By Agbo Christian Obiora
LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE — Against the backdrop of rising floods, scorching heatwaves, and increasing displacement across Nigeria, a quiet but powerful revolution is taking shape in Nasarawa State. At the forefront are women and girls with disabilities — a group often forgotten in national climate discourse — now stepping up as climate leaders in their communities.
Thanks to a pioneering initiative by Ondugbe Initiative For Women With Disabilities, and supported by the Urgent Action Fund, these courageous women are being armed not only with knowledge but with the power to protect themselves, their families, and their communities in the face of climate disasters. Themed “Empowering Resilience: Climate Adaptation and Emergency Preparedness for Women and Girls with Disabilities,” the project is setting a new standard for inclusive climate action in Nigeria.
Turning the Tide with Knowledge and Action
Held in the bustling state capital, Lafia, the initiative brought together over 50 women and girls with different forms of disabilities for a practical, hands-on training experience — the first of its kind in the region. Participants came from both urban and rural parts of the state, many traveling long distances with determination etched into their faces.
What awaited them was more than a typical workshop. It was a journey of awakening.
“This is not just a climate training — it’s a movement of resilience,” said Faith Owoloyi, Executive Director of Ondugbe Initiative For Women With Disabilities. “We’re preparing women who have long been sidelined by society to now lead conversations and actions around climate adaptation.”
Facilitated by a team of climate change experts, emergency response professionals, and disability rights advocates, the sessions demystified the concept of climate change. Through real-life simulations, interactive demonstrations, and scenario planning, participants learned how to:
- Assemble customized emergency preparedness kits
- Create and test evacuation plans tailored to their disability-specific needs
- Develop local support networks to ensure no one is left behind during a crisis
One participant with a visual impairment shared, “I always thought floods were just a normal inconvenience. I didn’t realize they could be life-threatening for someone like me. Now, I know how to prepare and how to help others too.”
Breaking Isolation, Building Movements
The significance of the project extended far beyond individual skill-building. Participants came together to form the Women With Disabilities Climate Resilience Network, a support and advocacy group designed to continue the momentum of the workshop. The network has already begun organizing regular meetups, climate education outreaches, and advocacy visits to local authorities.
“Together, we are stronger. We now have a platform to push for our inclusion in climate planning, to be heard, and to lead,” said one of the group’s founding members.
Key stakeholders, including the Disability Rights Commission led by its Chairman, Mr. Saleh Barde Keana, represented at the workshop by Mr. Esau Celestine Dachelem, the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, and several community and traditional leaders, were present during the closing session. They pledged not only to support the network but to ensure all emergency information and public awareness campaigns are accessible — through formats such as sign language, audio guides, and braille.
A Critical Step Toward the Global Goals
The initiative aligns closely with global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — especially:
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
By empowering women with disabilities, the project is addressing the triple jeopardy of gender, disability, and climate vulnerability — a reality often overlooked by mainstream policies and interventions.
“Climate change is not just about rising temperatures and melting ice caps — it’s about human lives,” said one of the facilitators. “When disaster strikes, women with disabilities are often the last to be evacuated, if they are considered at all. This initiative is changing that narrative.”
Spreading the Flame Across Borders
The ripple effect of this project is already evident. Traditional rulers and ward leaders who participated in the closing events have promised to include disability-friendly protocols in community disaster preparedness plans. Schools, churches, markets, and even transportation unions are being engaged to carry forward the message of inclusive climate adaptation.
Organizers have also hinted at plans to expand the initiative to other states, with talks already underway with local NGOs and state governments. Radio jingles, town hall meetings, and inclusive climate clubs in schools are among the next steps being considered to scale the impact.
A New Generation of Climate Leaders
This isn’t just about climate adaptation — it’s about redefining leadership. For too long, women and girls with disabilities have been seen as recipients of aid. This project flips the script. They are now architects of their futures — bold, prepared, and united.
As one young participant with a mobility impairment passionately declared during the workshop’s final session:
“We are no longer waiting for someone to come save us. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
From the narrow alleys of Lafia to the dusty roads of rural Nasarawa, the message is clear: Women and girls with disabilities are no longer on the sidelines. They are at the center of the fight for a safer, more inclusive, climate-resilient future.
And if this movement continues to grow, as it surely will, it might just light the way for the rest of the nation — and indeed, the continent — to follow.
Because when the most marginalized are empowered, entire communities rise.
