CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS DAY: LASODA CHARGES PARENTS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN

LASODA’S DIRECTOR OF ADMIN & HR, MRS. OMOLARA SONUBI, AND  DIRECTOR – MONITORING, EVALUATION AND ORIENTATION, MR. AKINTUNDE OGUNTOYE, WITH THE TEAM FROM GILEAD INITIATIVES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

THE LAGOS STATE OFFICE FOR DISABILITY AFFAIRS (LASODA) HAS CHARGED PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY, ESPECIALLY CEREBRAL PALSY, TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATION, ADDING THAT THE GESTURE WOULD SECURE THEM A LIFE OF DIGNITY IN THE FUTURE.

THE GENERAL MANAGER, LASODA, MR. OLUWADAMILARE OGUNDAIRO, MADE THE CALL WHILE RECEIVING A DELEGATION FROM GILEAD INITIATIVES IN COMMEMORATION OF CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS DAY.

OGUNDAIRO, REPRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR, MONITORING, EVALUATION AND ORIENTATION IN THE AGENCY, MR. AKINTUNDE OGUNTOYE, SAID EDUCATION IS THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT OF ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY, STRESSING THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO EDUCATE THEIR DISABLED CHILDREN, IRRESPECTIVE OF STATUS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAGOS STATE SPECIAL PEOPLE’S LAW OF 2011.

IN HIS WORDS: “EDUCATION, BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL, PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE LIFE OF EVERY CHILD; IT PREPARES THEM FOR A FUTURE OF DIGNITY AND SELF-WORTH WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR FUTURE QUALITY OF LIFE.

PARENTS MUST, THEREFORE, DESIST FROM KEEPING THEIR ‘SPECIAL’ CHILDREN AT HOME AND DENYING THEM A BRIGHTER FUTURE” HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS DAY CAMPAIGN IS GEARED TOWARDS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO STOP THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AND GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WELL-BEING AS WELL AS TO SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

THE GENERAL MANAGER ENJOINED ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO LOOK BEYOND THE CONDITION OF THE CHILDREN AND SEE THE INHERENT POTENTIALS THAT THEIR EDUCATION DEVELPOMENT COULD REVEAL.

THE FOUNDER OF GREAT EXPECTATION PRIVATE SCHOOL AND LEAD FACILITATOR, GILEAD INITIATIVES DR. BUSOLA OLUFOLAJIMI IDOWU, SAID THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE ORGANISATION IS TO ASSIST PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

SHE AFFIRMED THAT THE BEST THING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF DISABILITY IS TO EDUCATE THEM AND IN A SITUATION WHERE THEIR COGNITIVE SKILLS ARE COMPROMISED, THEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRAIN SUCH PEOPLE IN VOCATIONS OF INTEREST IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

IN HER WORDS: “AN IMPACTED DESTINY IS A DESTINY THAT THRIVES. SO THE EARLIER WE START, THE BETTER OUR CHANCES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY”.

“CELEBRATING EVERY LITTLE ACHIEVEMENT THEY MAKE IS A STEP TO GREATNESS FOR THEM.

LET US ALL JOIN HANDS TO EXPOSE, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES, SHE ENTHUSED.