Ikorodu, Lagos, participated in the competition. Both did exhibits of goods and products produced by inmates. Their exhibits allows for cursory appraisals of their roles in the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in Lagos State.
The audience was treated to lively entertainment by the Pain and Pleasure Band. Members of the band, most of whom are visually challenged thrilled with their dexterity with music instruments and vocal prowess as they performed a myriad of melodious tunes to the audience’s applause.
In attendance at the occasion was the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) – Mr. Dare Dairo; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs – Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal; Dr. Tolu Ajomale – representing the Ministry of Health; Mrs. Mojisola Adeyemi-Fashola – representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Planning & Budget; Mrs. Bamigboye Toyin – representing Lagos State Resilience Office; Mr. Aina Adeola, from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and several others.
Photos from the event
