Albino Foundation Advocates On Protection Of Persons With Disability

The Albino Foundation has reached out to the Osun Ministry of Justice on the need to ensure the protection of persons with disability in the state against abandonment, discrimination, and violence among others.

This was made known by Kehinde Ogunbiyitan, Osun state Coordinator for Disability Inclusion Project during the presentation of the objective of the Disability Inclusion Advocacy Steering Committee to the leadership of the Ministry of Justice at the conference room of the ministry in Osogbo.

Ogunbiyitwn asked that the ministry should step up its support service to persons with disability by providing a desk officer to serve as the intermediary between the ministry and guide the categories of physically challenged persons.

He also requested for provision of a collapsible or permanent ramp for accessibility to persons with disability who uses a wheelchair for mobility.

The Albino Foundation State coordinator who also asked that a sign language interpreter be used for the inclusion of person with disability in the deaf and dumb category added that services that will provide an enabling environment for vulnerable persons should be put in place.

The Chairman, Disability Inclusion Advocacy Steering Committee, Bukola Idowu who stated that access to justice can not be overemphasized, commended the ministry for the consideration given to persons with disability through the Department of Public Defender, he asked that justice be promptly delivered when needed. 

He also solicited that the ministry creates budget allocation to support persons with disability in the state, and it extends partnership to the agency to protect the rights of persons with disability against all forms of violence.

Another representative of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD),  Kehinde Ogunniran, who is also a member of the steering committee appealed to the Osun government through the ministry of justice to speed up the process of the Osun State Discrimination Prohibition Act and make it into law for the benefits of the persons with disability community in the state.

Responding, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Femi Akande declared the readiness of the ministry to assist the physically challenged community in Osun.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Barrister Adekemi Bello, Akande described persons with disability as citizens of Nigeria who have equal rights just as every other Nigerian Citizen.

He added that the Osun Government under the leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will leave no stone unturned in the provision of laws and legal services that gives enabling environment to the disability clusters.