Osun Speaker Pledges Support With EMPOWER Project On End-GBV

…Beam Attention On The Disability Bill

… Creates Office Of SSA To The Speaker On Persons With Disability

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Timothy Owoeye has pledged support for EMPOWER Project of Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care SoLife, in collaboration with United Nations Trust Fund on End Violence Against Women, UN-TRUST FUND.

This is as the Speaker also beamed attention of the Legislature on the Disability Bill while declaring that it will be processed, approved and domesticated for the benefit of Persons with Disability in the state, as he graciously created Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Osun Speaker on Persons with Disability Matters, and directed the office to commence immediately.

Rt. Hon Timothy Owoeye made this known at the Opening ceremony of the EMPOWER Project Training of Champions on Gender Based Violence for Women and Girls with Disability in Osun, held at Omilas Conference Hall, Osogbo.

He stated that the Persons With Disability has the right to enjoy benefits which are same with able bodied persons, said more needs to be done for this category of persons who needs help to survive daily, he applauded stakeholders working with the non-governmental organization to protect, provide and preserve the right of Persons with Disability, with focus on the vulnerable in the clusters.

Speaker Owoeye stated that welfare policy for Persons with Disability in the state will be enacted at the Osun House of Assembly, while he appreciated SoLife for being passionate about the development work of caring for Persons with Disability in Osun, particularly Women and Girls with Disability.

He asked that target reach of the EMPOWER Project be extended to other local governments in Osun, while he reiterated his support and declared that more stakeholders who has the interest of Persons living with Disability will be involved.

Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Women and Children Affairs, Hon. Dr Mrs Mulikat Abiola Jimoh added her voice to declare End to Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls with Disability in the state, she reiterated the determination of Osun Governor Gboyega Oyetola to ensure that Osun citizens enjoy dividends of democracy irrespective of status, and the Persons with Disability inclusive.

She frowned at the manner at which some people take advantage of Persons with Disability, particularly the Women and Girls with Disability, added that the state will not tolerate such, said that with the emergence of the Disability Bill, the Persons with Disability in the state will enjoy better rights and protection from all stakeholders.

Hon. Dr Mulikat also pledged her support to the Persons with Disability in the state through the target beneficiaries of the EMPOWER Project capturing Nine local governments in Osun state, which includes Iwo, Ilesha East, Ilesha West, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ife East, Ife Central, Ede North and Ede South local governments.

Also, the Chairman of Joint Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), Mr Kehinde Onitiju and the Coordinator of the Women wing of the JONAPWD association Mrs Funmilayo Abdullahi appreciated the Osun Speaker for his passion, constant help and commitment towards matters of Persons with Disability in the State.

The duo narrating the challenges of the Persons with Disability, prayed for the Rt Hon Timothy Owoeye and Osun government in general, said the population of their category of persons years ago was counted as Fifty four thousand while, they also pledged their continuous support to the government of the day in the state.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman Board of Trustees for Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care SoLife, Mr Aremu Stephen Akinyele commended the head of the Legislature in Osun for being honest and loyal to his words, also gave him kudos for making issues of persons with Disability a priority, particularly the Women and Girls with Disability.

He declared that the EMPOWER Project under the supervision of United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women UN-WOMEN is particular about Women and Girls with Disability, particularly through improved inclusion and the elimination of Gender Based Violence, thereby clamoring for policies such ass the Disability bill in their favor.

Aremu laying emphasis on the Disability Bill, advocated out to the government of Osun to speed up the approval process towards domestication and implementation in favor of the Persons with Disability in Osun, particularly the Women and Girls with Disability whom he described as the most vulnerable set in the marginalized group.

The SoLife Chairman BOT said the EMPOWER Project is working with stakeholders such as the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youths and Sports, Human Rights Commission among others as it’s State Partnership Against Gender Based Violence Committee.