The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has called on Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt and domesticate the ECOWAS Disability Data Accountability Framework to promote inclusive development and end the persistent exclusion of persons with disabilities across the region.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, made the call at the Regional Experts Validation Meeting on the ECOWAS Disability Data Accountability Framework held in Abuja.
He was represented at the meeting by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Idowu Iwere, who emphasized that reliable disability data is fundamental to planning effective policies and delivering inclusive services.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Mr. Iwere noted that the absence of accurate and disaggregated data continues to hinder governments from adequately addressing the needs of persons with disabilities in key sectors such as education, healthcare, employment, and social protection. He stressed that inclusion begins with visibility, adding that governments cannot effectively plan for persons with disabilities without credible data to guide decision-making.
Hon. Gufwan further highlighted the Commission’s commitment to collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, to domesticate the Framework in Nigeria.
He urged ECOWAS Member States to strengthen institutional capacity for disability data collection and utilize such data to inform policies, allocate resources effectively, and ensure that no person with disability is left behind in national and regional development efforts.
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