The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), has inaugurated the National Forum of Heads of Disability Commissions and Agencies to enhance policy coordination and inclusive governance across the country.
The two-day workshop, held from October 27 to 28, 2025, in Abuja, brought together representatives from state disability commissions, government ministries, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and development partners.
The new Forum aims to strengthen institutional synergy, promote policy alignment, and foster collaboration among state and federal disability institutions to advance inclusion and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Dr. Adebayo Adebukola, described the inauguration as “a milestone in strengthening institutional synergy for disability-inclusive governance.”
“This Forum will serve as a vital coordination platform to harmonize our efforts, share good practices, and ensure that no person with a disability is left behind in our national development agenda,” he said.
The workshop, themed “Progressing on Disability Inclusive Development in Nigeria: Moving from Policy to Practice through Effective Inter-Governmental Relations,” focused on translating disability-related policies into concrete actions in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Participants reviewed existing policies, identified institutional gaps, and developed a Joint Action Plan (2025–2026) to guide the Forum’s activities. They also adopted a Forum Charter and Communication Framework to promote accountability and coordination among state commissions.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building an inclusive governance system where persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate and thrive.
“When the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was established in 2020, it was with a clear mandate to serve as the national driver for disability inclusion, rights protection, and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life,” Gufwan said.
He added that the success of the Commission’s mandate depends on the strength and functionality of state disability institutions.
“Our dream of a disability-inclusive Nigeria cannot be realized without the synergy and shared vision of each state’s disability commission or agency,” he said.
Gufwan explained that the Forum would serve as a platform for collaboration, peer learning, and harmonization of standards across states.
“The National Forum will not only improve coordination among disability institutions but also give stronger voice and visibility to persons with disabilities at all levels of policymaking,” he added.
The Forum is expected to focus on strengthening state-level governance systems, promoting inclusive budgeting and data systems, aligning policies with national frameworks, and ensuring meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
Gufwan expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, development partners, and state governors who have established disability commissions or agencies and continue to support the inclusion agenda.
He described the Forum’s launch as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s disability governance.
“Inclusion is not an act of charity; it is an act of justice and an investment in national development,” he said.
The inauguration marks a major step in Nigeria’s effort to “leave no one behind,” establishing a unified mechanism for policy coherence, joint action, and shared accountability in disability inclusion across all levels of government.
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