By Chris Agbo
Abuja, Nigeria
The Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers with Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF) has issued a strong legal warning to three major federal institutions over what it describes as a blatant and dehumanizing act of discrimination against a visually impaired nurse during an entrance examination at the Federal Neuropsychiatric School of Post-Basic Mental Health Nursing, Enugu.
At the centre of the unfolding controversy is Ms. Uche Olivia, a registered nurse living with visual impairment, whose aspiration for professional advancement was reportedly cut short by institutional neglect and alleged disregard for Nigeria’s disability rights laws.
According to the NBA-LWDF, Ms. Olivia had applied to the Federal Neuropsychiatric School in line with laid-down procedures and formally informed the institution of her visual impairment well ahead of the entrance examination. She also requested reasonable accommodations, including large-print examination materials and appropriate support — provisions clearly guaranteed under Nigerian law.
However, what should have been a routine examination reportedly turned into an experience marked by exclusion, delay, and humiliation.
“Answer Only What You Can See”
On the day of the examination, Ms. Olivia was allegedly denied all requested accommodations. Rather than receiving support to ensure equal participation, she was reportedly subjected to dismissive treatment and told to “answer only what you can see,” a statement the NBA-LWDF says effectively barred her from fair competition.
The Forum notes that the incident not only excluded Ms. Olivia from the examination process but also caused her emotional distress, reinforcing harmful stereotypes about persons with disabilities within public institutions meant to model care, inclusion, and professionalism.
Legal Red Flags Raised
In response, the NBA-LWDF has issued formal pre-action notices to:
- The Federal Neuropsychiatric School of Post-Basic Mental Health Nursing, Enugu
- The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu
- The Federal Ministry of Health
The legal notices describe the school’s actions as a clear violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which expressly prohibits disability-based discrimination and mandates public institutions to provide reasonable accommodations.
According to the Forum, the alleged failure of a federal health training institution to uphold these obligations raises troubling questions about systemic discrimination, institutional insensitivity, and poor enforcement of disability rights laws across the public sector.
Demands and Possible Court Action
Acting on behalf of Ms. Olivia, the NBA-LWDF is demanding:
- A public apology to the affected nurse
- ₦10 million in compensation for discrimination and emotional distress
- Concrete and verifiable institutional reforms to guarantee disability-inclusive examination practices
The affected institutions have been given 30 days to respond. Failure to do so, the Forum says, will result in full-blown legal action.
“Disability Is Not Incompetence”
Speaking on the matter, Chairperson of the NBA-LWDF, Patience N. Etumudon, Esq., issued a strong warning to public institutions that continue to treat disability rights as optional.
“Disability is not incompetence. Denying reasonable accommodation is not an administrative oversight; it is discrimination,” Etumudon stated.
“Federal institutions must comply with the law they are bound to uphold. This case is not just about one candidate — it is about access, dignity, and equality under the law.”
Beyond One Case
The NBA-LWDF emphasized that the action is part of its broader mandate to promote access to justice, equality, and inclusion for persons with disabilities, particularly in public institutions responsible for education, health, and professional development.
The Forum also called on policymakers, regulators, professional bodies, and the general public to support the strict enforcement of disability rights laws, warning that exclusionary practices continue to deny millions of Nigerians their right to education and economic participation.
As the 30-day countdown begins, disability rights advocates say the outcome of this case could set a powerful precedent — one that sends a clear message that exclusion has legal consequences, and that inclusion is no longer a matter of charity, but of law.
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