Tinubu has said that disability inclusion in Nigeria is not an act of charity but a constitutional right, a matter of justice, and a sign of national progress.
The President made the statement while declaring open the 2025 National Disability Summit held at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja, from October 29 to 30. He was represented by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sanunu.
This was contained in a statement signed by Ishaku Kigbu (anipr), Head, Media and Publicity, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
According to the statement, the President said every Nigerian, regardless of physical or mental ability, is entitled to equal access to education, employment, healthcare, political participation, and social protection.
“Inclusion is not just a social agenda; it is an economic and governance imperative. Around the world, evidence shows that societies that include persons with disabilities in schools and workplaces grow faster, are more innovative, and achieve stronger social cohesion,” he said.
President Tinubu listed his administration’s priorities to include reducing the number of out-of-school children with disabilities, expanding access to health insurance, strengthening workplace accessibility, distributing assistive devices nationwide, and enforcing the five percent employment quota for persons with disabilities.
He commended the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, for his leadership and commitment to advancing disability rights in Nigeria.
The two-day summit was organized by the NCPWD in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, with support from the German and Swiss Governments, the European Union through GIZ, International IDEA through the RoLAC Programme, Sightsavers, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN), and RedAid Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Gufwan said the event marked Nigeria’s follow-up to the 2025 Global Disability Summit in Berlin, Germany, and a chance to renew commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
“We are not here to make promises alone; we are here to assess progress, confront challenges, and strengthen accountability. True inclusion requires the participation of all—government, private sector, civil society, and persons with disabilities themselves,” he stated.
He also announced plans to develop a National Disability Action and Accountability Plan (2025–2030) to guide implementation of inclusive policies.
The Chairman, House Committee on Disability Affairs, Hon. Bashiru Daudu, in his keynote address, urged Nigerians to support enforcement of the Disability Act to eliminate discrimination and promote access.
Also speaking, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by an Assistant Director, restated the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the law.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman, represented by Dr. Udeme Nsikak Abia, commended the Commission for organizing the Summit and launching the National Forum for Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA).
The Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Markus Wagner, reaffirmed Germany’s support for inclusive development, saying that GIZ has trained more than 2,800 persons with disabilities in digital and financial inclusion.
“We envision a world where all persons with disabilities fully enjoy their civil, political, social, and economic rights, a world where inclusion is not an act of charity but a mark of justice,” Wagner said.
The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA), performed by Dr. Sanunu.
The summit ended with a call for stronger collaboration among government, development partners, civil society, and the media to speed up the implementation of the Disability Act.
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