The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has insisted that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress without ensuring full participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in governance and national development.
CITAD made the call on Wednesday in Kano during an event to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), which brought together disability clusters, academics, civil society groups and advocates to examine this year’s theme, “Fostering Inclusive Disability Society for Advancing Social Progress.”
Speaking at the event, CITAD’s Executive Director, Malam Y.Z. Ya’u, represented by Senior Programme Officer, Isah Garba, said the IDPD serves as a reminder that inclusion must be a national priority.
“This celebration reminds us that inclusion is not charity; it is a right. We must work collectively to ensure that persons with disabilities participate fully in social, political and economic life,” he said.
Garba noted that CITAD would continue partnering with relevant organisations to strengthen digital inclusion and champion reforms that advance disability rights across the country.
Delivering a lecture titled “Inclusive Education as a Foundation for Social Progress,” the Dean, School of Special Education, Federal College of Education (FCE) Bichi, Dr Auwal Danlami, stressed that Nigeria must embed inclusive education into all tiers of governance.
“No society progresses when part of its population is left behind. Inclusive education is the bedrock for empowering persons with disabilities and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to national growth,” he said.
A panel session on “Strategies for Achieving Disability-Inclusive Development in Nigeria” highlighted persistent challenges, including poor accessibility, weak enforcement of disability laws, and limited representation of PWDs in governance structures.
Also speaking, the Co-Chair (CSO) of K-SAFE, Dr Auwal Halilu, underscored the contribution of civil society groups in advancing disability rights.
“Civil society organisations play a critical role in raising awareness, pushing for implementation of disability rights, and holding institutions accountable. We need stronger collaboration to build an inclusive Nigeria,” he said.
Participants at the event called on government and stakeholders to scale up efforts in line with global commitments to ensure that disability inclusion becomes a central component of national development planning.