Disability groups and stakeholders have called for stronger representation and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in policy formulation and decision-making processes across Nigeria.
The call was made at a stakeholder forum organised by the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) under the Renewed Women’s Voice & Leadership Nigeria (RWVL-N) Project, in collaboration with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).
The forum, titled “Strengthen Coordination Platforms and Regular Stakeholder Forums with OPDs and JONAPWD,” was held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja.
The engagement brought together Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders to examine progress in disability-inclusive policymaking, identify persistent challenges and develop strategies for stronger collective advocacy.
A key issue raised at the forum was the need for OPDs to move beyond simply being present at policy meetings to having a meaningful influence on decisions that affect the lives and rights of persons with disabilities.
Participants examined a policy influence pathway that moves from access and participation to representation, influence, policy change and accountability.
The forum emphasised that meaningful participation should ensure that the lived experiences and evidence provided by persons with disabilities directly contribute to policies, programmes, budgets and institutional decisions.
Participants also identified several barriers affecting the ability of disability groups to influence policy, including tokenistic participation, late engagement in policy processes, accessibility challenges, weak coordination, inadequate resources and limited disability-disaggregated data.
They noted that fragmented advocacy could weaken the collective voice of the disability community, particularly when organisations pursue similar issues separately without adequate coordination or follow-up.
Stakeholders were therefore encouraged to strengthen evidence generation, develop common policy positions, coordinate advocacy efforts, build strategic partnerships and consistently engage decision-makers on commitments made.
The forum also highlighted the importance of linking disability advocacy with the women’s rights, feminist, GBV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, climate justice, youth, economic empowerment and other social movements.
Participants stressed that stronger collaboration is particularly important for women and young persons with disabilities, who often face multiple and intersecting barriers arising from disability, gender, age and poverty.
Government institutions were urged to institutionalise accessible and meaningful participation of OPDs in policy development, budgeting, implementation and accountability processes, while development partners were encouraged to involve OPDs throughout the programme cycle.
The engagement concluded with stakeholders reflecting on practical steps they should start, stop and strengthen to improve collective policy influence and accountability.
AWWDI said strengthening coordination should go beyond bringing organisations together for meetings, stressing the need to build common positions, amplify lived experiences and ensure that persons with disabilities have greater influence over decisions affecting their lives.
The initiative said its AMPLIFY Disability-Inclusion Policies and Programmes intervention under the RWVL-N Project remains focused on ensuring that persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, are not merely present in policy spaces but have the platforms, partnerships and opportunities to shape policies, influence decisions and hold institutions accountable.
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