Юристы с инвалидностью и офис по делам инвалидов Лагоса обсуждают партнерство

The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs and the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities are exploring a partnership to strengthen legal advocacy and accessibility for persons with disabilities in the state. The move followed a courtesy visit by members of the association, led by its President, Tosan Ene, to the General Manager of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal. Ene said the association visited LASODA to identify areas where its legal expertise could complement the agency’s efforts to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. He said the proposed partnership would focus particularly on advocacy and accessibility, with both organisations working to address barriers limiting the participation of persons with disabilities in society. “We are here to explore areas of partnership that will contribute to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Lagos State,” Ene said. He added that involving lawyers with disabilities in the agency’s advocacy efforts could strengthen interventions aimed at addressing rights and accessibility challenges affecting the community. Responding, Oyetunde-Lawal highlighted some of LASODA’s existing measures on accessibility and advocacy, including its engagement with government agencies and other stakeholders. She cited the agency’s collaboration with the Lagos State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency on the provision of special number plates for persons with disabilities and their caregivers, aimed at making the vehicles easier to identify and facilitating access. The LASODA general manager also mentioned the agency’s accessibility checklists and awareness programmes, which she said were being used to identify barriers and promote greater inclusion across the state. “We remain open to partnerships that will advance disability inclusion and promote the rights, dignity and welfare of persons with disabilities,” Oyetunde-Lawal said. No specific joint programme or implementation framework was announced at the meeting. Rather, the two sides agreed to explore possible areas of collaboration, with the association expected to submit a formal proposal to LASODA for consideration. The development therefore represents an initial step towards a possible institutional partnership rather than the launch of a new disability inclusion programme. Other members of the association at the meeting were Gbelupe Joseph, Lukman Salami, Mariah Kazeem and Enough Agofure, while LASODA’s Head of Legal Department, Babatunde Safiu, also attended.