The Edo State Government has unveiled a simplified version of its Disability Rights Law aimed at improving awareness, accessibility, and enforcement of the rights of persons living with disabilities across the state’s 18 local government areas.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Benin City on Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Musa Umar Ikhilor, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and promote a more inclusive society.
Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr Ohunyon Ekikioya, the SSG noted that the strength of any society is measured not only by its infrastructure but also by its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens.
According to him, while laws are enacted to protect rights, guide conduct, and promote justice, their effectiveness depends largely on how accessible and understandable they are to the people they serve.
“The simplification of the Disability Rights Law is a thoughtful and commendable initiative aimed at ensuring that its provisions are better understood by citizens, particularly persons with disabilities and their families. By doing so, we are strengthening public awareness, encouraging compliance, and empowering citizens with the knowledge needed to claim and protect their rights within the framework of the law,” he said.
Ikhilor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building an inclusive society where persons with disabilities are not viewed through the lens of dependency or limitation, but as equal stakeholders in development.
The event was organised by the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities with support from the Network for the Advancement of People with Disabilities (NAPVID) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Director of NAPVID, Mr Melody Omosah, called for the establishment of dedicated radio programmes to enhance public awareness of disability rights and inclusion.
Highlighting provisions of Section 18 of the Edo State Disability Law, Omosah said education remains a fundamental right of persons with disabilities, from primary school to tertiary institutions.
He disclosed that the law provides for the establishment of at least one special school in each of the state’s 18 local government areas and criminalises the denial of education to children with disabilities.
“The law stipulates that there should be at least one special school in every local government area. It is an offence for parents or guardians to deny children with disabilities access to education by keeping them out of school,” he stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr Theophilus Egbodion, said the simplified version of the law would help educate persons with disabilities and improve their understanding of the rights and opportunities available to them.
One of the participants, Mr Ovenseri Iduozee, commended the state government for enacting and simplifying the law, saying it would empower persons with disabilities to recognise that they are entitled to the same rights and opportunities as other citizens.
The unveiling forms part of ongoing efforts by the Edo State Government to deepen disability inclusion, strengthen legal awareness, and ensure that no citizen is left behind.
Source: Statement signed by Dr Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, June 4, 2026.
