The Lagos State Government has strengthened disability inclusion in the economy with a business development programme aimed at equipping Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, with skills, legal backing and financial knowledge to run sustainable enterprises.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Oluwatoyin Oke-Osayintolu, said the 2026 Entrepreneurial Business Growth Training for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), themed “Beyond Limits: Building Sustainable and Compliant Enterprises” held at Alausa, was in line with the state government’s commitment to give them a platform to succeed.
“So this programme is basically to teach PWDs that are in business on how to make their business more profitable, to make it legal. So they’ve helped with registration of their businesses. They’re going to teach them financial literacy” she said.
She also said the training sought to support PWDs’ entrepreneurs in expanding their enterprises, making more profits, competing on an equal footing with other business owners, breaking societal stereotypes, and raising the standard of disability-owned businesses in Lagos State.
According to her “They’re going to teach them how to make their hobbies into a profit making venture. “Participants today you have the platform you have the opportunities you have facilitators that are well versed in what they do.”
“So take advantage listen carefully, ask a lot of questions there’s no stupid question as long as there’s something that is bothering you regarding your business please ask the questions and I’m sure that the facilitators will be able to help you do not leave this place the way you came in you have to live with value added” she said.
In her welcome address, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, said the programme featured capacity-building sessions on key aspects of business development, feedbacks and regulatory compliance, providing participants with practical knowledge to strengthen and grow their enterprises
She also stated that as part of the empowerment initiative, LASODA facilitated the registration of one hundred and fifty business names with the Corporate Affairs Commission and provided training on various business-related topics to enhance participants’ entrepreneurial capacity.
“Of particular importance to PWDs who are business owners is the spirit of excellence because we know that almost every business venture that is here represented in terms of registration and knowledge base has an active and very vast ownership of people who are non-PWDs,” She said.
“So as a PWD, your edge must be excellence. Excellence sets you out as well as ensuring that there is a spirit of togetherness and fellowship where we create opportunities for ourselves.”
Beneficiaries at the Programme which featured talks, trainings, Certificate Distribution, among others, applauded the State Government for its various initiatives which had continued to make life livable and provided a sustainable environment for People with Disabilities in the state.
A Facilitator, Adebayo Alani, who spoke on “the Mindset of a Resilient Entrepreneur, Branding and Digital Visibility” urged Participants to find their own business Idea, passion, accessibility, be firm and available.
While other Resource Persons also spoke on “Financial Literacy, Tax Compliance and Book Keeping” as well as “Importance of business registration for accessing government loans and grants.”
