The Badagry Deaf Association has appealed to the chairmen of the Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Badagry West LCDA to include persons with disabilities in the 2027 budget.

The Chairman of the association, Sejoro Ekundayo, made the appeal during the Fifth Edition of Deaf Awareness Day held at Olorunda LCDA Secretariat on Thursday in Badagry.

The theme of the event was “Right To Understand Together, We break Barriers.”

Mr Ekundayo said that hearing-impaired persons should be included in employment and empowerment opportunities, as well as welfare programmes.

He urged authorities concerned to ensure every deaf child had access to quality education, qualified teachers and learning materials.

Mr Ekundayo urged the council chairmen to recognise the children with disabilities during Children’s Day and other programmes.

The Executive Director of Green Janitors, Abdulsalam Ashade, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, commended the chairman for his achievements so far.

He promised to continue supporting the association at all levels whenever they were in need.

“As you commemorate your day, you are specially reserved, which shows your commitment to the inclusivity of people with disabilities,” he said.

In his message, Chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Kumayon Ajose, represented by the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Social Services, Joseph Ekunbote, said that the chairman had a passion for the association and would continue to partner with it.

He urged them to identify areas of their professions and careers where government could empower them.

Also, the Chairman of the Lagos State Association of the Deaf, Isa Usman, represented by Adewale Adeyanju, commended the council chairmen for the constant support for the association.

Mr Isa assured the government that the association was always ready to participate in the coming general elections to mobilise members to come out en mass, and vote for credible candidates.

In his presentation, a lecturer at the Lagos State University, Department of Education, Foundation and Counselling Psychology, Friday Azanor, stressed the need for more interpreters, integration of sign language in schools and recognition of sign language in public institutions.

He, however, praised the Lagos State Government for offering special attention to people with disabilities.

“Without sign language, deaf people are excluded from basic human rights; communication is a human right,” he said. 

(NAN)