The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) on Thursday visited the Kuje Traditional Council Palace in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The visit, led by the Executive Secretary, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, focused on strengthening partnerships with traditional institutions to advance inclusivity and eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Hon. Gufwan expressed appreciation to the traditional leader, His Royal Highness Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibrin, for consistently promoting immunisation campaigns against polio and other childhood diseases that can cause disability. He stressed the pivotal role traditional leaders play in shaping inclusive governance and ensuring that persons with disabilities participate fully in community life.
“As we commemorate this year’s IDPD, collaboration with traditional institutions remains essential in building a society where persons with disabilities can live, thrive, and contribute meaningfully,” he said. “Disability is not a sentence to silence or exclusion—together, we must strengthen efforts to create an inclusive Nigeria for all.”
In his response, His Royal Highness Alhaji Jibrin Tanko commended the Commission’s commitment and reaffirmed his support for disability inclusion. He highlighted the establishment of two dedicated schools for persons with disabilities in Kuje and assured the Commission of continued cooperation.
The event also featured an awareness rally from the palace to the Kuje Area Council Secretariat, calling attention to the collective responsibility of safeguarding the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Speaking during the visit, the Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, reiterated the Commission’s unwavering dedication to protecting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities nationwide. He noted that several programmes and policies have been initiated to build an inclusive society and acknowledged the vital support of development partners, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Christian Blind Mission, Sightsavers, and The Leprosy Mission Nigeria.
Persons with disabilities from different clusters participated actively in the celebration, commending the Commission for the awareness rally, which they said would further help the public to better understand, identify with, and support the disability community.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of gift items to His Royal Highness Alhaji Tanko Jibrin by Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, Director of Social Integration at NCPWD.
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