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The Albinism Association of Nigeria, AAN, has called on the Nigerian government to take concrete steps toward implementing disability-inclusive policies ahead of the Global Disability Summit (GDS) in Germany, April 2025.
Speaking at a one-day training for Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and key stakeholders, AAN’s National President, Bisi Bamishe, emphasized the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities have a voice in shaping policies that affect them.
"When we started this project in December last year, we ran with the vision of addressing the needs of the disability community and other marginalized groups. It is my desire that this initiative creates a space where persons with disabilities can thrive and find value," she said.
Bamishe noted that AAN, with support from the Global Disability Rights Fund, had engaged with key stakeholders to prepare Nigeria’s commitments for the upcoming summit. She highlighted the organization's efforts in working with marginalized groups, including little people, persons with intellectual disabilities, and other disability advocates, to draft resolutions that would be presented at the summit.
"We have held validation meetings, engaged with government authorities, and ensured that our commitments reflect the real needs of the disability community. The next step is ensuring the government follows through on these commitments after the summit," she added.
Government Must Prioritize Inclusion
Adding to this, Mr. Emeka Ogwu, a member of AAN’s Board of Trustees, stressed the need for strong government commitment beyond political rhetoric.
“We are really glad at the amount of effort and collaboration that has gone into this together. And we are going to have strong representation in Germany this time around. The acting president of the Albinism Association of Nigeria will be there in person,” Ogwu said.
He also confirmed that Reverend Jacob Pellek, President and CEO of the Albina Foundation, a well-known advocate for persons with disabilities, would be in attendance.
While commending the Nigerian government for its support so far, Ogwu urged representatives at the summit to avoid making political statements and instead focus on practical commitments that would lead to real change.
"Let them focus on the key issues and avoid making political statements. They should make simple, practical commitments and, most importantly, follow through with implementation," he said.
The Urgency of Disability Advocacy
Ogwu emphasized that persons with disabilities face significant challenges in their daily lives, making inclusion a necessity rather than an afterthought.
“Persons with disabilities live with a lot of challenges. The way society moves globally, people without disabilities move at a very quick pace, but those with disabilities are often left behind due to various barriers—mobility, vision, hearing, or other challenges," he noted.
He stressed that the Global Disability Summit provides a unique opportunity to push for policies that ensure persons with disabilities are not left out in national development plans.
Ensuring Accountability After the Summit
The one-day training session, supported by the Global Disability Rights Fund, focused on strategies for monitoring and advocacy to ensure that Nigeria follows through with its commitments after the summit.
Bamishe reaffirmed AAN’s commitment to working with OPDs, disability advocates, and government agencies to push for full implementation of disability-inclusive policies.
"Millions of lives will be touched, and they will be happy for it," Ogwu concluded.
With preparations underway, AAN and other disability rights advocates remain committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities in Nigeria are fully included in all aspects of society.