An All Progressives Congress candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbenga Abiola (Agbelebu) has reaffirmed commitment to uplifting persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable residents of Agege.
Abiola, vying to replace the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, in Agege Constituency 1, committed an engagement with the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, Agege Chapter on Monday.
During the engagement, he outlined proposed inclusive empowerment and social welfare programmes to take care of the vulnerable.
According to him, the proposed programmes are designed to address the needs of vulnerable residents in Agege Constituency 01, with particular attention to persons living with disabilities.
Abiola said: “A society cannot claim to be making meaningful progress when its most vulnerable members are left behind.
“Our programmes must be inclusive, compassionate, and deliberately structured to reach those who need support the most.
“The proposed Automated Food Bank is designed to provide an organised food-support system, with persons living with disabilities receiving priority attention alongside elderly residents and other vulnerable households.”
Abiola said he also planned the establishment of a Walk-in Superstore for vulnerable residents of Agege.
He said the proposed Automated Food Bank was designed to provide an organised food-support system, with persons living with disabilities receiving priority attention.
He added that elderly residents and other vulnerable households would also benefit from the proposed initiative.
Similarly, he said the proposed Walk-in Superstore would provide a dedicated avenue for qualified vulnerable residents to access essential food items and household necessities.
According to him, the facility would operate through an organised support arrangement to ensure that vulnerable residents could access necessary household supplies.
Abiola emphasised that the proposed interventions were informed by the understanding that meaningful representation must deliberately accommodate people facing difficult economic and social circumstances.
He further reiterated that persons living with disabilities must never be treated as an afterthought in governance, empowerment and community development.
He reaffirmed his vision of a constituency where social protection, economic opportunities, accessibility and human dignity would remain important pillars of representation.
According to Abiola, inclusive representation means ensuring that every resident counts, matters and receives attention, irrespective of social or economic circumstances.
Speaking on behalf of the PWDs, Alhaja Sekinat Abolaji, Chairman of the chapter, appreciated Abiola’s continued engagement, previous empowerment efforts and commitment to the welfare of its members.
Abolaji declared the association’s full support for Abiola, acknowledging his interest in addressing the needs and welfare of persons living with disabilities.
According to her, the meeting attracted representatives from different ethnic groups, networks and sections of the disability community, providing an opportunity for meaningful interaction and exchange of ideas.
She said that the forum provided an opportunity to discuss programmes designed to address the peculiar needs and challenges confronting vulnerable residents.
She said that the meeting further demonstrated the importance of listening to communities, understanding their peculiar challenges and developing interventions that respond to their real needs.
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