Abuja, Nigeria – December 3, 2025 — The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) has joined millions of voices across the globe to commemorate the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), using the occasion to call for deeper commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and the protection of the rights of women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria.
Observed annually on December 3, this year’s IDPD is themed “Transformative Solutions for an Inclusive Society: Leaving No One Behind.” The theme resonates strongly with the ongoing struggles and aspirations of women and girls with disabilities, many of whom continue to face entrenched social, economic, and cultural barriers.
Speaking during the commemoration in Abuja, AWWDI emphasized that true inclusion requires sustained political will, responsive policies, and active collaboration across all sectors of society.
AWWDI Amplifies the Call for Equal Rights and Opportunities
In a statement issued by Dr. Kolawole Jayeoba, Executive Director of AWWDI, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to championing disability rights, stressing that inclusion is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to championing the rights of women and girls with disabilities. Inclusion is not optional – it is a fundamental human right. We call on all stakeholders – government, private sector, and civil society – to work with us in building a society where disability is never a barrier to opportunity, participation, and dignity,” Dr. Jayeoba said.
Adding her voice to the commemoration, Patience Ogolo Dickson, the Executive Director of AWWDI, noted that the organization’s work continues to expose deep structural gaps that limit opportunities for women and girls with disabilities. She stressed that inclusive development must prioritize accessibility, gender equity, and meaningful representation in policy processes.
Robust Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns Across Communities
As part of its activities marking the IDPD, AWWDI rolled out coordinated advocacy and awareness campaigns across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other communities. These campaigns highlighted the rights, resilience, and contributions of persons with disabilities while pushing back against harmful stereotypes and discrimination.
The campaigns also emphasized the urgent need for:
Inclusive and accessible education systems for girls with disabilities
Equal and supportive employment opportunities for women with disabilities
Accessible healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services.
AWWDI insists that no society can advance when millions of its citizens are left behind due to avoidable barriers.
Empowering Women with Disabilities Through Leadership Development
AWWDI spotlighted its ongoing capacity-building and leadership development programs, which equip women with disabilities with skills to become community leaders, entrepreneurs, and active decision-makers. The initiative has trained hundreds of women across Nigeria, helping them break barriers and redefine narratives around disability and leadership.
According to AWWDI, empowering women with disabilities is a critical step toward community transformation and sustainable development.
Strengthening Policy Engagement and Multi-Sector Collaboration
The organization reiterated its commitment to collaborating with government institutions, international bodies, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure full implementation of disability-inclusive policies in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Nigeria’s national disability laws.
AWWDI called for:
Increased funding for disability-inclusive programming
Enforcement of accessibility standards across public infrastructure
Gender-responsive disability policies
Greater representation of women with disabilities at all levels of leadership
The organization emphasized that transformative solutions must align with the principle of leaving no one behind.
About AWWDI
The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) is a Nigerian non-governmental organization committed to promoting the rights, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities. Through advocacy, policy engagement, and community development, AWWDI works to dismantle systemic barriers and amplify the voices of women with disabilities across Nigeria.
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