The Lagos State Government has advised corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations to embrace people living with Down’s syndrome and explore their potential.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akingbile-Yussuf, spoke on Friday at an event marking the 2016 International Down’s Syndrome Day in Ikeja.
She said the society could not ignore the accruable benefit when adequate attention was given to people living with Down’s syndrome.
“For instance, an employer of labour is bound to get 100 per cent loyalty from an employee with Down’s syndrome as against a lower percentage of loyalty from an able-bodied employee.
“This is because the former has a stereotype mind when it comes to engagement in performing a function, while the latter could decide to jump from one employer to another at will,” she said.
According to her, people living with Down’s syndrome are immune to immoral habits that many able people engage in.
She added that the state government was determined to implement all the provisions in the Lagos State Special Peoples Law to the letter.
She said, “I appeal to individuals, NGOs and corporate bodies to embrace people living with Down’s syndrome and indeed all persons living with disabilities, and explore their potential rather than their shortcomings.”
The Permanent Secretary, Youth and Social Development, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, appealed to parents and guardians of people with Down’s syndrome not to be discouraged, saying such people were trainable and should be given the needed education.
The General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disabilities Affairs, Mr. Babatunde Awelenje, said the state government had put machinery in motion to defend the rights of people with disabilities.
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