Disability rights activist, Adewale Elisha Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all arms of government to prioritize the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Adeyanju made this appeal on Friday, April 11, 2025, during a seminar and symposium organized to celebrate his 60th birthday at the International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba, Lagos. The event focused on the past, present, and future of disability inclusion in Nigeria.
According to Adeyanju, the current constitution is overly generalized and does not specifically address the rights or needs of persons with disabilities.
“Including PWDs in the constitution would ensure they are recognized, prioritized, and provided with the support they deserve,” he said.
The Inclusive News Network (INN) reports that the Nigerian Constitution, adopted in 1999 and amended several times, is the supreme law guiding governance, defining the roles of government institutions, and outlining citizens’ rights. Despite the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in 2020—which aims to promote, protect, and enforce the rights of PWDs across sectors such as education, social services, and civil rights—Adeyanju believes this alone is insufficient.
Disability rights activist, Adewale Elisha Adeyanju
He argued that the current framework often portrays PWDs as beggars rather than rights holders.
“PWDs should be explicitly included in the Nigerian Constitution, with clear definitions of their rights and entitlements. That is what matters most,” Adeyanju emphasized.
He further urged the government to make the constitution more flexible to accommodate the unique needs and vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities. He cited the unfair burden of taxes and utility bills on PWDs, many of whom are unemployed and live in poverty.
Adeyanju proposed the introduction of a law allowing PWDs to pay a reduced tax rate—such as 5%—on services including healthcare and loans, rather than the full rate.
Reflecting on his own journey, Adeyanju recounted his experience of losing his hearing at age seven and rising above discrimination to become a teacher, writer, publisher, and disability rights advocate. Over the past three decades, he has played a leading role in publishing disability-centered magazines, founding organizations, and pushing for the Nigerian Disability Law enacted in 2018. His diamond jubilee celebration featured a symposium and thanksgiving as he reaffirmed his dedication to disability advocacy and policy reform.
Speaking with Inclusive News Network, Mr. Dayo Emmanuel, News Editor at National Wire, stressed the importance of empathy and practical support for persons with disabilities—particularly the deaf—rather than pity.
“Deaf individuals may have lost one sense, but they still have four others. With the right support, they can live and work just like everyone else,” Emmanuel stated.
Emmanuel who is also the Administrative Secretary of the journalist for Christ urged the government to invest in education, skill development, and employment opportunities for PWDs to enable them to become independent and self-reliant. The emphasis, he said, should be on empowerment—not sympathy—as the key to transforming lives.