In a bold move to accelerate disability inclusion from the grassroots level, the Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youths with Disabilities (HIFWYD) has officially launched the Local Government Disability Framework in Oyo State. The groundbreaking event, which took place in Ibadan, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing quest to institutionalize disability-inclusive governance across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Backed by the Disability Rights Fund, this innovative framework is tailored to equip local government councils with the institutional capacity and strategic roadmap required to integrate disability inclusion into every facet of their operations, programmes, and interventions.
The atmosphere at the launch was one of hope, unity, and a shared commitment to social equity. Stakeholders from various sectors — including government representatives, civil society actors, and religious leaders — converged to lend their voices and support to what many described as “a historic and transformative initiative.”
Speaking at the event, the Secretary of HIFWYD, Rosiline Oniyide, emphasized the life-changing potential of the framework, especially for individuals with disabilities who often face insurmountable challenges in accessing services and asserting their rights.
“At the local government level, we need this kind of framework to enable us to work,” Oniyide stated passionately. “It is unfair to stress our people by making them travel long distances to the state capital just to lodge complaints or seek justice. With this framework implemented at the local level, accessing freedom, rights, and services will be significantly easier.”
Oniyide further called on Special Assistants (SAs) on Disability Matters at the local government level to embrace their roles with sincerity and dedication.
“You are there to represent us,” she said. “This framework is not just another document; it’s an assignment — one of the most important you will ever undertake for people with disabilities in your communities.”
The Team Lead of HIFWYD, Oluchi Nwite, reinforced the urgency of commitment, noting that communities must become more disability-sensitive if true inclusion is to be achieved.
“We cannot keep marginalizing a segment of our population simply because of their physical or mental differences,” Nwite stressed. “PWDs deserve to participate meaningfully in community development. They must not only be seen — they must be heard and included.”
Also lending his voice was the Chairman of the Advocacy Cluster Group, Mr. Yusuff Olatunji, who underscored the continued struggle for inclusion, calling on local authorities to embrace this framework as a tool for empowerment rather than a bureaucratic formality.
The importance of the initiative was further echoed by dignitaries and government officials present at the launch. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Balogun, the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion — represented by Mr. Taiwo Ibilade, Director of Rehabilitation — hailed the framework as a timely intervention.
“We are all disabled in one way or the other. It is only the degree of disability that differs. But that should never make anyone feel useless or sidelined,” Ibilade remarked, to a round of applause from the audience.
Also speaking at the event was Mr. Timothy Femi, Executive Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Disability Matters, who represented the Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons With Disabilities, Ayodele Adekanmbi. He reaffirmed Governor Seyi Makinde’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance.
“Governor Makinde has always stood for fairness and inclusivity,” Femi declared. “This framework is another proof that we are not just talking the talk — we are walking the walk. PWDs will continue to be visible and active participants in governance under this administration.”
The launch also featured goodwill messages from Kingsley Soremi, a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and other civil society groups and community leaders, all of whom hailed the initiative as a turning point for grassroots disability inclusion in Nigeria.
A New Dawn for Disability Inclusion in Oyo State
The Local Government Disability Framework is more than just policy — it is a manifesto of hope, a promise of change, and a blueprint for equity. With its successful launch in Oyo State, HIFWYD has not only ignited a spark — it has set a precedent for other states across the country.
If implemented effectively, this framework has the potential to dismantle the long-standing barriers that have hindered PWDs from accessing opportunities, services, and dignity at the grassroots level.
The road to full inclusion may still be long, but one thing is certain: with initiatives like this, the journey is no longer being made in silence or in the shadows. The voices of persons with disabilities are growing louder, stronger, and more determined — and Nigeria must listen.
