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L-R: Blessing Oladunjoye, Executive Director of BO Foundation for Inclusive Media; Mr Emmanuel Dada, Member, Board of Trustees, Divine International Centre for the Blind; Faith Ekienabor, Vice Chair, Nigeria Association of the Blind, Lagos; Mrs Hamzat, mother of a child with physical disability; and Dr Oluwafunmilayo Adekola, Director, Monitoring Evaluation and Orientation, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) at the public presentation of assistive devices to disability groups in Lagos.
DISABILITY rights advocates, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and philanthropists have called for stronger collaboration among government, private organisations and development partners to advance the inclusion and welfare of persons with disabilities.
The call came on Thursday in Lagos during the presentation of assistive devices and welfare items to beneficiaries under an intervention funded by the Marlon Oliver family and Mr Michael Fadeyi, a PhD researcher at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
Newsmen reports that the intervention, coordinated by the BO Foundation for Inclusive Media (BOFIM), marked the final phase of a three-part programme designed to improve access to education, healthcare and independent living for persons with disabilities.
Speaking virtually, Fadeyi described the initiative as a demonstration of practical commitment to promoting equal opportunities and improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.
He said the first phase of the programme equipped the Visually Impaired Unit of the University of Lagos Library with industrial computers and screen-reading scanners to improve access to academic materials for blind students.
All the items that were distributed to five different groups.
According to him, the second phase involved the donation of a 20-kilogramme industrial washing machine to the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted to enhance the welfare of students.
Fadeyi said the final phase focused on empowering individuals through the distribution of wheelchairs, specialised laptops, talking blood pressure monitors, medications and other assistive devices to support independent living.
He urged governments at all levels to develop disability-responsive healthcare and social protection programmes that recognised the diverse needs of different disability groups.
According to him, persons with disabilities often incur additional expenses on transportation, healthcare and specialised support services, making them more vulnerable to poverty despite earning regular incomes.
Fadeyi noted that while persons living with albinism required specialised skin care products, individuals with cerebral palsy needed sustained physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.
He also advocated greater support for parents and caregivers, especially mothers raising children with disabilities, saying such assistance would strengthen families and improve developmental outcomes.
Caption: A parent receives a three-month supply of medication for her child with cerebral palsy.
Fadeyi further urged LASODA to intensify enforcement of the Lagos State Special People’s Law, stressing that disability rights should be upheld as legal and human rights rather than acts of charity.
In a goodwill message delivered by the Executive Director of BOFIM, Ms Blessing Oladunjoye, the Marlon Oliver family reaffirmed its commitment to advancing disability inclusion through sustained investments in education, healthcare and empowerment.
The family recalled that in 2024 it provided financial assistance and empowerment support to about 20 persons living with cerebral palsy, while also donating laptops and financial support to female blind students at the University of Lagos, the University of Ilorin and the University of Benin.
It added that the current intervention included the donation of a desktop computer and scanner to the University of Lagos Library to improve access to printed materials for visually impaired students.
Oladunjoye said beneficiaries also received medications, mobility aids and other assistive devices aimed at enhancing their independence and overall well-being.
She expressed confidence that the intervention would make a lasting difference in the lives of the beneficiaries and further promote inclusive development.
Also speaking, Dr Oluwafunmilayo Adekola, Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Orientation at LASODA, commended the Marlon Oliver family, Fadeyi and BOFIM for complementing government efforts to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
Adekola said the Lagos State Government remained committed to implementing the Lagos State Special People’s Law but acknowledged that government alone could not meet the growing needs of persons with disabilities.
She emphasised that strategic partnerships with individuals, corporate organisations and civil society groups were essential to achieving meaningful disability inclusion across the state.
Adekola urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the donated items to improve their health, productivity and overall quality of life.
She also conveyed the appreciation of the General Manager of LASODA to the donors for supporting the government’s disability inclusion agenda.
Beneficiaries and other stakeholders described the intervention as a significant contribution to building a more inclusive and accessible society, expressing gratitude to the donors for their commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. (NAN)
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Tags: Blessing Oladunjoye BO Foundation for Inclusive Media Disability inclusion partnerships LASODA Michael Fadeyi Oliver Family stakeholders