The Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), Nigeria has received with great joy the resolution of the Ekiti State Executive Council meeting calling for compliance with the Ekiti State Disability Law, 2020 especially on accessibility of public facilities.
Statement by the Executive Director of DINABI Nigeria, Engr. Funso Olajide, says it should be noted that since the inception of the current administration of Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the government of Ekiti State has prioritized disability inclusion drive which had led to many developments especially with the three Special Schools in Ekiti state.
In a Press Release signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, on Thursday, 30th May, 2024, the State Executive Council in item 7 on the memo reads as follows:
“Ekiti Govt. stresses importance of complying with Disability Law.
“The state executive council directed all public buildings in the state must be in compliance with the disability law on creating access to people mobility difficulties by providing ramps and equipment to help them access the buildings with ease by the end of 2025.
“Public buildings are classified to include business malls and supermarkets, churches, mosques, educational institutions (schools), banks official buildings.”
We commend the Ekiti state government under the leadership of BAO for this great and courageous step towards inclusion. We also appreciate the effort of the Special Adviser to the governor on Special Education & Social Inclusion, Princess Agboola Adetoun Funmilayo and other SSAs on disability.
This was one of our major demands on the just concluded Disability Rights Fund (DRF) funded project on Accessibility of Public Facilities and Services in Ekiti State implemented in 2022/23.
We further call on our amiable State Governor and his government to ensure the appointment of a person with disability as the next Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Office for Disability Affairs in line with Part VIII Section 40 (1)(a-c) which mandates the Executive Secretary to be a person with disability.
We therefore pledge our continued support for the government, the people of Ekiti state and the entire Disability Community towards a disability inclusive society devoid of discrimination, harassment and exclusion.
“Once again, thank you Governor BAO”. The statement read.