Kingsley Ohens reporting
The Edo State Government has unveiled a simplified version of the Edo State Disability Rights Law as part of efforts to strengthen the protection, inclusion, and empowerment of persons living with disabilities across the state’s 18 local government areas.
The initiative, unveiled in Benin City on Wednesday, is designed to make the provisions of the law more accessible and easier to understand for persons with disabilities, their families, stakeholders, and the general public, thereby promoting awareness and effective implementation.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Musa Umar Ikhilor, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ohunyon Ekikioya, emphasized that the true strength of any society lies not only in its infrastructure and institutions but also in its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and justice for all citizens.
According to him, while laws are enacted to safeguard rights, guide conduct, and promote justice, their effectiveness depends largely on how well citizens understand and apply them in their daily lives.
He described the simplification of the disability rights law as a commendable initiative that would enable more citizens, particularly persons with disabilities and their families, to better understand the protections and opportunities available to them under the law.
“The simplification of the disability rights law is a thoughtful and commendable initiative aimed at ensuring that its provisions are better understood by citizens, particularly persons with disabilities and their families. By doing so, we are strengthening public awareness, encouraging compliance, and empowering citizens with the knowledge required to claim and protect their rights within the framework of the law,” he stated.
Ikhilor reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo to building an inclusive society where persons with disabilities are valued, respected, and provided with equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
The programme was organized by the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with the Network for the Advancement of People with Disabilities (NAPVID) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Director of NAPVID, Mr. Melody Omosah, called for the establishment of dedicated radio programmes to enhance public awareness and education on disability rights and inclusion.
Omosah highlighted key provisions of the disability law, particularly Section 18, which guarantees the right to education for persons with disabilities from primary school through tertiary institutions.
He further explained that the law provides for the establishment of at least one special school in each of Edo State’s 18 local government areas, stressing that it is an offence for parents or guardians to deny children with disabilities access to education by keeping them out of school.
According to him, the legislation represents a significant step towards ensuring equal educational opportunities and promoting social inclusion for persons living with disabilities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Theophilus Egbodion, said the simplified version of the law would serve as an important educational tool, enabling persons with disabilities to better understand and assert their rights.
Also speaking, one of the participants, Mr. Ovenseri Iduozee, expressed appreciation to the Edo State Government for enacting and simplifying the law, noting that it would help persons with disabilities recognize that they possess the same rights, privileges, and opportunities as every other citizen.
The unveiling of the simplified disability rights law underscores the Edo State Government’s commitment to advancing social justice, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the state’s development agenda.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
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