The Nigerian Business Disability Network (NBDN) is set to launch a mobile app designed to bridge the gap between employers and the community of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The Chairperson of NBDN, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan disclosed this during the Nigeria Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2024 held in Lagos on Wednesday. She said that the mobile app is in its final development stages.
Victor-Laniyan, who is also the Head of Sustainability at Access Corporation, highlighted the significant challenges faced by Nigeria’s estimated 30 million PWDs, who are often marginalized due to factors such as gender and poverty, as reported by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities.
She stated, “The app will link PWDs to employers who are looking to employ talent from the community of PWDs. These employers can post vacancies and adverts there, search for potential candidates. Persons with disability on their part can utilize to see various vacancies and apply for jobs. There is also a training component which teaches people how to write their CVs properly.”
Victor-Laniyan also addressed the issue of the lack of reliable data sources, stressing that this should not hinder the progress toward providing equal opportunities. “Whether it is 5 persons or a million people with disability, everyone has a right to equal opportunity. Regardless of the fact that we have data challenges in Nigeria, we are not going to stop our wait until we have the right data.”
She added that the app is being carried out in collaboration with several PWD communities, based on comprehensive surveys to understand their challenges. “We are consistently developing innovative solutions to address them. Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much,” she stated.
The Senior Global Advisor, Save the Children International, Toyin Aderemi earlier in her keynote address, emphasized the importance of disability inclusion in corporate sustainability and highlighted the business case for such inclusion.
According to her, “The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 mandates a 5 per cent quota for persons with disabilities in public workplaces. However, reports suggest that a significant proportion of employers are yet to implement this provision.”
She added that the unemployment rate among PWDs is double that of persons without disabilities, and women with disabilities face even greater challenges.
Aderemi also pointed out that the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated the cost of disability-related exclusion to be between $1.37 billion and $1.94 billion globally while stressing that inclusion and employment of PWDs can lead to greater innovation, flexibility, and productivity.
“Companies that lead in disability inclusion drive more revenue, net income and profit,” she stated.
Themed “Disability Inclusion in Corporate Sustainability”, the Conference advocated for organizational and operational changes to promote disability inclusion, such as accessible infrastructure, inclusive policies, and universal design principles.