LASODA Convenes Stakeholders to Strengthen Inclusive Services for Persons with Disabilities

The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) hosted a pivotal Stakeholders’ Forum at Bola Memorial School, Ikeja. The event, themed “Strengthening Partnership for Effective and Inclusive Disability Service Delivery,” sought to foster collaboration between the government and the private sector to better serve Persons with Disabilities (PWD

The General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, represented by Mr. Viaronu Folorunsho, expressed her gratitude to partners for their support over the past year. She emphasized that the agency’s mandate to protect and empower PWDs cannot be achieved in isolation, calling for a "united front" to address systemic challenges.

​Academic experts at the forum, including Professor Jubril Jawando of LASU, highlighted the hurdles facing the sector, such as low budgetary allocations and a lack of comprehensive data. He advocated for increased Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and a more active role for the media in championing the rights and needs of the disability community.

​Adding to the discourse, Professor Chinwe Nwanna of UNILAG stressed the importance of transparency and inter-sectoral collaboration. She urged service providers to move beyond general assistance and focus on the specific, real-world needs of PWDs to ensure that interventions lead to a measurable improvement in their quality of life.

The forum concluded with an interactive session where stakeholders shared personal experiences and proposed solutions for the coming year. This gathering reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to "leaving no one behind" by building a more inclusive and accessible environment for all its citizens.