The Lagos State Government has appealed for more attention to issue of people with disability, as it formed part of good governance and sustainable development.
This comes as the State trained some of its workers and other critical stakeholders including Federal Police officers in sign language.
The government believes adequate investment in sign language in work places would bridge the communication gaps between the hearing and hearing impaired people.
Speaking at the 2022 sign language training, workshop in Lagos, the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, Mr Oluwadamilare Ogundairo said the need becomes imperative, so that Law enforcement agents, staff of Lagos State from different Ministries, Department and Agencies who interface with the public are equipped in order to communicate effectively with the people with disability.
Ogundairo explained that the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu was leaving no person behind as it continued to invest in the upliftment of people with disability.
LASODA boss who stressed that language identity would bring closer those who are at disadvantage, said that the yearly training has been assisting greatly to relate adequately and the feedback has been encouraging.
He explained that for people to understand the dynamics of any environment, particularly the limits, the law and norms, communication must be clearer at all levels.
“The idea of this training is to make Lagos truly inclusive mega city that is welcome to all where everybody can aspire to come and live as long as they can abide by the law. Today, by virtue of the THEMES agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos is no longer in competition with any state in Nigeria, we are looking at global standards and if we must get there, it must be inclusive for all.
“In Nigeria today, we have to take issue of people with disability very serious and it’s a critical component of governance and sustainable development and it’s the right way to go.
“And in Lagos, we have to keep doing this so that Ministries Department and Agencies and people like Law enforcement agents and parastatals that deals with the public are equipped to be able to adequately communicate with the people with disability in Lagos State,” he said
Lagos Leads
He maintained that Lagos was currently leading and looking at global standards and would not compromise in any form.
According to him “Most of the countries we are trying to compete with have scaled those things we are still grappling with for more that thirty to fifty years ago.
“By virtue of building code in the US and Europe no public building comes up that doesn’t have all the inclusive standards for access for tall the people Including people with disability.”
Sectoral Engagement
He mentioned that the agency last year, engaged workers in the financial sector, because the quest for inclusive financing could only be realised if banking officials cannot communicate with thier significant population and promised to further it’s engagement with other sectors.
Ogundairo posited that the State is constantly on it’s feet to better it’s best everyday and will continue to deliver inclusive governance through various activities.
Impairment not Barrier
The Head of Department, Monitoring, Evaluation and Orientation, Mr. Akintunde Oguntoye urged participants at the workshop to pay attention to the training, as it would go along way to give people with hearing impairment a sense of belonging.
He said: ‘Today we would be introduced to the basic skills of talking with our fingers as well as facial expression, lend your voice towards ensuring that everyone is heard by spreading the message across to the people in your neighbourhood that hearing impairment is not a barrier to clear communication; let us all come together to create the change we all desire.”
Some of the participants who were elated to be introduced to the language session appreciated the agency and the State Government for putting such training together, as they believed it would go along way to assist them in their daily discharge of their duties to the public.
The Lagos State Traffic and Environment managers, including the neighborhood watch corps among other Lagos State Staff attended the training.
Confidence Okwuchi
