The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities has commenced an accessibility audit of tertiary institutions, beginning with the Federal University, Lafia, as part of efforts to enforce the Disability (Accessibility) Regulations 2023.
The commission said the exercise is aimed at assessing facilities and services in universities to ensure they are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Leading the audit team, Director of Accessibility Department, Bitrus Sule Dakup, said the initiative aligns with the commission’s mandate to promote inclusion and compliance with disability laws across public institutions.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ibrahim Hassan Ogiri, commended the commission for selecting the institution as the starting point of the audit.
He also acknowledged the commission’s sustained support and partnership with the university, noting that the collaboration began under the previous administration.
Similarly, the Head of the Centre for Disability Studies, Prof. Adaka, pledged the institution’s commitment to advancing inclusion and supporting the exercise.
Dakup, who spoke on behalf of the commission, appreciated the university management for providing an enabling environment for persons with disabilities.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring public institutions comply with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, by making their facilities and services disability-friendly.
The audit marks the beginning of a nationwide assessment expected to drive improved accessibility standards across Nigeria’s higher institutions.