The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called on donors, development partners, and grant-making bodies to prioritize funding for grassroots disability organizations, particularly those operating in rural communities. He emphasized that such organizations remain vital to advancing inclusion and ensuring that persons with disabilities at the community level are not left behind.

Abba Isa made the appeal in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Disability Rights Fund (DRF) Grantees Convening, organized by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) with support from the DRF. The four-day event, themed “Peer and Collective Learning for Africa,” brought together more than 20 disability-focused organizations from across Africa, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda, Canada, and Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Abba Isa described community-based disability organizations as “the heartbeat of the disability movement,” noting that they are closest to the people and possess the insight to drive real change when properly supported. He stressed that empowering these organizations would accelerate progress in advocacy, policy influence, and the realization of equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The Presidential aide commended the Disability Rights Fund for its consistent commitment to advancing inclusion globally, describing its support as a lifeline for the struggle for equality, dignity, and accessibility. He noted that DRF’s interventions have strengthened advocacy movements and promoted the implementation of the National Disability Act (2018) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria and across Africa.

Abba Isa also reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to disability inclusion through the Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing collaboration between government institutions and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) as a key pathway toward equitable development. He underscored the need for increased capacity building, inclusive budgeting, and leadership development among young persons with disabilities, especially women and girls.

The Presidential aide further urged DRF to consider innovative approaches to deepen its impact, such as fostering joint advocacy initiatives between government and OPDs, supporting digital inclusion projects, and expanding South-to-South learning exchanges among African organizations. According to him, such strategies would create a stronger, more interconnected disability movement across the continent.

In his remarks, DRF’s Africa Regional Manager, Mr. Washington Opiyo Sati, described the convening as a valuable platform for networking and collaboration. He emphasized that both OPDs and governments must understand human rights frameworks and work towards inclusive budgeting that prioritizes education, health, and social protection for persons with disabilities.

Also speaking, DRF’s West Africa Programme Manager, Barrister Theophilus Odaudu, highlighted the importance of unity among OPDs, stating that collaboration makes advocacy more coherent and impactful. He explained that the DRF convening, which initially began as a national event, has evolved into a continental gathering that fosters shared learning and coordinated action on disability rights.

Representing the JONAPWD National President, the National President of the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), Mr. Stanley Onyebuchi, expressed appreciation to DRF for its continued support to disability organizations. He noted that while collaboration and knowledge sharing are growing across Africa, limited funding remains a major barrier to reaching marginalized communities with advocacy and empowerment programmes.

The event, which featured participation from leading disability organizations including Inclusive Friends Association, TAF Africa, Deaf Women Aloud Initiative, and the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria, reaffirmed a shared vision to strengthen advocacy, improve coordination, and advance inclusion for persons with disabilities across the continent.

Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.