By Agbo Christian Obiora
Abuja, Nigeria – In the wake of the recently concluded Global Disability Summit (GDS), the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), Nigeria, has sounded a clarion call for stronger actions to promote the rights, dignity, and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities. In a press briefing held in Abuja, the organization laid out its key takeaways from the summit, unveiled fresh strategies, and issued a resounding appeal to government, development partners, and civil society to step up their game in the disability inclusion space.
The Global Disability Summit, held with participation from over 100 countries, brought together stakeholders across continents to make bold commitments toward achieving a more inclusive world. Nigeria was among the nations represented, with grassroots organizations like AWWDI taking center stage in ensuring that the voices of women and girls with disabilities were not only heard but amplified.
AWWDI Elevates Nigeria’s Voice at GDS
At the summit, AWWDI played a pivotal role in spotlighting the deeply entrenched barriers that continue to hinder the progress of women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria. From limited access to quality education and healthcare, to alarming rates of gender-based violence, the organization stressed the urgent need for intersectional approaches in addressing disability and gender-related issues.
“We made it clear at the Summit: the journey toward true inclusion cannot happen without acknowledging the double discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities,” said Bilikisu Yakubu, National Coordinator, AWWDI. “We are no longer asking to be included—we are demanding it.”
The organization further advocated for increased investment in inclusive education, reproductive health, economic empowerment, and most importantly, the implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. They emphasized that the Act must not only exist on paper but must be actively enforced, with a particular focus on gender-specific provisions.
A Platform for Global Collaboration and Local Action
According to AWWDI, one of the most powerful aspects of the GDS was the opportunity for cross-country learning, networking with global advocates, and attracting increased international interest in grassroots women-led disability organizations.
Some of the summit’s key outcomes relevant to Nigeria include:
- Renewed global commitment to gender-responsive disability programming.
- Amplified attention to inclusive health systems and reproductive rights.
- Greater donor willingness to support grassroots disability movements, particularly those led by women.
“The world is watching, and the momentum is on our side,” Yakubu said. “It’s time to match rhetoric with resources.”
An Urgent Call to Action
Coming out of the summit with renewed energy, AWWDI has issued a comprehensive call to action. They are urging the Nigerian government to walk the talk by operationalizing inclusive policies and committing tangible resources to programs targeting women with disabilities.
Development partners are encouraged to deepen their support for organizations working at the intersection of gender and disability, while the media and civil society are tasked with amplifying the stories, voices, and lived experiences of women with disabilities—breaking the silence, combating stigma, and reshaping public perception.
“This is not the time for lip service,” Yakubu warned. “This is the time for strategic partnerships, financial investments, and policy enforcement. We must work together to uproot the systemic neglect that women with disabilities have endured for far too long.”
Translating Global Commitments into Local Realities
Looking ahead, AWWDI is preparing to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at localizing the GDS commitments and ensuring that rural and underserved communities are not left behind. The campaign will focus on:
- Community engagement and sensitization.
- Hosting stakeholder roundtables with ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), civil society organizations, and the private sector.
- Scaling up advocacy for inclusive sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for young women and girls with disabilities.
By bridging the gap between global discourse and local action, AWWDI is determined to ensure that no woman or girl with a disability is left out of Nigeria’s development agenda.
A Future Designed for Inclusion
In concluding the press briefing, AWWDI reiterated its unwavering commitment to creating a society that is inclusive by design, not by accident.
“We envision a Nigeria where women and girls with disabilities are not treated as afterthoughts,” said Yakubu. “They must be at the center of policymaking, budgeting, and service delivery. Only then can we say we are truly building an inclusive nation.”
As the dust settles on the Global Disability Summit, AWWDI’s post-summit reflections serve as a powerful reminder: advocacy must evolve into action, and commitments must transform into concrete change.
The world may have come together to talk disability rights, but in Nigeria, AWWDI is making sure those conversations lead to results—one campaign, one policy, one empowered woman at a time.
