Abuja, Nigeria – May 30, 2025
In a strong push for accountability and inclusive development, Mimijane Foundation for Women and Children with Disabilities on Thursday hosted a powerful one-day workshop aimed at re-energizing disability rights stakeholders, policymakers, and government implementers around gender-sensitive engagements post-Global Disability Summit (GDS).
Held under the theme: “Advancing Gender-Sensitive Disability Inclusion in Governance and Policy Implementation,” the event brought together key actors from across the disability inclusion ecosystem to reflect on Nigeria’s commitments at the recently concluded Global Disability Summit (April 2–3, 2025, in Berlin, Germany). The summit was co-hosted by the governments of Germany and Jordan alongside the International Disability Alliance.
The Mimijane-led workshop, supported by Urgent Action Fund Africa, forms part of ongoing efforts to hold duty-bearers accountable, especially concerning women and girls with disabilities, who often experience multiple layers of marginalization in both policy and practice.
In her rousing opening remarks, Ambassador Beatrice Mube, Executive Director of the Mimijane Foundation, underscored the urgency of the moment.
“Today is not just about dialogue; it’s about igniting action. We are here to remind the government of its promises at GDS—and ensure those promises don’t remain on paper. We are examining every commitment through a gender lens because women and girls with disabilities deserve to be seen, heard, and prioritized in national development,” she emphasized.
Amb. Mube noted that Nigeria’s commitments at the Global Disability Summit must be approached from an intersectional lens, particularly those affecting women and children with disabilities, whose lived realities often go unaccounted for in national policies and budget frameworks.
Representing the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, was Mr. Oloyede Lanre, Chief Press Secretary to the SSAP. He conveyed a strong assurance from the presidency:
“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the federal government remains fully committed to implementing Nigeria’s pledges at the GDS. These commitments reflect our national resolve to advance inclusion, equity, and justice for all citizens—especially persons with disabilities.”
The workshop was enriched by goodwill messages from notable institutions and personalities including Theophilus Odaudu of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), Joseph Kaura, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) FCT Chapter, representatives from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
A major highlight of the event was an interactive session on “Gaps in Implementing Disability Commitments Post-GDS,” facilitated by Development Consultant, Damian Ivom, who challenged stakeholders to go beyond rhetoric and start embedding inclusion into government structures, budgeting, and accountability frameworks.
This was followed by a compelling technical presentation on Inclusive Governance and Institutional Responsiveness delivered by renowned disability inclusion expert, Barr. Florence Marcus. She provided practical tools and frameworks on how public institutions can mainstream gender-responsive and disability-inclusive governance in their day-to-day work.
The workshop also served as a platform for deepening understanding of the Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Disability Inclusion, a landmark document born out of the Global Disability Summit. The declaration reaffirmed the global commitment to a human rights-based approach to disability-inclusive development, rooted in the near-universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Notably, the declaration calls for the “15 percent for the 15 percent” principle—urging that at least 15 percent of international development programs implemented at the country level must explicitly target persons with disabilities, who comprise 15 percent of the global population. It also advocates for 15 percent budgetary allocation towards disability-inclusive projects and emphasizes intersectionality, especially focusing on underrepresented groups such as women, children, and youth with disabilities.
The nine-point Amman-Berlin Declaration addresses key areas including:
- Inclusive humanitarian action
- Gender equality and intersectionality
- Accessibility of development programs
- Gathering of disaggregated data and evidence
- Empowerment of women and girls with disabilities
- Inclusive education, healthcare, and economic opportunities
Participants at the workshop agreed that while Nigeria has made bold commitments, there is a need for more deliberate, gender-sensitive implementation frameworks, institutional capacity-building, and stronger collaboration between government and civil society.
As the event concluded, the mood was one of renewed determination. Stakeholders reaffirmed their resolve to ensure that the voices of women and girls with disabilities are not sidelined in national discourse—and that the GDS commitments translate into real change in their everyday lives.
By Agbo Christian Obiora
Disability Rights Advocate & Media Practitioner
