In celebration of International Workers’ Day, Project Enable Africa convened key stakeholders to advance workplace inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
Since 2024, the organization has used the annual event not only to honor workers but also to spotlight the need for equal opportunities for PWDs. This year’s edition brought together representatives from government, private corporations, NGOs, and industries such as entertainment, hospitality, and finance.
Data shared from the 2025 Global Disability Summit highlighted the economic impact of excluding PWDs from the workforce, estimating potential losses of up to 7% of GDP in countries like Nigeria.
The event fostered open dialogue between PWDs and decision-makers, focusing on practical solutions for accessible, empowering workplaces. Speakers shared personal stories and policy recommendations, emphasizing both systemic barriers and actionable steps forward.
Board member Ms. Oluwayemisi Adekunle emphasized the ongoing marginalization of PWDs in the job market, describing it as a driver of entrenched poverty. Radisson Hotel’s GM, Mr. Yehia Elmansoury, reiterated the business case for inclusive hiring.
A central panel titled “Bridging the Gap: Advancing Workplace Policies for Disability Inclusion” explored existing challenges and proposed strategies to scale inclusive employment. Moderator Ms. Tobiloba Ajayi noted that despite 18 million working-age PWDs in Nigeria, only 54,000 have formal employment.
Barrister Lukman Salami Bolarinwa of JONAPWD Lagos emphasized that inclusive hiring is an economic imperative, not a charitable gesture. Panelist Ms. Chidinma Annabel Nwandu, now employed at International Breweries, urged fellow PWDs to actively pursue skill development.
Closing the event, Project Enable Africa’s Acting Executive Director, Mr. Olalekan Owonikoko, issued a decisive call to action: “Dialogue must give way to implementation, accountability, and long-term investment in inclusion.”
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