The Albino Foundation Public Notice
The Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), Barr. Catherine Edeh, has called on the Nigerian government, civil society, and the public to move beyond rhetoric and fully implement disability-inclusive policies, emphasizing that inclusion is a right, not charity.
The statement was made by VDI Executive Director, during the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) commemoration held on Thursday in Abuja.
She added that this year’s global theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” challenges everyone to act boldly in promoting accessible justice systems, equal opportunities, and inclusive development.
VDI highlighted the daily challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Nigeria, noting that women and girls with disabilities face heightened risks of gender-based violence, children with disabilities are often denied access to education, and adults struggle to access employment, healthcare, and justice.
“These are not abstract statistics. They are lived experiences—painful, daily reminders that disability inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right,” she stressed.
As part of the IDPD commemoration, VDI is convening a National Symposium on Disability Inclusion to assess the implementation of the Disability Act (2018), identify progress and gaps, and strengthen advocacy for disability-inclusive policies.
VDI also called for full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, greater investment in disability-inclusive justice systems, institutional reforms to embed accessibility across all sectors, and sustainable partnerships among government, civil society, international partners, and the disability community.
In his remarks, Director Compliance & Enforcement at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Nkem Uchegbulam, emphasized the legal protections now available under the Act.
He said, “Today we mark Disability International Day for Persons with Disabilities in a different style. We mark it because we have a right under the law.
“The Commission will enforce all enforceable laws that say that persons with disabilities must be mainstreamed into the society,” he said.
Representing the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Director of Family Health, John Ovuoraye, highlighted ongoing strategies to improve accessibility and service delivery for persons with disabilities.
He noted the inauguration of a Persons with Disabilities Technical Working Group to coordinate efforts, strengthen awareness, and ensure sustainability through dedicated budget lines.
Ovuoraye also emphasized the need for strong political will, inclusive planning across federal and state levels, and the refurbishment and proper equipping of primary healthcare centers to make them accessible and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.
Chief Facilitator at Edoka Trauma Care Centre, Ene Ede, stressed accountability and active participation by all organizations, calling on civil society and media to monitor the proper implementation of the Disability Act.
She also highlighted the importance of ensuring persons with disabilities are included in all project planning and implementation, that budgets account for disability inclusion, and that organizations uphold their obligations without excuses or reliance on sympathy.
The 2025 IDPD commemoration, supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, reinforced the need for a Nigeria where every person with a disability can live, learn, work, and thrive with dignity and safety.
