Lagos APC assembly candidate pledges welfare support for PWDs

An All Progressives Congress candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbenga Abiola.

An All Progressives Congress candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbenga Abiola, has pledged to introduce welfare programmes for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable residents of Agege if elected.

Abiola, who is seeking to replace the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, as the representative of Agege Constituency I, made the pledge during an engagement with the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities, Agege Chapter, on Monday.

At the meeting, he outlined proposed inclusive empowerment and social welfare programmes aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable residents, particularly persons 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.”

He said he also planned to establish a walk-in superstore where qualified vulnerable residents of Agege could access essential food items and household necessities.

According to him, the proposed facility would operate through an organised support arrangement to ensure that beneficiaries could obtain necessary household supplies.

Abiola said the interventions were informed by the belief that meaningful representation must accommodate people facing difficult economic and social circumstances.

He added that persons with disabilities must never be treated as an afterthought in governance, empowerment and community development.

The candidate reaffirmed his vision of a constituency where social protection, economic opportunities, accessibility and human dignity would remain key pillars of representation.

He said inclusive representation meant ensuring that every resident counted, mattered and received attention, irrespective of their social or economic circumstances.

Speaking on behalf of the association, its Agege Chapter Chairman, Alhaja Sekinat Abolaji, appreciated Abiola’s continued engagement, previous empowerment efforts and commitment to the welfare of members.

Abolaji declared the association’s support for the candidate, acknowledging his interest in addressing the needs and welfare of persons with disabilities.

She said 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.

According to her, the forum also provided an opportunity to discuss programmes aimed at addressing the peculiar needs and challenges confronting vulnerable residents.

She said the meeting demonstrated the importance of listening to communities, understanding their challenges and developing interventions that responded to their actual needs.