President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed that disability inclusion in Nigeria is not an act of benevolence but a matter of justice, equality, and national progress.
Speaking through Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sanunu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the President made this assertion while declaring open the 2025 National Disability Summit held in Abuja from October 29–30, with the theme “Inclusive Nigeria: Empowering Persons with Disabilities for Sustainable Development.”
President Tinubu stressed that every Nigerian—whether living with or without a disability—deserves unhindered access to education, healthcare, employment, political participation, and social protection.
“Inclusion must be seen as a pillar of governance and a driver of economic growth,” he said. “Countries that invest in their citizens with disabilities thrive better, innovate faster, and enjoy stronger unity.”
The President outlined several strategic measures his administration is pursuing to deepen inclusion and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities. He revealed that efforts are underway to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children with disabilities through expanded access to quality education. He added that the government is scaling up health insurance coverage to ensure that persons with disabilities can access affordable healthcare services. Furthermore, deliberate steps are being taken to improve workplace accessibility in both public and private institutions, facilitate the nationwide distribution of assistive devices, and ensure strict enforcement of the five percent employment quota reserved for persons with disabilities in the federal civil service.
He commended the leadership of Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), for steering the nation’s disability agenda with vision and passion.
The two-day summit, jointly organized by the NCPWD and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, received support from major international partners including the European Union (EU) through GIZ, International IDEA, Sightsavers, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN), and RedAid Nigeria, among others.
In his welcome remarks, Hon. Gufwan described the event as a continuation of Nigeria’s commitment to global disability inclusion efforts following the 2025 Global Disability Summit in Berlin, Germany. He emphasized that true inclusion requires collaboration between all sectors—public and private alike.
“This summit is not just for promises but for progress,” he said. “We are building systems of accountability and developing a National Disability Action and Accountability Plan (2025–2030) to make inclusion a reality.”
Other speakers included Hon. Bashiru Daudu, Chairman of the House Committee on Disability Affairs, who called for stricter enforcement of the Disability Act to eliminate discrimination and expand opportunities for persons with disabilities. Representatives of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Ministry of Women Affairs also reaffirmed government support for the Commission’s initiatives.
In her remarks, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs—represented by Dr. Udeme Nsikak Abia—commended the Commission for successfully hosting the summit and launching the National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA).
In his goodwill message, Dr. Markus Wagner, Country Director of GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, restated Germany’s unwavering commitment to the Amman and Berlin Declarations, noting that GIZ has already supported more than 2,800 Nigerians with disabilities through vocational training, digital skills development, and financial inclusion programs.
“Inclusion is justice in action,” Dr. Wagner said. “A just society must ensure that no one is left behind.”
The highlight of the summit was the official launch of the National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA), inaugurated by Dr. Sanunu on behalf of President Tinubu.
The event ended with a resounding call for stronger partnerships between government, development agencies, civil society, and the media to transform inclusive policies into real, measurable change for all Nigerians with disabilities.
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