BREAKING NEWS, Political Briefs
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AS part of the effort to achieve an all-inclusive governance with a level playing field for all citizens and residents of the State, the Lagos State Government has concluded plan to establish Disability Fund in the State.
This was disclosed by Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, state commissioner for the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, during the Year 2016 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the first year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
She explained that the fund is aimed at empowering and assisting the physically challenged who are presumed “not able” to lead normal lives.
She corroborated the statement of Steve Ayorinde, State Commissioner for Information and Strategy that the present administration first year anniversary is themed “Ability in Disability”, with focus on People With Disabilities, PWD, which aims to protect disabled persons against all forms of discriminations and equalize their opportunities in all aspect of living in the society.
However, on the dilapidated state of some youth centres in Lagos, the Commissioner stated that Governor Ambode’s administration encourages active inclusion of youths in governance, and that plans are in the pipeline to renovate them in conjunction with corporate organizations as was done at the Onikan Youth Centre which was rehabilitated by Paterson Zochonis, PZ.
She noted further that Lagos State is the first to domesticate the Child Right Law and that the State is planning a review of the Law to include International adoption and other issues that were inadvertently omitted, stressing that adoption is an important matter which is meticulously being handled to avoid the children falling into wrong hands, thus becoming victims of child abuse and trafficking.
According to her, “more than 1,000 applications were received by the State through the Ministry for adoption within the last one year but only 110 were screened and 74 children given for adoption.”
On the case of Ogechi, the student of Eva Adelaja Secondary School that was physically assaulted by her teacher, Akinbile-Yusuf disclosed that she had been integrated back to her original school, after series of counseling by the Commissioners of Education and, Youth and Social Welfare as well as the Permanent Secretaries of the two Ministries, explaining that that it was necessary to retain her in her school as against new one to avoid possible stigmatisation.
Akinbile-Yusuf also disclosed that 2,356 family and child welfare cases are pending with the state government among which are 616 matrimonial cases, 33 paternity denial/dispute cases, 854 maintenance/child support cases, 290 legal custody of children and 48 legal free access to children among others.
While imploring private organizations, especially Non-Governmental Organizations and Foundations to support the government on family and welfare issues, she revealed that 45 private Home Management businesses were recently registered by the government, two of such homes are for the elderly, five for street children rehabilitation, four for special children and 34 as orphanages.
— Apr 26, 2016 @ 19:10 GMT
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