By Agbo Christian Obiora
Benin City, Nigeria – May 30, 2025
In a powerful and timely message marking the 2025 Children’s Day Celebration, the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID) has issued a national call to action, urging governments at all levels to end violence against children with disabilities and champion a truly inclusive education system across Nigeria.
The event, held virtually from Benin City, Edo State, gathered an impressive mix of children with disabilities, disability advocates, educators, legal scholars, and policymakers from across the country. With the theme “Our Future, Our Responsibility: Ending Violence and Promoting Inclusion for Children with Disabilities,” the event went beyond commemoration—it was a rallying cry for justice, inclusion, and systemic change.
“No Child Left Behind—No Child Left in Danger”
Barr. Melody Omosah, Executive Director of NAPVID, delivered a keynote address that stirred both hearts and minds. He stressed that the future of Nigeria must include all its children, regardless of ability, and that ending violence and discrimination against children with disabilities is not a favour—it is a responsibility.
“We all share the responsibility of ensuring every child grows in a safe and inclusive environment,” Omosah declared. “We must take bold, urgent action to end the persistent and largely ignored violence faced by children with disabilities in homes, schools, and institutions.”
He pointed to Nigeria’s arsenal of laws and policies aimed at protecting children with disabilities—the Child Rights Act, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and the Universal Basic Education Act—but cautioned that “laws alone are not enough.”
“Our children don’t need promises—they need protection. We must translate these policies into real, life-changing action in classrooms, clinics, and communities,” he said.
Inclusion Must Be Intentional, Not Accidental
Adding her voice to the discussion, Uchenna Florence Nwokedi of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) emphasized that inclusion is not something that just happens—it must be purposefully designed.
“Children with disabilities must be named and included in every development plan, every school policy, and every community program. They must not be an afterthought,” she said.
Nwokedi proposed the creation of inclusive Children’s Parliaments, where children with disabilities could be given a platform to advocate for themselves, voice their concerns, and participate in shaping policies that directly affect them.
“Children know what they need. They only need the opportunity and space to speak—and be heard.”
Education That Embraces All Abilities
Dr. Anwuli Ofuani-Sokolo, a legal scholar from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), traced Nigeria’s obligations from global treaties—like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—to the national level through the 2023 updated National Policy on Inclusive Education.
In her thought-provoking presentation, she warned against viewing inclusive education as simply allowing access to school buildings.
“Inclusion must go beyond access. It must mean curriculum flexibility, adaptive technologies, specially trained teachers, and individualized learning plans. It must mean children with disabilities feel a sense of belonging in the classroom,” she explained.
Dr. Ofuani-Sokolo further advocated for peer-based inclusion models, such as classroom buddies and inclusive extracurricular programs that build mutual respect and friendships. She emphasized that none of this would be possible without “inclusive budgeting”—governments must back inclusive goals with real, targeted financial commitments.
“We cannot plan inclusion with empty pockets,” she concluded.
A Hidden Crisis: Gender-Based Violence Against Children With Disabilities
The dialogue took a sobering turn as Dr. Faith Edebor, from the Vivian Sexual Assault Referral Center, tackled the often-overlooked issue of gender-based violence (GBV) against children with disabilities.
Describing it as “a silent crisis,” she revealed that children with disabilities face a much higher risk of abuse due to factors such as communication barriers, social isolation, and negative cultural stereotypes that paint them as either incapable of speaking up or not worth protecting.
“These children are targeted precisely because society doesn’t listen to them or believe them. That must change,” she said emphatically.
Dr. Edebor called for the establishment of safe reporting channels, survivor-sensitive support services, and cross-sector collaboration—from health to education to justice—to prevent abuse and restore dignity to survivors.
Beyond the Celebration: A Collective Responsibility
The virtual event ended with a powerful reaffirmation that the time for action is now. Speakers agreed that ending violence and building inclusive systems is not the responsibility of one organization or one ministry—it is the collective duty of every Nigerian.
From national assemblies to classrooms, from health clinics to playgrounds, the call was clear: children with disabilities must be safe, included, and empowered to thrive.
Barr. Omosah closed the session with a message that echoed beyond the screen:
“Children with disabilities are not invisible. They are full citizens of this country. The future is theirs too—and we must fight for it with everything we have.”
Photo Caption: *Children with disabilities participate in an inclusive drawing competition during the 2025 Children’s Day celebration organized by NAPVID.
Key Recommendations from the Event**
✅ Urgent implementation of Child Rights and Disability Acts at state and local levels
✅ Establishment of inclusive Children’s Parliaments
✅ Development of individualized learning plans in public schools
✅ Training of teachers on inclusive education methodologies
✅ Inclusive budgeting at all government levels
✅ Safe reporting and rehabilitation channels for abuse victims
✅ Awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and harmful stereotypes
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