TAF Africa took another step in advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities by facilitating a collaborative meeting with the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, disability community leaders, and government representatives to discuss actionable measures for enhancing disability inclusion in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, reassured the disability community of the government’s firm commitment to their well-being. He emphasized that under the current administration, persons with disabilities would not face discrimination and would be provided with meaningful opportunities to improve their lives. He further encouraged disability leaders to consider the ministry as their home and a reliable partner in their advocacy for inclusion and accessibility.
The meeting also featured a goodwill message from Dr. Chris Nwanoro, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sao Tome and Principe and a Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). Dr. Nwanoro pledged to leverage his global platform to attract more opportunities that would positively impact the lives of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s disability inclusion efforts align with international best practices and conventions.
A crucial appeal was made by Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, the Technical Assistant at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD). He urged the Honourable Minister to support the commission’s participation at the upcoming Global Disability Summit. He stressed that attending the summit would not only showcase Nigeria’s efforts in promoting disability inclusion but would also reinforce the country’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Moreover, he highlighted the significance of learning from global best practices to strengthen disability policies and implementation strategies within Nigeria.
In a key step toward institutionalizing rapid efforts, Professor Yilwatda approved the establishment of a nine-person reaction plan team. Without hesitation, Jake Epelle, CEO of TAF Africa, nominated the team members, who were promptly assigned the responsibility of developing immediate, actionable demands for persons with disabilities. The Honourable Minister mandated that these recommendations be integrated into the ministry’s programs to ensure that persons with disabilities receive adequate representation and benefits.
Furthermore, the minister announced plans for empowerment programs set to roll out in the first and second quarters of the year. He reassured disability leaders that the stipulated percentage of persons with disabilities in these programs would be strictly adhered to, as enshrined in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act. He emphasized his readiness to provide the necessary support to drive disability inclusion beyond the ministry’s scope and across all sectors of governance and development in Nigeria.
