In celebration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Lagos State Government has renewed its commitment to building a more inclusive society by expanding support systems and strengthening policy engagement for persons with disabilities.

The event, held at the Whitestone Event Centre in Ikeja, adopted the theme “Achieving the SDGs With and For Persons with Disabilities: A Lagos of Inclusion, Access, and Innovation.” It focused on promoting dignity, accessibility, equal opportunity, and the full integration of persons with disabilities into the state’s socio-economic life.

General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, said the observance reinforces the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in driving meaningful inclusion. She noted that the theme aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda, which prioritises accessibility, innovation, and equity across all sectors.

Oyetunde-Lawal highlighted that discussions were structured around four key pillars — Transportation, Education, Health, and Technology — to help identify barriers and develop sustainable strategies for disability inclusion.

She added that the event is expected to produce actionable policy recommendations for LASODA’s 2026 advocacy roadmap. Other outcomes include increased stakeholder visibility, broader media coverage on empowerment-focused narratives, strengthened partnerships with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and the distribution of assistive devices to more than 200 beneficiaries.

Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda of “leaving no one behind.” He said Lagos recognises the creativity, resilience, and leadership of persons with disabilities and remains dedicated to removing systemic barriers through deliberate policies and institutional reforms.

Agoro noted that building an inclusive society requires sustained effort and collaboration:
“Every programme initiated, every barrier broken, and every voice heard brings us one step closer to our collective vision,” he said.

He added that LASODA will continue to drive inclusion through targeted advocacy, entrepreneurship support, awareness campaigns, and partnerships that ensure persons with disabilities are fully integrated into civic, social, and economic activities across the state.