LASODA Reaffirms Commitment to Disability Rights and Welfare in Lagos
The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has strongly dismissed suggestions that government support for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is merely symbolic or superficial. The agency's leadership has emphasized that its interventions are carefully structured to ensure fairness, accountability, and wide-reaching impact across the state.
Structured Approach to Disability Support
General Manager of LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, stated that the agency, which has been operational for nearly fifteen years, "remains committed to safeguarding the rights of PWDs and promoting their full participation in the social and economic life of Lagos State." She addressed concerns that some individuals feel excluded from government programs, explaining that such perceptions often stem from a lack of awareness about beneficiary selection processes.
Oyetunde-Lawal detailed that LASODA primarily works through recognized disability clusters across Lagos State. These clusters serve as the primary channels for disseminating information and selecting beneficiaries for various programs and partnerships. "Most of our opportunities are shared through cluster heads," she noted, adding that the agency implements measures to prevent beneficiary repetition within the same year or across consecutive years to maximize resource distribution.
Cluster System as Foundation for Fairness
The LASODA boss emphasized the practical necessity of the cluster system in a state as large and populous as Lagos. "LASODA cannot realistically reach every individual with a disability in Lagos," she acknowledged, stressing that belonging to an organized cluster significantly enhances access to information and support services.
Oyetunde-Lawal explained that while the agency is currently improving its digital platforms to strengthen public engagement, opening all opportunities without structure would create operational challenges. "If everything is thrown open without a framework, it will create chaos. The cluster system remains the most effective way to ensure order and fairness," she asserted.
Call for Community Engagement
The General Manager urged persons with disabilities who are not part of any organized groups to actively seek out relevant communities. She highlighted that shared networks represent the fastest pathway to benefit from collaborations between LASODA and other government bodies, including the Lagos State Trust Fund and relevant ministries.
Oyetunde-Lawal maintained that genuine inclusion extends beyond rhetorical commitments, emphasizing that structured participation and community engagement are fundamental to ensuring disability support in Lagos delivers tangible, meaningful impact. Her statements reinforce LASODA's ongoing mission to transform disability rights from policy declarations into practical realities for Lagos residents with disabilities.
