The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA ) is partnering with the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities to explore ways of strengthening legal advocacy and accessibility for persons with disabilities in the state. This followed a courtesy visit by members of the association, led by its President, Tosan Ene, to the General Manager of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal.
Ene
said the association visited LASODA to identify areas where its legal expertise
could complement the agency’s efforts to advance the rights and inclusion of
persons with disabilities.
He
said the proposed partnership would focus particularly on advocacy and
accessibility, with both organisations working to address barriers limiting the
participation of persons with disabilities in society.
“We
are here to explore areas of partnership that will contribute to advancing the
rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Lagos State,” Ene said.
He
added that involving lawyers with disabilities in the agency’s advocacy efforts
could strengthen interventions aimed at addressing rights and accessibility
challenges affecting the community.
Responding,
Oyetunde-Lawal highlighted some of LASODA’s existing measures on accessibility
and advocacy, including its engagement with government agencies and other
stakeholders.
She
cited the agency’s collaboration with the Lagos State Motor Vehicle
Administration Agency on the provision of special number plates for persons
with disabilities and their caregivers, aimed at making the vehicles easier to
identify and facilitating access.
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The
LASODA general manager also mentioned the agency’s accessibility checklists and
awareness programmes, which she said were being used to identify barriers and
promote greater inclusion across the state.
“We
remain open to partnerships that will advance disability inclusion and promote
the rights, dignity and welfare of persons with disabilities,” Oyetunde-Lawal
said.
No
specific joint programme or implementation framework was announced at the
meeting. Rather, the two sides agreed to explore possible areas of
collaboration, with the association expected to submit a formal proposal to
LASODA for consideration.
The
development therefore represents an initial step towards a possible
institutional partnership rather than the launch of a new disability inclusion
programme.
Other
members of the association at the meeting were Gbelupe Joseph, Lukman Salami,
Mariah Kazeem and Enough Agofure, while LASODA’s Head of Legal Department,
Babatunde Safiu, also attended.
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