The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has stated her commitment to partner with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to ensure that accessibility facilities, Infrastructures and Materials are made available for persons living with disabilities.
Princess Adefulire stated this when the team from NCPWD led by its Executive Secretary, James Lalu, PhD, paid her a courtesy call in her office on Tuesday April 23, 2024 in Abuja.
The SSAP-SDGs stated that before now the office had written to several MDAs to create functional elevators and ramps in Supermarkets, Hospitals, or indeed at any public office/place for ease of movement. She added that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike will be contacted to ensure that roads under construction will have all the walk ways go with ramps for ease of movement.
The SDGs boss also informed the team that her office is meant to provide interventions and not supply NCPWD with all it desires. She however assures them that various MDAs including the Private sector and Donor Agencies have roles to play. “All of us must come together to support you” she added. She also stated the need to create offices at the State and Local Government Levels that will replicate what is obtainable at the Federal level.
Still on intervention, Adefulire stated that SDGs office has just completed the multi-purpose building for the School for the Blind in Lagos State. According to her, the office got a call two years ago that the school has been displaced probably because the lease agreement had expired. She stated that the completed building comprising of school and hostel accommodation will be handed over to the school in the next two months.
In order to look into all the matter tabled by the NCPWD, the SSAP-SDGs stated that a committee will be set up comprising of staff of the two Agencies to come up with ideas on capacity building and other requirements.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, James Lalu stated that the visit was primarily to inform the SSAP-SDGs that many stakeholders have come up with the National Accessibility Regulation,a document that provides the guideline on accessibility issues in the public places and offices.
Lalu who recognised the various intervention programmes carried out by SDGs under the leadership of the present SSAP stated that more needs to be done especially for the physically challenged people living in the rural Areas. He believes that the interventions from SDGs will enable the NCPWD live up to expectation in preventing discrimination against persons with disabilities and ensure their inclusiveness in every sector.
Rotimi Ajayi
Director of Information
OSSAP-SDGs
