The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), with support from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), has intensified efforts to promote disability-inclusive climate action by convening a two-day stakeholders’ workshop in Umuahia, Abia State.
The workshop brought together officials from government ministries, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society organisations, emergency response agencies, development partners and media practitioners to strengthen collaboration and commitment towards ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into climate change planning, policies and implementation.
Speaking at the opening, Acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, welcomed participants and appreciated their continued support for the climate inclusion project, which began in 2025. He said the organisation remains committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are reflected in climate change policies through sustained capacity building for relevant government ministries and stakeholders.
Unumeri observed that while policy development remains important, implementation continues to be Nigeria’s greatest challenge.
According to him, “Planning and implementation are two sides of the same coin. We must continue to build the capacity of everyone to ensure we achieve a truly inclusive climate change environment.”
In his goodwill message, the Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, represented by the Head of Climate Change Department, Mr. Chris Ike, commended CCD for its leadership in advancing disability inclusion.
He noted that the organisation’s advocacy has encouraged the state government to deliberately incorporate disability inclusion into climate initiatives, budgeting processes, policy frameworks and implementation plans.
“Your work has put us as government on track to, as a matter of utmost importance, consider disability inclusion in designing initiatives, budgets, implementation, policies, frameworks and plans,” Ike said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Abia State, Comrade Okechukwu Wisdom, described CCD as a consistent advocate for disability rights and inclusion.
He praised the organisation for adopting a research-driven approach to climate advocacy by first assessing the unique climate challenges affecting different local government areas before engaging stakeholders.
“CCD has become part of us. It continues to break new ground in advocacy, sensitisation, leadership and management. Today, everyone knows that when it comes to disability inclusion, CCD is everywhere you go,” he said.
Representatives of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ministry of Health, Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Nigeria Red Cross Society, State Fire Service, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), media organisations and other stakeholders also participated in the workshop.
The first day focused on developing practical strategies for integrating persons with disabilities into climate change planning and decision-making processes, while the second day centred on strengthening the capacity of government officials and stakeholders to implement disability-inclusive climate policies effectively.
At the end of the workshop, participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships between government and disability stakeholders. The programme also produced a 10-point communiqué containing actionable recommendations aimed at promoting inclusive climate governance and ensuring that no one is left behind in climate action across Abia State.
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