Edo seeks stronger support for persons with disabilities

By Olatomiwa Osho

The Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities has called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to improve support for persons with disabilities across the state.

Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Theophilus Egbodion, made the call during a courtesy visit to the ministry, where he led a delegation to meet with the Commissioner, Dr. Bisi Idaomi.

Egbodion said stronger institutional partnerships and additional resources were needed to address the challenges facing persons with disabilities, stressing that the Commission could not achieve its mandate alone.

Responding, Idaomi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, indigent residents and the unemployed.

She said the ministry was advocating for disability-inclusive provisions in the state and supplementary budgets, adding that programmes for persons with disabilities had been included in its end-of-year initiatives and strategic memoranda submitted to the Governor.

Idaomi also called for increased funding and partnerships with non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups to expand support across Edo State.