The Executive Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Disability Matters, Hon. Timothy Olufemi Sunday, has described Governor Seyi Makinde as a selfless and visionary leader whose administration has positively impacted the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across the state.
Olufemi stated this on Friday while receiving the Oodua News Newspaper Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership in Disability Advocacy and Public Service at his office.
He commended Governor Makinde for demonstrating strong political will and commitment towards ensuring the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in governance and developmental programmes in Oyo State.
According to him, the governor’s support for the disability community has brought succour to many PWDs and created opportunities for them to participate meaningfully in the affairs of the state.
“We thank the governor for his support and love for the PWDs in Oyo State. His support has brought succour to our people, and we have resolved to support his programmes and ambition to any level,” he said.
Highlighting some of the achievements recorded by the Disability Inclusion Office under the Makinde administration, Olufemi said the government had made significant progress in the areas of inclusion, empowerment, political representation and welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
He listed employment opportunities, including the recruitment of PWDs into the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other government sectors, as part of the administration’s achievements.
He also noted that PWDs had been appointed to various positions at the state and local government levels, thereby giving the disability community a stronger voice in governance and decision-making.
Olufemi further disclosed that the administration of Governor Makinde had implemented various empowerment programmes, including financial assistance, business support, vocational tools, grants and other livelihood opportunities.
He said mobility and welfare support had also been provided through the distribution of wheelchairs, crutches, vehicles and other assistive devices, while educational assistance and medical interventions had been extended to persons with disabilities.
According to him, young PWDs have equally benefited from opportunities in politics, employment, leadership, skills development and other areas where they can demonstrate their talents.
Hon Timothy Olufemi added that PWDs had been actively included in government programmes, consultations, appointments and decision-making processes.
“These interventions have positively transformed many lives and demonstrate Governor Makinde’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognized as valuable contributors to the development of Oyo State,” he said.
Olufemi, however, acknowledged that more work remained to be done, noting that not every person with a disability had benefited from the various interventions, as efforts are on to extend the gestures to others.
“None of these achievements would have been possible without the backing, political will and support of Governor Seyi Makinde. His commitment has provided the enabling environment for greater disability inclusion across the state.
“We acknowledge that not every person with a disability has benefited yet, and there is still more work to be done. The needs of the disability community are enormous, but we remain committed to working tirelessly to ensure that these opportunities and interventions circulate across all Local Government Areas and reach more people,” he said.
He stressed that the goal of the Disability Inclusion Office remained clear: “No Person with a Disability should be left behind.”
Olufemi also expressed appreciation to the management of Oodua News for the recognition, describing the award as both an honour and a source of encouragement.
He said the award would further strengthen his resolve to continue promoting disability inclusion, empowerment and representation in Oyo State.
“We sincerely appreciate the management of Oodua News for recognising and honouring our efforts in advancing disability inclusion, empowerment and representation in Oyo State.
“This recognition is not only an honour but also a reminder of the responsibility we carry to continue serving the disability community with dedication and commitment,” he said.
He dedicated the award to all Persons with Disabilities in Oyo State and acknowledged Governor Makinde for his support and political will, which he said had made many of the achievements possible.
Presenting the award, the Editor of Oodua News Newspaper, Comrade Richard Thomas, said the presentation was part of the newspaper’s longstanding tradition of recognizing individuals and organisations that had distinguished themselves through their service.
Thomas said the management of Oodua News had closely monitored Olufemi’s activities over the years before deciding to honour him for his exceptional commitment to disability advocacy.
He explained that the award recognized Olufemi’s “exceptional commitment, invaluable contributions, inclusive leadership, and unwavering promotion of the rights, dignity and welfare of Persons with Disabilities” under the administration of Governor Makinde.
The Oodua News Editor urged Olufemi not to relent in his efforts to improve the lives of PWDs, assuring that greater recognition and rewards awaits individuals and organisations committed to serving humanity and promoting good values.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Editor of Oodua News Newspaper, Mr. Bode Akinbode, reaffirmed the newspaper’s commitment to identifying and celebrating excellence across different sectors of society.
Akinbode said Oodua News, established about 25 years ago, had remained committed to promoting unity, Yoruba culture and the collective interests of the people through responsible journalism and advocacy.
He noted that the newspaper, which operates in both print and online formats, had continued to contribute to the Nigerian media landscape.
He urged Olufemi to sustain his good work, stressing that the newspaper honours individuals based on their records, achievements and contributions to society.
The programme was attended by the ICT Editor of Oodua News, Mr. Wale Adewunmi, and other officials.
