The African Centre for Innovative Research and Development has called on the Kano State Government to establish a Disability Commission following data indicating that about 2.5 million persons with disabilities live in the state.
The organisation made the call in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Mohammed Bello.
According to the group, the figure was drawn from a recent disability dataset released by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, which estimated that Kano has the highest population of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The organisation said the data highlights the urgent need for structured policies and inclusive governance to address the needs of persons with disabilities in the state.
It added that Nigeria has an estimated 35 million persons with disabilities, representing about 15 per cent of the country’s population, making disability inclusion a major national development concern.
AFRI-CIRD welcomed the availability of credible disability data, noting that it provides a clearer demographic picture that can guide government planning, budgeting and the design of inclusive policies.
The organisation, however, stressed that the large number of persons with disabilities in Kano exposes a policy gap that requires urgent intervention.
To address the challenge, the group urged the state government to establish a disability commission that would coordinate disability inclusion across key sectors such as healthcare, education, employment, social protection, infrastructure and accessibility standards.
It said the proposed commission should be empowered to develop state-specific policies and programmes aimed at improving the welfare and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.
The organisation also recommended that adequate budgetary resources be allocated to ensure the sustainability of disability inclusion initiatives in the state.
AFRI-CIRD further emphasised the need to engage networks of persons with disabilities and civil society organisations in policy formulation and implementation.
The group warned that without a dedicated institutional framework to design and implement disability-focused policies, millions of persons with disabilities in the state risk continued neglect.
“Persons with disabilities often face barriers in accessing healthcare, education, economic opportunities and public spaces. These challenges are compounded when there is no dedicated institution responsible for disability inclusion,” the statement added.
AFRI-CIRD maintained that inclusion should be treated as a development priority, noting that the establishment of a disability commission in Kano could serve as a model for inclusive governance across Nigeria.