The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening policies and programmes that promote the inclusion and welfare of persons with deafblindness.
The agency made the commitment on Wednesday during a policy roundtable organised in collaboration with the Deafblind Inclusion and Advocacy Network to commemorate the 2026 International Deafblind Awareness Week in Lagos.
The event, themed “Leaving No One Behind: Enhancing Health, Education and Rehabilitation Training for Nigerians with Deafblindness,” brought together government officials, disability rights advocates and other stakeholders to review progress in advancing the rights of persons with deafblindness and identify strategies for improving access to healthcare, education and rehabilitation services.
Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, said the state government remained committed to inclusive education, adding that its focus had shifted from integration to full inclusion.
Represented by the ministry’s Inclusive Education Desk Officer, Azeez Aliu, the commissioner said children with deafblindness possess the same potential as others but are often limited by inadequate access to early diagnosis, assistive technology, trained specialists and appropriate learning resources.
