NCPWD, Sightsavers Forge Alliance For Inclusion In Nigeria

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and one of its development partners, Sightsavers, have committed to strengthening ties to accelerate disability inclusion in Nigeria.

A delegation from Sightsavers, led by its Country Director, Joy Shuaibu, and West Africa Regional Director, Boubacar Dicko, renewed its commitment to forge stronger collaboration with the Commission when they paid the Executive Secretary and the Management Team a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in the Central Business District of Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the visitors, the visit aimed to strengthen the two organisations’ existing partnerships and reaffirm their shared understanding of promoting inclusion and improving the lives of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Ayuba Gufwan, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to addressing the needs of Nigeria’s 35 million persons with disabilities.

He stressed the importance of improving mobility, fostering partnerships with the private sector, and ensuring transparency in resource utilisation.

“Our focus this year is action and results. Mobility is at the heart of inclusion, and we are dedicated to ensuring no Nigerian with a disability is left without the means to move freely. We also aim to engage private sector stakeholders to enhance their corporate social responsibility contributions toward empowering persons with disabilities,” Gufwan noted.

In her remarks earlier, Dr Joyce Shuaibu, the Country Director, expressed gratitude to the Commission for its unwavering support and collaboration with Sightsavers.

She highlighted Sightsavers’ achievements in the past year, including vocational training and providing N50,000 startup funds for 150,000 persons with disabilities to establish small businesses.

She emphasised the need to revisit past commitments and align with the Commission on actionable steps to implement the Commission’s strategic plan effectively.

“Our goal is to ensure that the Commission’s strategic plan is not just a document on the shelf but a roadmap for tangible progress. We are committed to advocating for increased government funding and supporting initiatives in education, healthcare, and digital accessibility for persons with disabilities,” Dr Shuaibu stated.

Regional Director Boubacar Dicko commended the Commission for its dedication to creating an inclusive society.

Drawing from his experiences during a visit to Yauri, Kebbi State, he highlighted the dire need for mobility aids for polio survivors and other persons with disabilities.

“Mobility is the foundation for accessing education, employment, and societal participation. We must address this challenge head-on to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Dicko said.

The visit culminated in discussions on advancing digital literacy initiatives, scaling up vocational training programs, and advocating for increased resources to support persons with disabilities. Both parties reiterated their commitment to building a more inclusive Nigeria through collaborative efforts.

The Commission and Sightsavers look forward to a productive year of impactful initiatives, starting with the launch of the Inclusive Employment Initiative on January 29th. This initiative is a significant step toward creating dignified job opportunities for persons with disabilities.