The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to fostering inclusivity in agriculture by ensuring Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have equal access to opportunities in the sector.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Afees Abolore, gave the assurance in Ilorin on Saturday when he received the new executive members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Kwara Chapter, during a courtesy visit.
Abolore said the state had taken deliberate steps to mainstream inclusivity into its agricultural policies and programmes, noting that PWDs remain active beneficiaries of ongoing empowerment and capacity-building initiatives.
“The state government has put in place measures to ensure inclusivity across its programmes, especially in agriculture. Our ministry will continue to provide support through input distribution, capacity building, and access to agricultural value chains,” he stated.
The commissioner also stressed that women, youths and PWDs form a vital part of the rural economy and would be fully integrated into agricultural planning, financing, extension services and decision-making processes.
In his remarks, the Chairman of JONAPWD, Kwara Chapter, Mr Adebayo Gbadamosi, commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what he described as an unprecedented commitment to inclusivity.
He praised the governor for consistently including PWDs in input distributions and other intervention programmes, as well as for appointing persons with disabilities into strategic government positions such as Permanent Secretaries.
“This is a landmark achievement that has never been recorded in the history of the state. Our members are actively engaged in agriculture and continue to contribute to food production and rural development,” Gbadamosi said.
He also informed the commissioner of the association’s forthcoming International Day of Persons with Disabilities, scheduled to hold on Dec. 3, 2025, and solicited government’s support for the event.