Popular blind lawyer recently appointed as Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Disability Matters, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi has expressed appreciation to the state’s number one man for approving his appointment.
In a general ‘note of appreciation’ made available to PMParrot over the weekend, the Ibarapa-born legal icon said this gesture by Makinde is a challenge for him to personally rally round every interest group among persons with disabilities in the State to work cohesively and assiduously.
Read the full text of Adekanmbi’s ‘note’ here:
On behalf of my immediate family as well as the disability community in Oyo State, Nigeria and beyond, I wish to express my immense gratitude to the Almighty God, without Who we are nothing, and most especially the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for the great opportunity and challenge given me to serve Oyo State and humanity by my appointment as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Governor on Disability Matters.
I take this appointment as an opportunity to put into practice all that I have learnt from my personal experiences (both positive and negative), education and training (both formal and informal), expertise and skills over the years, from community to global levels. It is an opportunity to be seized through the vivid demonstration of the highest level of political commitment to the ideals of meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities in matters that affect their welfare. It is an opportunity for the disability community in Oyo State to utilize their voice to benefit themselves and the society at large.
Furthermore, I regard this appointment as a challenge to emphatically tell the world that the movement of persons with disabilities have evolved to a level whereby they can effectively and cohesively steer their ship to the port of gold. It is a challenge for me to personally rally round every interest group among persons with disabilities in the State to work cohesively and assiduously in order to justify this appointment.
I want to use this opportunity to call on my colleagues in the disability community and other relevant stakeholders in the State to selflessly work together in order to make Oyo State a place of equal opportunities for everyone irrespective of their disability status. Oyo State must eschew the core principles of equality, inclusiveness, equity, constructive engagement and rights based approach that aligns with the core principles and global goals of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Towards achieving these lofty ideals, all hands should be on deck as everyone contributes collectively and severally in the interest of our society.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the amazing inflow of congratulatory messages in various ways and media on this epoch making appointment while assuring everyone that I will not let you down. I seek your wise counsel and fervent prayers for me and every person that we will work together in a collective spirit for positive impacts. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless the Executive Governor of the State with Divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding to lead Oyo State to greater heights.
God bless you all.
Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi, Executive Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Disability Matters
