Recent posts

View all
news

JONAPWD unveils data on persons with disabilities in Nigeria Stakeholders have stressed the need for evidence-based policymaking following the unveiling of a new dataset on persons with disabilities in Nigeria by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD). The exploratory database provides a breakdown of persons with disabilities across states, gender, and disability type, and is expected to guide inclusive development planning and targeted interventions in the country. Speaking during the unveiling, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Abba Isa, described the dataset as a major step toward advancing inclusive governance and evidence-based policymaking for persons with disabilities. According to him, policymakers and development partners have for years relied on rough estimates of the disability population, which ranged between 25 million and 40 million people. He noted that such figures were often based on fragmented information and were insufficient for designing effective programmes and policies. The new database estimates that Nigeria had about 35 million persons with disabilities in 2025. It shows that Kano State recorded the highest number at about 2.5 million, followed by Lagos State with approximately 2.1 million. The data further indicates that physical disabilities constitute the largest cluster with about 8.2 million persons, while the deaf community accounts for around 7.7 million people. Gender analysis shows that male persons with disabilities are estimated at about 17.6 million, while females account for approximately 17.2 million. The National President of JONAPWD, Abdullahi Usman, said the report titled “Assumptive Demographic Data on Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria” was developed to address the long-standing lack of reliable demographic information on disability in the country. He explained that globally, persons with disabilities are estimated to constitute about 15 per cent of every national population. According to him, applying this benchmark to Nigeria’s projected population figures for 2025 provided a clearer picture of the size of the disability community across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Usman, however, acknowledged limitations in the data, particularly concerning children and youth with disabilities, citing weak detection systems and limited disability-sensitive administrative structures in many states. He also highlighted the challenges faced by women with disabilities, including restricted access to education, economic exclusion, gender-based violence and cultural barriers. Also speaking, the Secretary of the National Population Commission, Adeyi Daniel, commended the initiative and noted that Nigeria has not conducted a comprehensive national population census since 2006. He said the new dataset would help strengthen governance, planning and policy formulation aimed at improving the welfare of persons with disabilities. The database is expected to serve as a resource for policymakers, researchers and development partners working to promote inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

byadmin

Stakeholders have stressed the need for evidence-based policymaking following the unveiling of a…

0
Read more
Load More
That is All

Search This Blog

Powered by Blogger
Theme images by rusm