Abuja, Nigeria — July 15, 2025
In a powerful move to address the growing concerns around gender-based violence (GBV) against persons with disabilities in Nigeria, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has pledged strategic collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme to tackle this alarming issue head-on.
The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, during a high-level meeting held at the Commission’s headquarters on July 14, 2025. The meeting brought together key officials from ROLAC and the Commission to brainstorm and develop a sustainable roadmap to protect the rights, dignity, and lives of one of Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations—women and girls with disabilities.
“No One Should Be Left Behind” — Gufwan’s Bold Commitment
Speaking during the meeting, Gufwan expressed his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the over 35 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria, especially women and girls, are not left behind in the national fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
“We cannot continue to ignore the silent suffering of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, who face multiple layers of vulnerability,” Gufwan stated. “Our partnership with ROLAC is not just a collaboration—it’s a call to action to develop responsive, inclusive, and impactful strategies that prioritize their safety, rights, and empowerment.”
He emphasized that gender-based violence against PWDs often goes unreported due to stigma, systemic neglect, and inaccessible reporting mechanisms. Gufwan stressed the importance of bridging these gaps through inclusive programming and institutional reform.
ROLAC’s Mission: Strengthening Justice and Services for Survivors
The ROLAC programme—funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council—is known for advancing legal and policy reforms while building institutional capacity to respond to SGBV and corruption. At the heart of the programme is a three-pronged focus:
- Strengthening Legal and Policy Frameworks, including the Violence Against Persons with Disabilities Act and the Child Rights Act, to ensure legal protections are enforceable and inclusive.
- Improving Access to Essential Services for survivors—particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas—by providing health, psychosocial support, justice services, and survivor protection.
- Promoting Positive Social Norms by building the capacity of professional service organizations and influencing behavior change within communities.
During the meeting, the ROLAC team reiterated their intention to work with NCPWD to design a tailored programme that recognizes the specific experiences and needs of persons with disabilities—especially women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by SGBV.
Key Areas of Collaboration Identified
The brainstorming session led to the identification of several strategic focus areas for partnership between the NCPWD and ROLAC:
- Strengthening Access to Justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, with a focus on ensuring the justice system is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of PWDs.
- Developing a Joint Project Document that integrates disability perspectives into existing ROLAC projects and ensures budget lines for disability-inclusive programming.
- Enhanced Collaboration with Security Agencies, such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, to guarantee prompt and respectful responses to cases involving PWD survivors.
- Sustained Engagement with Government Institutions to mainstream disability issues in policy design, implementation, and monitoring processes.
These areas, both parties agreed, would form the foundation of a broader, long-term partnership to combat gender-based violence and promote inclusive justice.
NCPWD’s Strategic Agenda for Protecting Women and Girls with Disabilities
The Executive Secretary used the opportunity to outline the Commission’s ongoing strategic priorities aimed at empowering and protecting women and girls with disabilities:
- Advocacy for Inclusive Policies, particularly around education, health rights, and the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls with disabilities.
- Nationwide Awareness and Sensitization Campaigns to inform the public about the rights of PWDs and challenge harmful stereotypes and discriminatory practices.
- Economic Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programmes, which are already being rolled out to promote self-reliance and reduce vulnerability.
- Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination, especially in rural communities, through behavior change interventions and community dialogues.
“It’s not enough to react to cases—we must build systems that prevent them,” Gufwan remarked. “This means empowering women with disabilities economically, socially, and legally. Only then can we begin to break the cycle of abuse and neglect.”
Looking Ahead: Building an Inclusive Nigeria, Together
The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with both NCPWD and ROLAC reaffirming their commitment to co-creating impactful, measurable, and inclusive interventions that address gender-based violence from both systemic and survivor-centered perspectives.
Gufwan expressed gratitude for ROLAC’s inclusive approach and stressed the need for more partnerships like this to bring disability-inclusive laws from paper into practice.
“With partnerships like this, we can make the phrase ‘Leave No One Behind’ a living reality,” Gufwan said.
Towards a Safer and More Equitable Future
As Nigeria continues its journey toward inclusive governance and social justice, this partnership between NCPWD and ROLAC stands as a beacon of hope. It symbolizes a shared vision: one where persons with disabilities, especially women and girls, live free from violence, enjoy their full rights, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
In the words of Gufwan:
“Our duty is clear—every policy, every programme, every intervention must count persons with disabilities in. Anything less is injustice.”
About NCPWD
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is the apex government agency mandated to promote, protect, and prioritize the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. Established under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the Commission works to ensure full inclusion and equal opportunities for all.
About ROLAC
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, supported by the European Union and implemented by the British Council, aims to promote the rule of law, fight corruption, and enhance access to justice, with a strong emphasis on gender, human rights, and inclusive development.
