The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has commenced a two-day stakeholders’ validation workshop on the Draft National Policy on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), describing the exercise as a major step towards strengthening disability-inclusive development in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, declared the workshop open in Abuja, stressing the need to build a society where persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities are recognised, respected and supported as equal citizens with rights, abilities and valuable contributions.
Held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, under the theme, “Strengthening Rights, Inclusion and Support Systems for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Nigeria,” the workshop brought together representatives of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, academia, parents, caregivers and families.
Delivering Gufwan’s opening remarks, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics Department, NCPWD, Mr. Aliyu Agwai, said intellectual and developmental disabilities had for too long been viewed mainly through the lens of medical diagnosis and dependency. He said such an approach failed to adequately recognise the aspirations, talents, choices and potential contributions of persons with IDD across the life course.
Agwai said the Commission’s responsibility was to address barriers confronting persons with IDD in education, healthcare, employment, social protection, justice, transportation and access to information, as well as attitudinal barriers within society.
He noted that while the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) had established important legal foundations, the rights guaranteed by law must translate into practical programmes, adequate budgets and responsive institutions.
According to him, the draft policy provides a coordinated life-course framework covering early identification and intervention, education, healthcare, employment, independent living and community participation.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the final policy document is practical, inclusive, evidence-informed and implementable at the state and local government levels, assuring participants of the NCPWD’s commitment to coordination, technical support and monitoring.
The Technical Adviser to the Commission, Dr. Adebayo Adebukola, said the general disability laws currently in place provide a foundation for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities but do not sufficiently address the complex and lifelong support needs of persons with IDD.
He explained that the proposed policy seeks to bridge this gap by establishing a coherent national framework aligned with international standards, particularly the CRPD.
Adebukola said the policy is anchored on five key dimensions: rights, inclusion, protection, support and participation, adding that it would apply across sectors and involve government agencies, employers, service providers, caregivers and the wider public.
He said the policy is designed to safeguard the dignity and equal opportunities of persons with IDD throughout their lives.
Also speaking, the Head of the Education Unit at NCPWD, Dr. Kehinde Ogunbiyitan, said the validation exercise was aimed at rigorously reviewing the draft document and ensuring that it contains actionable strategies to address systemic gaps affecting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
He stressed that education could not be addressed in isolation, noting that sustainable interventions for persons with IDD require a comprehensive and inclusive policy framework.
The National President of the Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities of Nigeria (AIDDN), Evangelist Babatunde Willoughby, PhD, commended the NCPWD for convening the validation workshop.
Willoughby also acknowledged the work of the previous AIDDN administration led by Mrs. Joko Omotola, under whose tenure the policy document was developed and submitted for consideration.
The proposed policy has six core objectives, including promoting the full inclusion and active participation of persons with IDD; strengthening legal protection and equal rights; improving access to healthcare, education, employment, transportation, housing and social services; providing structured support for parents, caregivers and families; reducing stigma through sustained awareness and advocacy; and establishing standardised guidelines for service provision.
The policy is also structured around six strategic implementation pillars: health and well-being; education and skills development; employment and economic inclusion; social protection and community support; support for parents, families and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities; and research, data collection and awareness.
The NCPWD appreciated UNICEF, Rights in Action, civil society organisations, OPDs, MDAs and other stakeholders for their contributions to the validation process, as the Commission moves towards finalising a national framework aimed at strengthening rights, inclusion and support systems for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Nigeria.
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