Osun State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to promoting the rights and welfare of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), emphasizing their full inclusion in all facets of state affairs.
Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Special Needs, Hon. Aransi Kamil, gave this assurance in Osogbo
He spoke while declaring open a two-day Capacity Building Workshop organized by the Festus Fajemiyo Foundation in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Sports and Special Needs.
The workshop, held at WOCDIF Centre, was designed for duty bearers across the state to deepen understanding and ensure the effective implementation of the Osun State Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Law, 2024, which was enacted by the State House of Assembly in May and assented to by Governor Adeleke on June 10, 2024.
Hon. Kamil highlighted that the landmark legislation paved the way for the establishment of the Osun State Bureau for People With Disabilities, which is tasked with ensuring the integration and total inclusion of PWDs. The Bureau will be responsible for prioritizing their education, healthcare, social, economic, and civic rights, as stipulated in the new law.
Commending the government’s bold step, the Director of the Festus Fajemiyo Foundation, Mr. Afolabi Fajemiyo, praised the administration’s proactive approach to disability rights. He expressed the Foundation’s readiness to work closely with the Bureau to ensure the effective implementation of the law, adding that discrimination or stigmatization of PWDs will attract strict penalties, including fines and sanctions.
In his goodwill message, the State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr. Stephen Oluwafemi, described the Adeleke administration as “God-sent” and urged all government agencies to ensure full compliance with the new law.
Delivering a lecture at the workshop, Mr. Funso Olajide—a resource person and a member of the PWD community—provided a detailed breakdown of the 64 sections of the 2024 Disability Law. He emphasized that the primary aim of the law is to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Osun State.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation and submission of actionable plans by selected agencies to support the law’s implementation.
Also in attendance were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Needs, Hon. Aderibigbe Azeez; the SSA on Disability Matters, Hon. Isiah Oladosu; officials of the Ministry of Sports led by Mr. Layi Adesiyan; Executive Secretary of the Bureau for Persons With Special Disabilities, Rotarian Ayobami Oyewumi Oyetunde; representatives of NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
