In a renewed effort to give stronger voice and visibility to mental health and psychosocial disabilities in Nigeria, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has deepened its partnership with She Writes Woman, a leading mental health advocacy organization.
This development follows a courtesy visit to the Commission by the Founder and Executive Director of She Writes Woman, Hauwa Ojeifo, accompanied by her colleague, Jennifer Abomnger. The team restated the organization’s mission to empower people living with mental health and psychosocial disabilities to tell their stories, shape solutions, and dismantle stigma around mental health in Nigeria.
A Partnership Rooted in History
The relationship between NCPWD and She Writes Woman is not new. Both organizations began working together about three to four years ago, when they jointly convened the first-ever Mental Health Roundtable at the Commission. That landmark event laid the foundation for progressive change in Nigeria’s mental health advocacy landscape, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Mental Health Desk within the NCPWD.
Since then, the partnership has grown into a symbol of what collaborative advocacy can achieve, particularly in driving institutional reforms and creating safe spaces for persons with psychosocial disabilities.
Building on Gains, Expanding Collaboration
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, applauded the persistence and commitment of She Writes Woman. He commended the organization’s pioneering role in amplifying the voices of persons with psychosocial disabilities, while consistently pushing for policies and frameworks that respond to their lived realities.
Hon. Gufwan emphasized that the Commission is ready to deepen its collaboration with She Writes Woman in ways that will strengthen advocacy, improve service delivery, and integrate psychosocial disabilities into the Commission’s broader disability inclusion agenda.
“Disability inclusion is the responsibility of all,” Hon. Gufwan declared. “We look forward to deepening our partnership with She Writes Woman and other organizations to advance the cause of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.”
During the discussions, both parties explored new areas of cooperation. Top on the agenda is a capacity-building workshop designed to enhance the understanding of psychosocial disabilities among staff of the Commission and its stakeholders. The workshop will provide orientation on rights-based approaches, best practices, and strategies for mainstreaming psychosocial disabilities within the Commission’s institutional framework.
Mental Health Inclusion as a National Priority
Nigeria has witnessed growing awareness around mental health in recent years, but persons with psychosocial disabilities continue to face layers of discrimination, neglect, and inadequate support. The renewed collaboration between NCPWD and She Writes Woman seeks to address these gaps by ensuring that mental health issues receive equal recognition within the disability rights movement.
The partnership also signals a new wave of advocacy that aligns with the global disability rights agenda, particularly the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). By embedding psychosocial disabilities firmly into its programs, NCPWD is demonstrating a commitment to holistic inclusion—where no disability is left behind.
Towards a More Inclusive Future
For Hauwa Ojeifo and her team, this partnership represents not only continuity but also hope for a Nigeria where mental health conversations are normalized, stigma is dismantled, and policies reflect the realities of those most affected.
With renewed vigor, both organizations are set to embark on projects that will elevate the voices of persons with psychosocial disabilities and empower them to take their rightful place in Nigeria’s disability and development discourse.
As the NCPWD continues to expand its reach and influence, partnerships like this highlight the urgent need for collective responsibility in creating an inclusive society.
This collaboration is more than a routine partnership—it is a call to action for government, civil society, and the public to recognize that mental health is central to human dignity, wellbeing, and national development.
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