As Oyo State marks its Golden Jubilee, the disability community has commended Governor Oluwaseyi Makinde for what it described as an unprecedented commitment to inclusive and people-centred governance, particularly in advancing the rights and welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
In a statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the state, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi, said the Makinde administration has deliberately positioned inclusion at the core of governance, ensuring that PWDs are no longer excluded from public policy, leadership, and development.
Adekanmbi noted that for the first time in the history of the state, qualified Persons with Disabilities have been employed into the Oyo State Civil Service, a move he described as a landmark step that affirms dignity, competence, and equal citizenship.
He further highlighted the appointment of PWDs into key government positions, including his own appointment as Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities and that of Hon. Olufemi Timothy as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Persons with Disabilities, describing the gestures as clear proof of the administration’s political will to institutionalise disability inclusion.
According to him, the state government has also mandated the appointment of Special Assistants on Disability Matters across the 33 local government areas, ensuring that disability-related concerns are addressed not only at the state level but within local communities.
“The establishment and strengthening of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities remains one of the defining legacies of this administration. The Agency has become a voice, a shield, and a bridge for PWDs—coordinating policy, enforcing rights, promoting accessibility, and driving social protection,” Adekanmbi said.
He added that the procurement of accessible buses for public transportation has improved mobility for Persons with Disabilities, while several laws and regulations have been enacted to prohibit discrimination, promote accessibility, and protect the rights and welfare of PWDs in the state.
Adekanmbi also referenced a recent intervention by Governor Makinde, where a wheelchair user who was evicted from his residence received personal assistance from the governor and was reportedly added to the state’s list of beneficiaries for home ownership.
“This act reflects a leadership that goes beyond policy to compassion and humanity,” he said.
As Oyo State celebrates 50 years of existence, Adekanmbi said the entire disability community remains grateful to Governor Makinde for his empathy, courage, and sustained commitment to inclusive governance.
“At 50, Oyo State is celebrating leadership with conscience, progress with purpose, and governance with a human face. This is an era that will be remembered as the moment Persons with Disabilities were not just acknowledged, but fully embraced as partners in progress,” he added.
