Stakeholders in Nigeria’s disability community have called on financial institutions to establish dedicated banking desks for persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly women, to improve their access to micro-credit facilities.
The appeal was made during a policy dialogue on “Disability-Inclusive Economic Empowerment” convened by the Empower To Thrive Development Initiative (ETTDI) on Friday in Abuja, as part of its Empower Her Ability Project.
Mrs. Esther Bature, Country Advocacy Coordinator for Sightsavers International, emphasized during a panel discussion titled “Unlocking Finance, Markets and Skills for Women with Disabilities” that specialized units within banks would address the longstanding barriers faced by PWDs in seeking loans. She stressed that the units should be staffed by personnel trained to engage customers who are hearing-impaired or blind, ensuring privacy and dignity during consultations.
Chioma Egede, an executive of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), echoed the call, urging banks to eliminate physical and systemic barriers that restrict women’s access to micro-credit. Similarly, Mohammed Isa, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities—represented by his media aide, Lanre Oloyede—highlighted the compounded challenges faced by women with disabilities due to stereotypes and structural inequalities.
Earlier, ETTDI’s Executive Director, Dr. Ima Chima, represented by Dr. Olusola Adeoye, said the dialogue aimed to bridge the gap between policy and practice in unlocking opportunities for women with disabilities in business and entrepreneurship. He underscored that women with disabilities often face double exclusion—both as women and as persons with disabilities—limiting their access to finance, skills training and markets.
The Empower Her Ability Project seeks to train 25 young women aged 18-40 over six months in entrepreneurship, financial management and business planning, while linking them to markets and support networks. Chima described inclusion as “smart economics, social justice and a national imperative,” stressing that empowering women with disabilities is key to achieving Nigeria’s economic potential and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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