Abuja, Nigeria – July 24, 2025 – In a renewed effort to promote the rights, inclusion, and dignity of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has deepened its partnership with the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), a leading disability rights organization founded and led by women with disabilities.
The move, which marks a strategic step toward the domestication and full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in all 36 states of the federation, underscores the Commission’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with grassroots advocacy groups and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to transform policy into action.
During a high-level meeting held at the NCPWD headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, lauded VDI for its consistent and impactful advocacy over the past decade. He noted that organizations like VDI are crucial to ensuring that Nigeria’s disability legislation is not only passed at the state level but implemented in a way that reflects the lived realities of persons with disabilities.
“We cannot achieve true inclusion without the active partnership of organizations like VDI who are on the frontlines every day. Their advocacy in states like Enugu has already yielded remarkable results, and we encourage other states to emulate this progress,” Hon. Gufwan stated.
He emphasized the need for accelerated advocacy across the country to ensure the Disability Act is not left as a policy on paper but translated into tangible protections, opportunities, and services for millions of Nigerians with disabilities.
A Decade of Advocacy, A Lifetime of Impact
In response, the Executive Director of Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), Barrister Catherine Edeh, a trailblazing deaf lawyer and prominent disability rights activist, expressed appreciation to the Commission for its openness to collaboration and inclusivity. She highlighted that VDI, now celebrating ten years of sustained advocacy, is proud of the many milestones it has achieved in advancing the rights of women, girls, and children with disabilities.
“Ten years ago, we began with a dream—to make the voices of women and girls with disabilities heard and respected. Today, we are not just heard; we are shaping policies, influencing laws, and building inclusive systems,” Barr. Edeh said.
She outlined some of VDI’s key focus areas and achievements over the years:
- Disability Rights Advocacy: Spearheading campaigns for inclusive laws and policies that safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities.
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocacy: Championing access to comprehensive healthcare, including HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning services tailored to the needs of women and girls with disabilities.
- Inclusive Education: Promoting access to quality and equitable education for children with disabilities through policy engagement and community mobilization.
- Livelihood Empowerment: Supporting economic opportunities and self-reliance initiatives for persons with disabilities through skills training and entrepreneurship support.
VDI’s impact also includes strategic collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to promote disability-inclusive HIV/AIDS programming and protect the health rights of persons with disabilities.
Additionally, the organization has prioritized capacity building, delivering training to healthcare providers, community leaders, and educators on disability rights, inclusive service delivery, and the importance of accessibility in all facets of life.
A Shared Vision for an Inclusive Nigeria
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment from both NCPWD and VDI to strengthen ties and push forward a unified advocacy agenda that puts persons with disabilities—especially women and girls—at the center of Nigeria’s development discourse.
Both parties reiterated their intention to co-create inclusive policies, monitor the implementation of disability laws at state and federal levels, and continue pushing for social change that ensures no one is left behind.
“We are not asking for charity. We are demanding equity. Our rights are human rights, and our voices matter,” Barr. Edeh asserted.
This renewed collaboration between the national regulator on disability affairs and a women-led OPD is a positive signal for the disability community in Nigeria. It sends a strong message that through strategic partnerships, sustained advocacy, and political will, the vision of a truly inclusive Nigeria is within reach.
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities encourages more OPDs, civil society groups, and development partners to engage in collaborative advocacy efforts to ensure that disability rights are not sidelined but placed at the heart of national development strategies.
