The Deaf Supporters Development Initiative (DSDI) has affirmed its support for Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu, urging greater inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in government policies.
DSDI President, Mr Afolabi Dahunsi, made the call during a public lecture on Democracy, Disability, and Good Governance in Lagos on Thursday, commemorating the 2025 International Day for PWDs.
The event, organised by DSDI, is themed: “The Renewed Hope Agenda: A Life-Saving Intervention for the Deaf and Persons with Disabilities.”
Dahunsi highlighted that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda promised to include PWDs in governance, stressing the need to actualise the commitment.
He noted that in spite of the Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, discrimination persists, with many PWDs remaining unemployed and economically marginalised.
“We want the government to help dismantle this discrimination. Many of our people are jobless.
“Economic hardships affect most of our people, and short-term palliatives hardly solve the problem of unemployment in our community,” he said.
“We want government to be proactive in addressing the issue of poverty among our community. The problem of insecurity and killing of the citizens by bandits and criminals operating as ritual killers and kidnappers needs to be addressed.
“This is because deaf people are easily entrapped where insecurity exists, without them knowing anything because of the communication gap.
“As President Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda promises to include PWDs in the polity.
“We are all in solidarity and support with the administration and we hope he will continue to include disability in the administration’s policies and work hard to make Nigeria a safe place for all to live,” Dahunsi said.
He also urged action against insecurity, noting that deaf people were especially vulnerable to crimes due to communication barriers.
Speaking on the sidelines, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, represented by Mr Yusuf Olukolu, emphasised that societal attitudes and systemic barriers often worsened the challenges faced by PWDs.
He stressed the need for inclusion in decision-making, community programmes, and public discussions.
Omotoso highlighted the state’s efforts, including the creation of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and infrastructure upgrades such as accessible BRT terminals, public parks, and government complexes.
“Inclusion means ensuring every individual can thrive, and the dignity and rights of PWDs are respected,” he said.
