…Donates Protective Gear To Albinism Association of Nigeria
In a move aimed at fostering greater understanding and promoting the visibility of disability issues in society, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has awarded N1,000,000 each to Disability organisations for advocacy and awareness initiatives.
The donations were presented to Dyslexia Nigeria, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, the Down Syndrome Association, the Dwarf Association of Nigeria, and the National Association for the Blind at the premises of the Agency in Alausa on Wednesday.
The General Manager of LASODA, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, while presenting the cheques to the groups, emphasised the importance of continued awareness campaigns in breaking down barriers that hinder the full participation of persons with disabilities in society.
She stated that each group should utilise the funds to carry out impactful campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the importance of their inclusion in all aspects of life.
“Awareness is key to creating a society where everyone, regardless of their physical or mental challenges, has equal opportunities to thrive”, she said.
Mrs Oyetunde-Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources at LASODA, Mrs Omolade Sonubi, added that the initiative would play a crucial role in shifting societal attitudes and promoting understanding.
She stressed the need to ensure that people with disabilities are recognised not as a marginal group but as an integral part of the community.
The Albinism Association of Nigeria also received protective gear, including umbrellas, sunscreen cream, hats, and other sun protection items. This donation aims to raise awareness about the unique health risks faced by people with albinism, particularly their heightened vulnerability to skin cancer due to sun exposure.
Also speaking during the presentations, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Shola Akinbule, said the fund and support from LASODA is a significant milestone in Lagos State’s ongoing commitment to promoting the rights, dignity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
He highlighted the state government’s determination to address the various challenges faced by disability groups, from accessibility to social acceptance, and to ensure that disability is no longer a barrier to living a full and productive life.
“We believe that this gesture will support you in the drive to raise awareness and encourage broader societal engagement to build a more inclusive Lagos”, he said.
The initiative underscores the importance of safeguarding the health of people with albinism and educating the public on the need for proper sun protection.
Responding to the gesture, the Deputy Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind, Lagos State Chapter, Adeola Aina said the support grant from LASODA would go a long way to fast track the delivery of some of their activities as the year comes to an end.
He said the fund would go to school outreach, teachers and parents training just to ensure that they understand the plights of persons with disability in Lagos.
In his words, “We will continue to use this fund to advocate for the betterment of the blind community in Lagos State, and we will continue to create awareness of blindness and how to cope with the unavoidable loss of sight in society”.
Similarly, the President and Founder of the Dwarf Association of Nigeria, Mr. Israel Olujidi lauded the support of the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu through the agency. “LASODA has done wonderful things for us; two weeks ago, they gave the Dwarf Association N500,000, and today, we are collecting N1m to create awareness about the association. We are indeed grateful”, he said.
Others also appreciated the state government for the support, which, according to them, will go a long way to providing awareness about most of the challenges being faced by the disability clusters.
