By Agbo Christian Obiora
ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has declared that disability inclusion in Nigeria is not a gesture of charity but a constitutional right, a moral duty, and a measure of the nation’s progress toward sustainable development.
The President made this powerful statement while declaring open the 2025 National Disability Summit, held from 29th to 30th October, 2025, at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja. The landmark event, themed “Inclusive Nigeria: Empowering Persons with Disabilities for Sustainable Development,” brought together top government officials, legislators, development partners, civil society, and disability advocates from across the country.
Represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sanunu, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an equitable society where every Nigerian—regardless of physical, sensory, or intellectual ability—has equal access to education, employment, healthcare, political participation, and social protection.
“Inclusion is not just a social agenda; it is an economic and governance imperative. Around the world, evidence shows that societies that include persons with disabilities in schools and workplaces grow faster, are more innovative, and achieve stronger social cohesion,” he stated.
The President highlighted key priorities of his administration toward disability inclusion, including reducing the number of out-of-school children with disabilities, expanding access to health insurance schemes, strengthening workplace accessibility, distributing assistive devices nationwide, and enforcing the mandatory five percent employment quota for persons with disabilities.
He also commended the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, for his visionary leadership and relentless advocacy for disability rights and inclusion across Nigeria.
Nigeria Reaffirms Its Global Commitments
The two-day Summit, organized by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, served as Nigeria’s major follow-up to the 2025 Global Disability Summit (GDS) held in Berlin, Germany.
Supported by the German and Swiss Governments, the European Union (EU) through GIZ, International IDEA via the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, Sightsavers, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN), and RedAid Nigeria, the Summit provided a platform to evaluate Nigeria’s progress on its global disability commitments.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, noted that the Summit symbolized not only reflection but also renewal and accountability in implementing Nigeria’s disability laws and policies.
“We are not here to make promises alone; we are here to assess progress, confront challenges, and strengthen accountability. True inclusion requires the participation of all—government, private sector, civil society, and persons with disabilities themselves,” he emphasized.
Gufwan announced that the Commission is developing a National Disability Action and Accountability Plan (2025–2030) to guide the cross-sectoral implementation of inclusive policies, ensuring that commitments translate into measurable action at federal, state, and local levels.
Lawmakers, Ministers and Development Partners Reaffirm Support
Delivering his keynote address, Hon. Bashiru Daudu, Chairman, House Committee on Disability Affairs, urged Nigerians to champion the enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and create a society that truly embraces diversity.
“The time to act is now. Disability inclusion must move from policy to practice, from words to action,” he asserted.
Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by an Assistant Director in the Ministry, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s legal commitment to fully implementing the Disability Act and ensuring access to justice for all Nigerians.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman, represented by Dr. Udeme Nsikak Abia, an Assistant Director in the Ministry, commended the NCPWD for convening the Summit and inaugurating the National Forum for Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA)—a platform designed to foster synergy among state disability commissions.
She emphasized that disability inclusion must be mainstreamed in all government and development programmes, particularly in areas affecting women and girls with disabilities.
International Partners Reaffirm Commitment to Inclusive Development
In a show of global solidarity, Dr. Markus Wagner, Country Director of GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, reaffirmed Germany’s enduring support for inclusive development and the Berlin Declaration, which underscores the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
He revealed that through GIZ’s interventions in Nigeria, over 2,800 persons with disabilities have already benefitted from training, digital inclusion, and financial access programmes aimed at promoting self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
“We envision a world where all persons with disabilities fully enjoy their civil, political, social, and economic rights—a world where inclusion is not an act of charity but a mark of justice,” Dr. Wagner stated.
Milestone Achievement: Inauguration of NAFDCA
A major highlight of the Summit was the official inauguration of the National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA), performed by the Honourable Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sanunu.
The forum will serve as a coordinating platform for all state-level disability commissions and agencies across Nigeria, promoting peer learning, accountability, and harmonized implementation of disability inclusion frameworks.
According to NCPWD, NAFDCA will enhance monitoring of the five percent employment quota, improve accessibility compliance at state and local government levels, and foster state-level reporting on Nigeria’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
A Call for Stronger Partnerships
The Summit concluded with a resounding call for stronger partnerships between the government, private sector, media, and civil society to accelerate the implementation of the Disability Act and sustain the momentum of disability inclusion in Nigeria.
Stakeholders agreed that while Nigeria has made notable progress since the signing of the Disability Act in 2019, greater coordination, funding, and political will are required to translate policy promises into real impact for the estimated 35 million Nigerians with disabilities.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan reiterated the Commission’s resolve to continue serving as the national coordinating body for disability affairs, championing advocacy, and ensuring accountability in every sector.
“The story of inclusion in Nigeria is still being written. Together, we must ensure it becomes a story of justice, dignity, and equal opportunity for all,” he concluded.
About NCPWD
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) was established under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, to coordinate and promote disability inclusion, enforce accessibility standards, and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
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