Abuja — The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities has commended the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Peace for Humanity Foundation for the successful inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the establishment of Farm Cities for Persons With Disabilities across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
Delivering remarks at the inauguration ceremony, the SSA conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and described the initiative as a bold, inclusive, and forward-thinking intervention aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
He praised NCPWD for conceiving what he termed a “transformative agricultural empowerment model” designed to reposition Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) within Nigeria’s economic value chain. According to him, the establishment of Farm Cities will create structured, accessible, and well-equipped agricultural hubs where PWDs can thrive as farmers, agripreneurs, processors, and exporters.
The SSA further applauded the Peace For Humanity Foundation for its collaboration and shared commitment to sustainable empowerment, noting that partnerships between government agencies and civil society organizations remain critical to achieving inclusive national development.
“This initiative goes beyond charity; it is about structured economic integration,” he said. “When Persons With Disabilities are given access to land, mechanization, financing, training, and markets, they become contributors to national productivity and drivers of food security.”
He emphasized that agriculture remains one of the largest employers of labour in Nigeria and holds immense potential for job creation. By intentionally designing Farm Cities to be disability-friendly—incorporating accessibility standards, assistive technologies, irrigation systems, storage facilities, and market linkages—the government is opening doors for thousands of PWDs who have historically been excluded from mainstream agricultural programs.
The SSA charged members of the newly inaugurated LOC to approach their assignment with diligence and transparency, particularly in mobilizing funds, engaging development partners, and drawing up a practical roadmap for implementation across the country’s six geo-political zones.
He reiterated the Office’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote inclusive economic empowerment, food security, and sustainable livelihoods for Persons With Disabilities, stressing that disability inclusion must remain central to Nigeria’s development strategy.
The successful launch of the LOC signals the beginning of what stakeholders describe as a historic journey toward the creation of inclusive agricultural communities where disability does not define limitation but opportunity.
Observers say the Farm Cities initiative could set a benchmark for disability-inclusive agribusiness development not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
