World Autism Day: Sanwo-Olu supports LASODA, Kanyeyachukwu Foundation with N200m
By Adeola Ogunrinde
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu marked the World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, with a N200 million financial support to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and the Kanyeyachukwu Foundation for autism advocacy and caregiver development.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement while receiving teenage autism advocate and Guinness World Record holder, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, at the Lagos House, Marina.
Kanyeyachukwu, who is currently the youngest individual to complete a cross-country cycling journey, embarked on an endurance cycling of 687 kilometres from Enugu to Lagos. The journey spanned from March 17 to April 2.
During the 15-day long-distance cycling advocacy journey tagged ‘#ImpossibilityIsAMyth’, the teenager passed through Anambra, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ogun states before arriving in Lagos on Thursday.
Speaking during the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu pledged a donation of N100 million to autism-focused organisations under the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and an additional N100 million to the Kanyeyachukwu foundation.
According to the governor, the funds would serve as a first-level support to strengthen autism advocacy, expand access to care and train more professional caregivers for children with special needs.
Reacting to Kanyeyachukwu’s feat, Sanwo-Olu said his initiative had gone beyond setting a record, describing it as a powerful message of hope, resilience and inclusion for persons on the autism spectrum.
He said Kanyeyachukwu had demonstrated that every child, irrespective of condition, carried immense value, talent and potential waiting to be nurtured and celebrated, stressing that the young advocate had turned awareness into action by using his journey to spotlight autism and inspire families across the country.
