Commission Advocates Data Mapping to Address Challenges Facing Children with Disabilities

The National Population Commission (NPC) has underscored the urgent need for situational data mapping to better understand the realities faced by children with disabilities and to design inclusive, evidence-driven interventions that meet their needs.

NPC Chairman, Mr. Nasir Kwarra, made this call on Sunday in Abuja at the launch of the Ojay Ajaifia Foundation for Children with Disabilities (OFCD), an initiative focused on promoting inclusion and amplifying the voices of children with disabilities across Nigeria. Kwarra was represented at the event by the Commission’s Deputy Director of Civil Registration and Statistics, Mr. Yusuf Saka.

Highlighting the persistent barriers encountered by children with disabilities — particularly in access to education, healthcare, and public life — Kwarra emphasised that accurate data remains critical to breaking these barriers.

“Data mapping can help identify these barriers and develop targeted innovations.
The mandate of NPC includes gathering data related to births, deaths, disabilities, and demographic characteristics. We possess the tools to capture data on children with disabilities. With accurate data, we can identify priority areas, allocate resources, build inclusive programmes and policies, and measure progress and long-term impact,” he stated.

Kwarra urged stakeholders to collaborate and harness the power of data for a more inclusive society.

In her remarks, Mrs. Ojay Ajaifia, founder of OFCD, said the organisation was born out of a passion to confront the neglect and stigma endured by children with disabilities.

“This foundation rests on a simple, powerful belief: every child, regardless of disability, deserves dignity, opportunity, visibility, hope, and a chance to thrive. We are not merely launching a foundation; we are igniting a movement for change. Every child with a disability is a star. With support, stars can rise and shine brightly,” Ajaifia declared.

She urged government agencies to enforce accessibility standards in public facilities, lamenting that many schools, hospitals, and offices remain inaccessible to people who use wheelchairs.

OFCD also announced the launch of its data mapping programme, aimed at generating up-to-date statistics to guide interventions, noting that most of the children recorded in previous censuses have since become adults.

Other speakers included Ms. Lois Auta, founder of Cedar Seed Foundation, who called for the government to earmark specific budget lines under the Ministry of Education to support inclusive infrastructure and services for children with disabilities.

Auta stressed the importance of “Education, Enablement, Empowerment, and Encouragement” in shaping the future of children with disabilities, adding that inclusion in planning stages would improve enrolment, curriculum access, and learning outcomes.

Sharing a personal story, Ms. Onyinyechi Eberegu, a polio survivor, inspired the audience with her journey from discrimination and neglect to becoming her family’s first university graduate.

“I urge parents: don’t give up on children with disabilities. Do not hide them. Disability isn’t a death sentence — it’s simply a different way of living. With love, support, and the right environment, every child with a disability can thrive and lead a life full of purpose, pride, and dignity,” she said.

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