Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities, pledging that they will continue to benefit from government programmes and opportunities.
The governor made the pledge on Wednesday while presenting appointment and employment letters to members of the disability community during a meeting with their leaders at the Government House in Osogbo.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Needs, Kamil Aransi, commended Adeleke for prioritising the needs of persons with disabilities through key policy initiatives, including the passage and signing into law of the state’s disability bill and the establishment of the Bureau of People with Disabilities.
Aransi also praised the governor for ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the ongoing recruitment of teachers and other employment opportunities in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Bureau of People with Disabilities, Ayobami Oyewumi Oyetunde, described the creation of the bureau as a landmark achievement that has positioned Osun among the few states in Nigeria with strong institutional frameworks for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
Also speaking, the state chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Stephen Oluwafemi, expressed appreciation to the governor for what he described as compassionate and inclusive leadership.
“We appreciate God for giving us Governor Adeleke because our lives need a leader with empathy, and we have Governor Nurudeen. Nurudeen means light,” he said.
Oluwafemi noted that the signing of the disability bill into law by the Adeleke administration ended more than two decades of advocacy by the disability community in the state.
“For over 20 years we struggled for this bill, and Governor Adeleke signed it into law without stressing us. Our bureau also started under his administration,” he added.
Responding, Adeleke assured members of the community that his government would continue to prioritise their welfare and full participation in governance.
“I prioritise your welfare and inclusion in governance. Our administration will continue to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in our programmes and policies,” the governor said.
He subsequently presented appointment and employment letters to beneficiaries from the disability community as part of the administration’s efforts to expand opportunities and promote inclusiveness in the state’s public service.