Nigeria Leads Africa in Disability-Inclusive Policies – NCPWD

• Nigeria asserts its leadership in Africa for disability-inclusive policies, aiming to reaffirm its dedication at the 2025 Global Disability Summit
• Stakeholders gathered to align Nigeria’s commitments, focusing on education, social protection, infrastructure, and job creation for Persons With Disabilities

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, has declared that Nigeria is leading African nations in developing and implementing disability-inclusive policies.

He made this statement during a one-day National Stakeholders Consultation on the 2025 Global Disability Summit (GDS2025) Commitments, organized by the NCPWD in Abuja.

The event gathered stakeholders to discuss and align Nigeria’s commitments ahead of the GDS2025, which will take place in Germany in April 2025.

Gufwan emphasized that the summit provides an opportunity for Nigeria to reaffirm its dedication to improving the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress since the 2018 GDS held in the United Kingdom, he noted that the country has consistently fulfilled its commitments.

“In 2018, Nigeria pledged to enact the Disability Act, and by January 2019, the federal government had fulfilled this commitment,” Gufwan stated.

He further highlighted advancements in disability-inclusive education, social protection, public infrastructure, and job creation for PwDs.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Hon. Bashiru Daudu, Chairman of the House Committee on Disability Matters, stressed that supporting PwDs is not just an act of kindness but a fundamental human right.

“The House will continue to legislate to promote the dignity, welfare, and well-being of PwDs. Caring for PwDs is about restoring and preserving human dignity,” Abbas affirmed.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda, represented by Mr. Valentine Ezulu, reassured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to advancing disability rights.

The minister outlined various initiatives, including expanding social protection coverage, promoting disability-friendly education, and enforcing accessibility standards in public buildings.