The Lagos State government, through the Office for Disability Affairs, has offered funding assistance to various disability groups to enhance the promotion of advocacy towards advancing the cause of people with disabilities in the state.
The beneficiaries of the gesture, who received a N1m cheques for their respective groups, include the Down Syndrome Foundation, National Association for the Blind, Dwarfs Association of Nigeria, Dyslexia Nigeria and Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking after the presentations in Ikeja on Thursday, the General Manager, LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, said the essence was to create platforms to further push the disability agenda forward and foster greater understanding within the community.
Oyetunde, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Administration and Human Resource, Omolade Sonubi, explained that the support was to strengthen the scope of advocacy and cushion the efforts of awareness of the disability groups.
“In October, we had the Down Syndrome awareness month and the government has resolved to give something to the association to continue the awareness. So, as we hand over this fund to you, it is our belief that you will continue in the area of awareness and this will make people to appreciate us more.
“We will continue to appreciate the government as an agency, as we promise to continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote inclusion in our society,” she said
Besides the cash presentation, the Albinism Association of Nigeria were given protective kits to cover their skin from the sun.
Umbrellas, hats, Efudix creams, sunscreen lotion among others were shared to commemorate the Albinism Week.
Punch/ Naomi Akinkunle