The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has received a donation of assistive devices from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to support children with disabilities in Nigeria, in a move aimed at improving mobility, education, communication and independent living.
The assistive devices were formally handed over during a ceremony at the NCPWD headquarters in Abuja under the ECOWAS Regional Programme for the Provision of Assistive Devices to Children with Disabilities in West Africa. The event attracted representatives of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, development partners, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, described the event as a reaffirmation of the collective commitment to ensuring that no child with a disability is left behind. He expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission for its continued leadership in advancing disability inclusion across West Africa, noting that the donation reflects the shared vision of ECOWAS and the Federal Government to promote dignity, equal opportunity and full participation for children with disabilities.
Gufwan cited the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology, which indicates that nine out of every 10 people who require assistive technology globally do not have access to it. He added that more than 26 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria require one form of assistive technology or another, while available resources remain insufficient to meet the growing demand.
According to him, every wheelchair, walking aid, standing frame and digital device donated has the potential to transform lives by opening pathways to education, independence, confidence and social participation. He urged government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, healthcare professionals and disability groups to strengthen collaboration in expanding sustainable access to assistive technology. He also called on caregivers, teachers and rehabilitation professionals to ensure the proper use and maintenance of the devices.
Representing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Senior Technical Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Daniel Dung Dalyop, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. He described the donation as more than a humanitarian intervention, saying it aligns with the Ministry’s integrated approach to humanitarian response, poverty reduction and social protection.
Dalyop noted that many of the barriers faced by persons with disabilities stem from inadequate societal support rather than their impairments. He described the donated devices as symbols of restored dignity, renewed independence and expanded opportunities, while urging the NCPWD to ensure transparent and equitable distribution to deserving beneficiaries. He also encouraged development partners to increase investments in disability inclusion and assistive technology programmes nationwide.
In her remarks, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, said the regional programme was initiated following a 2024 disability inclusion study that revealed significant shortages in access to assistive technology across West Africa. She noted that children with disabilities remain among the most vulnerable groups in the region, prompting ECOWAS to prioritise interventions that improve mobility, communication, learning and participation.
She disclosed that about 240 million children globally live with disabilities, while an estimated 15 per cent of children aged between zero and 17 years in West and Central Africa have one form of disability. According to her, the initiative aligns with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, both of which promote accessibility and inclusive development.
ECOWAS officials explained that Nigeria and Togo were selected as the first beneficiaries of the regional programme following extensive consultations with governments and organisations of persons with disabilities. They added that future priorities include strengthening disability data collection, promoting local production of assistive technology through strategic partnerships and expanding the programme to additional ECOWAS member states.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, commended ECOWAS for its commitment to empowering persons with disabilities in Nigeria. He reaffirmed the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, while praising the NCPWD leadership for fostering strategic partnerships that advance disability inclusion.
The event featured the formal presentation of the assistive devices to the NCPWD by Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, as well as the unveiling and presentation of the User Guide on Assistive Technology by Dr. Ismail Idris, Head of the Assistive Devices and Technology Unit of the Commission.
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