Group seeks support for Special Peoples’ Law

The Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership (LCSDPP) has called on the private sector to support the government in implementing the state's Special People's Law.
The law, which was enacted in 2011, is aimed at safeguarding persons with disabilities (PWD) against all forms of discrimination.
LCSDPP noted that for effective implementation of the law, there was need for partnership between the government and the private sector to take advantage of the investment opportunities.
In a statement signed by Dr. Adebayo Adebukola, the group listed areas in which the private sector could invest to　 include employment and economic empowerment; access to products and services, support for accessible public infrastructure, information, communication and technology, as well as support for inclusive education and advocacy.
LCSDPP recalled its stance at the　last Lagos Economic Summit where it posited that investing in a socially inclusive environment brings direct investment benefits.
According to the organisation, the 10 million population of PWD in Lagos and the Southwest of Nigeria was significant for investors to consider.
"PWD access to education, health, social development and economic empowerment in Lagos State is rapidly increasing their purchasing power and consumption capacity which creates significant market potential for investors," LCSDPP said.
The group maintained that while the huge PWD population offers investors significant market opportunities, their expanding productive capacities will in no small way contribute to the manpower and human resource potentials in Lagos and its environs.
They further noted that asset value on persons with disabilities was steadily on the increase, even as their dependency status was reducing rapidly.
"The socio-economic prospects of a PWD were largely driven by aspects of ICT known as Assistive Technology, mobility aids and rehabilitation kits most of which are imported from developed nations."
The group urged investors in the manufacturing, assembling or wholesale and retail of these disability-support appliances to take advantage of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) because investments in these areas were virtually absent in this part of the world, except for South Africa that was making attempts.
　"The fall in the dependency status of persons with disabilities will free-up more investable resources in the public and private sectors."
They maintained that investors who tap into the opportunity will have easy and direct access not only to the Lagos market, but also to the rest of Africa.
"The ability of investors to imbibe inclusive and disability-friendly practices in designing and organising work places and business environment, design, development, production and delivery of products and services such as: banking, telecoms, transportation, hotel, ICT, education, health, mass media, etc will increase turnovers and profits on investments as no potential consumers are left out," they said.
LCSDPP said a memo has been sent to the Lagos State government to approve and inaugurate the Public Private Partnership (PPP) on the implementation of the state's Special People's Law by the end of the second quarter.
"That Lagos State government empowers the Office of Disability Affairs (ODA), upon its establishment　 to coordinate the Public Private Sector Partnership on the implementation of the law and that private sector-supported creation of 15,000 jobs and economic empowerment for same number of PWDs by 2015 at the rate of 5,000 per annum be achieved," the group said.
They added that the private sector should adopt and make provision for various degree of support to at least 15 public inclusive schools at the rate of five per annum with five in each senatorial district by 2015 among others.
 
Source...
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