Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Forum of Heads of Disability Commissions and Agencies in Nigeria — a strategic platform designed to enhance coordination, policy alignment, and institutional collaboration for disability inclusion across the country.
The two-day workshop, held from October 27 to 28 in Abuja, was jointly organized by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the Federal Ministry of Social Welfare, and other partners. The Forum brings together representatives from state disability commissions, government ministries, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and development agencies to strengthen inclusive governance and accelerate the implementation of disability-related laws and policies nationwide.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Adebayo Adebukola, Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, described the Forum’s inauguration as “a milestone in strengthening institutional synergy for disability-inclusive governance.”
“This Forum will serve as a vital coordination platform to harmonize our efforts, share good practices, and ensure that no person with a disability is left behind in our national development agenda,” he said.
The workshop, themed “Progressing on Disability Inclusive Development in Nigeria: Moving from Policy to Practice through Effective Inter-Governmental Relations,” underscores the government’s determination to translate policy frameworks into concrete action in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Over the two days, participants reviewed disability policies, identified institutional gaps, developed a Joint Action Plan (2025–2026), and adopted a Forum Charter and Communication Framework to guide sustainable collaboration and peer accountability across the states.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to inclusive governance.
“The true success of our mandate depends not only on federal action but on strong, functional, and empowered state institutions. Our dream of a disability-inclusive Nigeria cannot be realized without the synergy and shared vision of each state’s disability commission or agency,” he said.
Hon. Gufwan added that the new Forum represents a platform for collaboration, peer learning, and harmonization of standards, which will strengthen accountability, policy coherence, and resource mobilization for disability programmes nationwide.
“The National Forum will not only improve coordination among disability institutions but also give stronger voice and visibility to persons with disabilities at all levels of policy making,” he emphasized.
The Forum is structured as a multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism to foster dialogue, joint advocacy, and knowledge exchange between federal and state institutions, civil society, and development partners. It aims to build stronger institutions, promote policy alignment, and ensure inclusive governance practices across the country.
Key priorities of the Forum include improving the operational capacity of state disability agencies, harmonizing state policies with national disability frameworks, and promoting inclusive budgeting and data-driven monitoring systems. It will also strengthen collaboration with civil society groups, development partners, and the private sector, while ensuring that persons with disabilities are actively represented and involved in decision-making processes at all levels.
Hon. Gufwan urged participants to take ownership of the process, stressing that inclusion must be seen as both a matter of justice and an investment in national development.
“Today is not just an inauguration — it is the beginning of a new chapter in disability governance in Nigeria; one that emphasizes partnership over isolation, systems over silos, and accountability over rhetoric,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, development partners, and state governors who have established disability commissions or agencies and continue to support the inclusion agenda.
The inauguration of the National Forum of Heads of Disability Commissions and Agencies marks a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s disability inclusion journey — creating a unified national mechanism for coordinated action, policy coherence, and shared accountability across all levels of government.
With this step, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to the global call to “Leave No One Behind” by building a nation where persons with disabilities are recognized, empowered, and included in every aspect of national development.
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