The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has reinforced its commitment to inclusive economic growth by convening a stakeholders’ forum focused on strengthening disability service delivery and expanding SME participation across Lagos State. The event, held at Bola Memorial School in Ikeja, brought together public institutions, private sector players, and development partners to explore opportunities for inclusive enterprise growth.
Speaking at the forum, LASODA’s General Manager, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, represented by the Director of Medical Rehabilitation Appliances and Mobility Aid Department, Mr Viaronu Folorunsho, emphasised that meaningful inclusion requires strong collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders. She noted that empowering persons with disabilities through structured support systems contributes directly to entrepreneurship, job creation, and sustainable business development.
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The Director of Social Development and Integration, Mr Akeem Kelani, highlighted the importance of addressing real economic barriers faced by persons with disabilities. He explained that well-designed disability services can strengthen workforce participation, support small enterprises, and improve productivity across sectors that rely on skilled human capital.
In his keynote address, Professor Jubril Jawando of Lagos State University identified funding constraints, data gaps, and limited access to finance as major challenges affecting disability-focused enterprises. He emphasised the need for Public-Private Partnerships to unlock investment, scale solutions, and strengthen the disability value chain. Professor Chinwe Nwanna of the University of Lagos further stressed transparency, accountability, and cross-sector collaboration as foundations for sustainable SME growth.
The forum concluded with an interactive session where stakeholders exchanged ideas on inclusive business models, partnership opportunities, and long-term strategies to integrate persons with disabilities into Lagos State’s growing SME ecosystem.
