Ondo State Government on Tuesday promised to continue to give priority to the welfare of Persons with Disabilities in the state.

The government also assured that more special people will be employed into the state civil service under the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele, spoke while receiving the Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities, who embarked on a road show to appreciate Governor Akeredolu for his love and care for special persons in the state.

The road show which is to commemorate the 2023 International Day with Disabilities was led by the Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Princess Folashade Arise, and the State Chairman, Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities, Abiodun Samuel Olusegun.

The HoS who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment, Mrs Olufunke Dare-Atunse, particularly congratulated Persons living with Disabilities on the occasion of their International Day.

Ogundele said  Governor Akeredolu will not relent in his various efforts aimed at making lives more meaningful to all special people in the state, even as he solicited for more support and cooperation to achieve more successes across all sectors of the economy in the state.

He assured that government will continue to meet their needs and give them necessary support and care to enable them continue to have a sense of belonging.

He added that apart from about 40 special people employed earlier by Governor Akeredolu, more of them will still be employed very soon.

Earlier, Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Princess Folashade Arise, commended Akeredolu for including persons with disabilities in his government, employing special people into state Civil Service and regular empowerment for them and other financial supports.

“Governor Akeredolu is the first person to include persons with disabilities in his government. He is the first Governor that did massive employment for persons with disabilities; to create Agency for Persons with Disabilities, he is number one. In terms of empowerment, he’s number one, in terms of inclusion, our Governor is number one. He has done a lot for us and we have come to appreciate him”, Arise added.

Also, the Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities, Ondo State chapter, Abiodun Samuel Olusegun, said the 2023 International Day with Disabilities will hold on December 3.

He equally thanked the Governor for giving special attention to persons living with disabilities across the state, saying Akeredolu has done many things including regular scholarship and bursary awards to members, among other assistance.

Prayers were also offered for the full recovery of the Governor to enable him do more for them.