Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs has reinforced the state government’s commitment to inclusive governance with the convening of a stakeholders’ forum aimed at strengthening partnerships for effective and inclusive disability service delivery. The forum, held on December 22, 2025, at Bola Memorial School on Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, brought together a broad spectrum of actors within the disability sector, reflecting growing recognition that sustainable progress depends on collaboration across government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
The gathering served as a platform for reflection on the outgoing year, an assessment of existing challenges, and a forward-looking discussion on how partnerships can be deepened to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Lagos State. Participants included representatives of disability-focused organisations, service providers, scholars, government officials, and advocates, all united by a shared interest in building a more inclusive society.
In her welcome address, the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their consistent support and engagement throughout the year. She underscored the importance of collective responsibility in advancing disability inclusion and called for even stronger collaboration in the years ahead. Her message set the tone for the forum, emphasising that inclusive service delivery cannot be achieved in isolation but requires deliberate partnerships and sustained engagement.
Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal was represented at the event by the Director of the Medical Rehabilitation Appliances and Mobility Aid Department of LASODA, Mr. Viaronu Folorunsho. In conveying her remarks, he stressed that the agency’s mandate to protect the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities can only be fulfilled through cooperation with stakeholders across sectors. He expressed confidence that the forum would be both impactful and fulfilling, noting that such engagements are essential for aligning strategies, sharing experiences, and identifying practical solutions to persistent challenges.
Adding to the discourse, the Director of Social Development and Integration at LASODA, Mr. Akeem Kelani, urged stakeholders to focus on addressing the real and evolving needs of persons with disabilities. He emphasised that well-intentioned initiatives must be grounded in lived realities to achieve meaningful outcomes. According to him, programmes and policies that fail to consider the specific needs of beneficiaries risk falling short of their objectives, regardless of the resources invested. His remarks highlighted the importance of participatory approaches that place persons with disabilities at the centre of service design and implementation.
The intellectual depth of the forum was further enriched by the keynote lecture delivered by Professor Jubril Jawando of the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University. Speaking on the theme of strengthening partnerships for effective disability service delivery, Professor Jawando identified several structural challenges confronting service providers. He pointed to low budgetary allocations, inadequate and unreliable data, and difficulties in accessing funds as major constraints limiting the scale and impact of disability services.
Professor Jawando argued that overcoming these challenges requires a shift toward more collaborative and innovative models of service delivery. He stressed the importance of global collaboration, noting that lessons from international best practices can inform local strategies. He also underscored the role of Public-Private Partnerships in mobilising resources and expertise, as well as the critical influence of the media in shaping public perception, driving advocacy, and holding institutions accountable. According to him, inclusive disability services are not only a social imperative but also a development issue that demands broad-based support.
Another key presentation was delivered by Professor Chinwe Nwanna of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, who provided detailed insights into the concept of service providership within the disability sector. She emphasised that effective service delivery begins with a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. According to her, stakeholders must carefully assess their capacities, mandates, and areas of comparative advantage before venturing into service provision, in order to avoid duplication, inefficiency, and unintended harm.
Professor Nwanna highlighted transparency and inter-sectoral collaboration as foundational pillars for sustainable and impactful disability services. She noted that trust between service providers, beneficiaries, and government institutions is built through openness and accountability, while collaboration across sectors helps to address the multi-dimensional nature of disability. Her presentation resonated strongly with participants, many of whom acknowledged the need for clearer coordination and stronger ethical standards within the sector.
A major highlight of the forum was the interactive session that followed the presentations. Participants engaged actively by asking questions, sharing experiences from their respective fields, and offering practical suggestions for improving disability service delivery in Lagos State. The discussions reflected a diversity of perspectives, ranging from grassroots challenges faced by community-based organisations to policy-level concerns about funding, data collection, and enforcement of disability laws. The interactive nature of the session reinforced the forum’s objective of fostering dialogue rather than one-way communication.
Throughout the event, there was a shared recognition that while Lagos State has made notable strides in disability inclusion, significant work remains. Stakeholders acknowledged that legal frameworks and institutions such as LASODA provide a strong foundation, but effective implementation requires continuous partnership, adequate resources, and political will. The forum thus served as both a progress review and a call to action, urging stakeholders to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Director of Administration and Human Resources Department at LASODA, Mrs. Sonubi Omolode. She expressed appreciation to the speakers, stakeholders, and participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions to the success of the forum. She noted that the insights and recommendations generated would inform the agency’s future strategies and strengthen its collaboration with partners across the state.
As Lagos continues to position itself as a leader in inclusive governance, the LASODA stakeholders’ forum stands as a reflection of a growing commitment to partnership-driven solutions. By bringing together diverse voices and expertise, the forum underscored the belief that inclusive disability service delivery is not the responsibility of a single agency, but a collective endeavour essential to building a fairer and more equitable society for all residents of the state.
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