Lagos Unveils New Youth Policy For The Blind

Akinbile-Yussuf presenting the Braille youth policy document to the representative of UNFPA, Dr. Esther Somefun

The Lagos State government at the weekend presented the Braille version of the state’s youth policy for visually-impaired young people. The document was prepared by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development with the assistance of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The document was presented to representatives of Persons living With Disabilities (PWDs) and their parent bodies.

The state government had in August 2016 inaugurated a uniform policy framework for all ministries, departments and agencies for youth-related activities in the state, which seeks to align with the vision of the state in providing avenues for harnessing the potential of youths in Lagos.

In her address at the weekend, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the new version of the youth policy was conceived in furtherance of the state government’s total-inclusion developmental policy.

She explained that the component of the policy offers a lot of benefits for young people living with visual impairment and the physically-challenged.

“There are lots of things included in the youth policy, which young people with visual impairment can benefit from, in health, education, sports and wealthy creation and all these are enumerated in the policy for the visually-impaired youths to easily access for their own development.”

Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Esther Somefun, said the body will continue to support the state in advocating for the rights of young people irrespective of their societal status, including their right to accurate information and services related to sexual and reproductive health.

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