In an effort to advance disability-inclusive development and strengthen the capacity of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government in Lagos state to contribute to the implementation of the Disability Act at the National and state levels, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs and the World Bank have led a capacity-building workshop for relevant MDAs and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the state.
The three-day capacity workshop, on rights-based approaches to Disability-Inclusive Development, Governance, and Public Policy, organized by the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), brought together management and staff of LASODA, representatives from selected MDAs, and leaders of OPDs across the state.
Dr Adebukola Adebayo, the World Bank Consultant who facilitated the workshop, shared that the workshop is the first step to prepare LASODA to carry out the technical assistance (TA) activities being provided by the World Bank.
According to Adebayo, the purpose of the technical assistance is to “help assess the policy, capacity and governance gaps in LASODA and help them to respond to it by developing relevant policies to enable them to implement the National Disability Act and the Lagos State Special People’s Law (SPL) more effectively.”
He also noted that the technical assistance from the World Bank seeks to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, such that all MDAs are well equipped to implement the SPL, and not to leave the burden of implementation to LASODA alone.
Adebayo stated that the World Bank is replicating similar support in 5 other states: Imo, Cross River, Kwara, Gombe and Kebbi, as well as the FCT, to domesticate or implement the National Disability Act.
Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, the General Manager of LASODA, in her remarks, commended the World Bank for the support and appealed to all MDAs to propel the conversation of disability-inclusion in their jurisdiction and to consider disability-inclusive development as a collective responsibility.
Oyetunde-Lawal, who buttressed that the workshop aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the rights-based approach to disability inclusion in development planning and governance, reiterated the need for MDAs to have disability focal persons in their respective Ministries to ease coordination and facilitate smooth implementation of the SPL.
The communique issued at the end of the three-day workshop, signed by the LASODA GM and Dr Mrs Adekola Oluwafunmilayo, Director of Monitoring, Orientation & Evaluation at LASODA, detailed key resolutions made by all parties.
Some of the resolutions include the need for full implementation and monitoring of the Lagos State Special People’s Law and its alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), strengthening institutional capacity within MDAs, and establishing functional mechanisms for consultation with OPDs in policy development.
Other recommendations focused on allocating adequate resources for disability-related programs with transparency and accountability, enhancing public awareness campaigns to combat stigma and discrimination, and institutionalizing periodic training for public officials and civil society on disability-inclusive development.
Participants hailed the initiative, stating that it helped to increase knowledge about the issues affecting PWDs and steps to be taken by the government to promote inclusivity.
Mrs. Salisu Omowumi, from the Office of Works at Alausa Secretariat, described the program as “very interesting,” adding that she learned many things about persons with disabilities, relevant policies, and the functions of LASODA.
“As an architect, I have been able to add this knowledge to my own professional understanding,” she said.
Mr. Tolani Ojuri, Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association, hailed the program, noting that it was beneficial to have all MDAs together with LASODA in the same room for discussions on promoting the rights of PWDs in the state.