Access to life-changing opportunities and economic empowerment, capable of transforming the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are fulcrums upon which the Osun Disability Protection Act was anchored.
While implementation of this Act has commenced, observers, most especially civil societies, believe that activities that will stimulate real change in the lives of PWDs as projected by the legal framework are still rare or little.
To address the slow pace of implementation, the sponsor of the bill and lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency, Adewumi Adeyemi Irekandu during the last weekend empowered ten persons with disabilities in his constituencies.
This time around, it was a transformative empowerment that focuses on inclusion and economic growth.
The lawmaker gave ten multipurpose mobile shops to ten PWDs while Point of Sales (POS) machines and start-up grants of about N200,000 were also made available for them to start the business.
Speaking at the event held on Saturday, Adeyemi recalled that his longterm vision for inclusive and equitable society prompted him to sponsor the disability bill.
He said his time at the a
Assembly has been dedicated partly to the inclusion of PWDs into decision-making and empowerment programme and he is poised to do more.
He said, “in terms of lawmaking, I have several bills in the house. Some have become laws while some are currently at different stages of legislation. I sponsored the Osun State Disability Protection Bill, which has been enacted into law now.
“Part of my various educational, welfare, and empowerment initiatives, is payment of WAEC and NECO fees for less privileged students in my constituency annually, payment of school fees for out-of-school children to ensure eduction is affordable and available to all.
“Also, I will be giving a token for Christmas and New Year celebrations for our people.”
At the event, individuals present such as lawmaker representing Ede federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, Speaker Adewale Egbedun and Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Ibukun Fadipe all joined hands to support Adeyemi to donating start-up capitals for the persons with disabilities.
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