The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) has called on the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to create an agency to handle and coordinate the activities of people with disabilities in the state.
The programme officer of the organisation, Kolawole Jayeoba, spoke during a media collaboration and awareness campaign on the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls with disabilities for stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, supported by Hivos People Unlimited, and we led groups.
Jayeoba, who lamented increasing cases of discrimination against PWD, especially women and girls, argued that the implementation of the disability law in the state would be effective with an independent agency for special persons.
He noted that the agency if created, would enable the government to initiate and implement its policies and programmes for the disabled by identifying their challenges and securing partnerships with local and international organisations.
He said,” There is a need for us to make disability law truly effective in Ekiti by ensuring the creation of an agency or commission that will coordinate the activities of people with disabilities in the state.
“Apart from that, the creation of the agency will also help in ensuring the support of donor agencies and other international organisations for the state towards people with disabilities.
“The truth is, as a state, we will do more for the people with an agency than a special adviser. Inclusivity is key and important, and we must ensure there is no need for discrimination against the special persons in Ekiti.”
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso-Omotosho, said the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, was committed to the welfare and inclusion of people with disabilities in government activities.
He dismissed the insinuations of marginalisation, revealing that the government has maintained frequent engagement with them, including employment opportunities across all sectors of governance.
The governor assured stakeholders that his government would continue to implement the disability law signed in 2020 and create a more conducive environment for PWD to operate in the state.
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