Abuja: The Federal Government has concluded plans to establish a National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies to enhance coordination and promote effective disability governance across states. Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, disclosed this during a two-day inauguration workshop for the forum.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum aims to strengthen collaboration between the national commissions and state-level disability commissions to create a shared vision for inclusion across Nigeria. “It’s about creating a shared vision for inclusion, one where every state contributes to and benefits from a coordinated national system that empowers persons with disabilities to live in dignity, equality, and independence,” Gufwan said.

Gufwan explained that the forum will identify priority areas for action and advocacy, particularly in education, while fostering partnerships among federal and state disability agencies. “It will serve as a bridge, a platform for fair learning, networking, and coordination among disability stakeholders across all states,” he added.

Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Deji Ademefun of ActionAid Nigeria highlighted that many Nigerians with disabilities still face exclusion in education, employment, and political participation due to systemic barriers. Speaking on the topic “Progressing on Disability-Inclusive Development in Nigeria: Moving from Policy to Practice through Effective Intergovernmental Relations,” he urged the government to move from policy declarations to practical implementation.

Ademefun noted that Nigeria has made progress in establishing policy and legal frameworks that affirm the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. He cited the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act 2018 and the creation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities as milestones in advancing inclusion. “These steps demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to the Sustainable Development Goals principle of leaving no one behind,” he noted.

However, he emphasized that policies and laws alone do not change things, but practice does. Ademefun called for increased budgetary commitments and data-driven planning. “The budget allocation for disability inclusion remains largely symbolic, while data on persons with disabilities is often fragmented or outdated, making effective planning difficult,” he said. He commended NCPWD’s ongoing efforts to develop a more comprehensive and disaggregated database on persons with disabilities across the country.