Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government and relevant institutions to strengthen implementation frameworks and accountability mechanisms to advance disability-inclusive economic empowerment across Nigeria.
The call was made in Abuja at the second policy dialogue organised by Empower to Thrive Development Initiative (ETTDI) under its Empower Her Ability Project. The forum brought together government officials, development partners and disability rights advocates to focus on translating policy commitments into measurable outcomes.
Participants recalled that the maiden dialogue in 2025 recommended the establishment of dedicated desks in banks and financial institutions nationwide to improve access to micro-credit and other tailored financial services for persons with disabilities. They stressed the need to move beyond recommendations to concrete implementation backed by monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr Ayuba Gufwan, emphasised the importance of promoting economic empowerment, education and accessibility, particularly for women with disabilities to enhance independence and leadership capacity.
Also speaking, Mohammed Abba-Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, said Nigeria must move “from policy to measurable impact, from commitment to transformation,” adding that sustainable national prosperity depends on fully including women with disabilities in the economic space.
Olusola Adeoye, Programme Manager of ETTDI, highlighted the need for coordinated policies, effective monitoring systems and increased investment to ensure meaningful benefits for persons with disabilities nationwide.
In his remarks, Pierre-Louis Bonnel of the Embassy of France in Nigeria reaffirmed continued support for initiatives promoting inclusive economic participation.
Chairman of the ETTDI Board, Dr Ima Chima, noted that one in five Nigerian women lives with a disability, with up to 90 per cent below the international poverty line. She said only about two per cent of entrepreneurs with disabilities access formal financial services, underscoring persistent structural barriers to economic inclusion.
She added that the Empower Her Ability Project serves as an inclusive incubator supporting women aged 18 to 40 through entrepreneurship training, mentorship and improved access to finance, while also driving policy advocacy to reform exclusionary systems.
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