The National Association of Persons Living with Physical Disabilities, Lagos State chapter, has urged the Lagos State governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to put a specific programme in place to tackle the high poverty rate among persons living with disabilities in the state.
The group noted that the United Nations had estimated that people living with disabilities accounted for 80 per cent of the people affected by chronic poverty in developing countries.
It said by tackling poverty among the physically-challenged people after coming on board, the Sanwo-Olu administration would have solved more than 50 per cent of the poverty problem in the state.
The NAPWPD said this on Tuesday in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dare Dairo; General Secretary, Toyin Salami; and Publicity Secretary, Ojo Oluwole.
It urged the governor-elect not to address the problem by giving handouts to the people living with disabilities or promoting charity, but to empower them through training and skills acquisition.
The NAPWPD said it had realised that developing enterprise among the persons living with disabilities was the viable way of tackling poverty among them.
It said, “Last year, in conjunction with the Disabilities Foundation and Professor Awosika, we provided entrepreneurship training for some of our members in the transport business. Based on that training and business evaluation, they were recommended to a microfinance bank. Seven of our members got a Keke Marwa each, for which they have almost completed the repayment. Nobody should be unproductive on account of disability.”
The group urged Sanwo-Olu to provide a concrete mechanism of inclusion for people living with disabilities to shield them from local government officials and others, who, they alleged, often frustrated them.
“Most local government authorities in Lagos State are not even aware of the disability law, or the existence of an agency like the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs.
“Starting from LASODA to local government administration, the incoming government in Lagos State should see to it that the structure for inclusion is properly enshrined in critical areas like education, health, sports, poverty alleviation, and political participation,” the NAPWPD said.
The group said judging from his campaign promises, it had confidence that the Sanwo-Olu administration “would make Lagos State more conducive to people living with disabilities to thrive with dignity and have a sense of belonging.”
“We appreciate Governor Akinwumi Ambode for his bold initiatives in tackling poverty and unemployment among persons living with disabilities in Lagos State. We are no less grateful to Mr Babatunde Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu before him. Their vision, compassion and good work sustain the spirit of inclusion in Lagos State that is the envy of other states in the country,” the group said.
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