The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, has paid glowing tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, describing him as a true champion of inclusion and a leader who turned long-held hopes of persons with disabilities into national reality.
Gufwan, while mourning the passing of the former president, said Buhari would be remembered not just for leading Nigeria through complex times of war and peace, but for choosing, in his later years, to fight for the dignity and recognition of those often left behind — persons with disabilities.
He noted that among Nigeria’s many leaders, few had shown such bold commitment to inclusion. “President Buhari listened. He acted. He made history,” Gufwan said.
Recalling Buhari’s game-changing decision to sign the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act into law in January 2019, Gufwan said the moment marked a turning point. After years of waiting and advocacy, the over 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities finally had a law that guaranteed their rights and protection.
That landmark legislation did more than just outlaw discrimination — it led to the creation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. “This institution was long overdue. It exists today because one man had the courage to say: enough is enough,” Gufwan said.
He further described Buhari as a “listening leader” who ensured that the voices of PWDs were brought into the heart of government. “By appointing PWDs as Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants, he ensured that we were not just talked about — we were at the table.”
Gufwan described Buhari’s actions as more than political gestures. “This was not just about signing a bill. It was a moral decision — a declaration that no Nigerian life is less valuable. That inclusion is not charity, but justice.”
He concluded by affirming that the former president would be remembered as a leader who went beyond lofty promises and did what others only spoke of. “He dared to legislate dignity. He stood with the forgotten and made inclusion a national policy. For that, the disability community will never forget him.”
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