The Ekiti State Government has empowered another batch of 100 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) with working tools and equipment after completing vocational training at the Skills Acquisition Centre for Persons with Disabilities in Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti.

The initiative, organised by the Office of Disability Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, is part of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s inclusive governance policy aimed at promoting economic independence and ensuring that no segment of society is left behind.

The beneficiaries received training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), tailoring, hairdressing, shoemaking, catering and hospitality, equipping them with practical skills to establish businesses and become self-reliant.

They were also provided with start-up equipment, including sewing machines, salon equipment, shoemaking tools, ICT facilities and catering equipment, to enable them to apply their newly acquired skills and earn a living.

Speaking at the graduation and empowerment ceremony held at the centre on Friday, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, said the Oyebanji administration had continued to improve the welfare of PWDs through inclusive policies and programmes designed to provide equal opportunities for all citizens.

Adebayo said the government remained committed to building a society where persons with disabilities could acquire relevant skills, access opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic and social development.

He described the initiative as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, economic empowerment and the creation of opportunities for vulnerable groups.

According to him, combining vocational training with the provision of start-up equipment would promote independence, encourage entrepreneurship and enable beneficiaries to participate actively in the state’s economic activities.

He urged the graduands to make effective use of the equipment provided, remain focused and demonstrate commitment to building sustainable businesses.Earlier, the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, disclosed that the programme had expanded steadily since its inception in 2023.

She explained that the initiative began with 30 beneficiaries in 2023, increased to 40 in 2024 and 60 in 2025, before reaching 100 beneficiaries in 2026.

Agboola attributed the growth to the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to creating opportunities for persons with disabilities, stressing that the programme was founded on the belief that disability should not prevent anyone from achieving economic independence.

She said the 2026 batch was particularly significant because 10 of the beneficiaries were parents of children with severe disabilities, many of whom, especially mothers, had struggled to engage in economic activities because of the constant care required by their children.

According to her, the establishment of the Ekiti State Government Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities has helped address the challenge by providing a safe and professional environment where the children can receive therapy and care.

She noted that the facility had given their parents an opportunity to acquire vocational skills, engage in productive activities and earn a livelihood while their children receive the necessary government support.

Expressing appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for his support for persons with disabilities, Agboola described him as a champion of disability inclusion and empowerment.

She also highlighted the governor’s annual birthday celebrations with children in special schools, noting that since December 21, 2022, he had encouraged friends, associates and family members to direct resources that would have been spent on parties and advertorials to the development of special schools.

Agboola said one of the projects funded through the initiative was the BAO Vision Studio at the Government Special School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti.

She explained that the music studio was established to enable visually impaired students, who have strong musical interests, to record songs professionally.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Commissioner for Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Bolaji Aluko; Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, Professor Akeem Azeez; and Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Olaniran Olatona, among others.

The latest empowerment programme underscores the Ekiti State Government’s efforts to promote disability inclusion, vocational skills development and economic self-reliance among persons with disabilities.