The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has honoured three officers who emerged overall best in the just concluded sign language training workshop organised for officers in the Lagos State Civil Service to bridge the communication gap between the hearing and hearing impaired individuals in the State.
Speaking at the two-day programme held between 23rd and 24th August 2023 at the STO Resource Centre, ASSBIFI Road, Alausa-Ikeja, the General Manager of the Agency, Mr Oluwadamilare Ogundairo, said the participants demonstrated much zeal towards promoting social inclusion in the discharge of their duties.
“With the interest and determination to learn as seen here today, I can without any doubt regard you all as Ambassadors to promote inclusion for all in Lagos State, thereby fulfilling the THEMES PLUS Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration which seeks to ensure gender equality and social inclusion for all”, he said.
He added that the sign language training exercise aims to create an enabling environment for people with hearing impairment to integrate into society regardless of their disabilities while ensuring that hearing impairment is not a barrier to clear communication.
In his words, “We all know that communication is fundamental to humanity and Sign Language is a skill used by the deaf to communicate, hence the need to organise this workshop for frontline officers to ensure the hearing impaired individuals in Lagos State are not left behind”.
Speaking further, Ogundairo explained that the annual training aims at making it possible for Law Enforcement agents, staff of Lagos State from different Ministries, Department and Agencies, who interface with the public are well equipped with the basic sign language skills required to communicate effectively with the hard of hearing category of people in the State.
While reiterating the commitment of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs to the well-being of People with Disabilities, Ogundairo added that the Agency will continue to promote and deliver inclusive policies and programmes through various activities to ensure their smooth integration in the State.
The officers honoured are Mr Ogungbemi Romade Noah (First Position) from the Ministry of Environment; Mrs. Ige Abiola Kolade (Second Position) from the Office of Civic Engagement and Mrs. Akinrimisi Titilayo, (Third Position) from the Ministry of Justice, while special recognition was given to Mrs Badmus Modupe from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and Mrs Sanni Arike from the Civil Service Commission who came fourth and fifth respectively.