TAF AFRICA’S ENGAGEMENT AT THE GLOBAL DISABILITY SUMMIT (GDS) 2025 IN BERLIN, GERMANY

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025 convened global leaders, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), international development stakeholders, private sector actors, and civil society organizations in Amman, Jordan, to advance the global agenda for disability inclusion. TAF Africa, through strategic engagements and thought leadership, significantly contributed to the summit’s core themes of inclusive employment, political participation, social protection, and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs). This report provides a detailed overview of key highlights, TAF Africa’s strategic visibility, contributions of the CEO/Founder Amb. Jake Epelle and implications for our organizational programming moving forward.

2. OPENING HIGHLIGHTS AND SUMMIT CONTEXT

Day 1 of the GDS 2025 set the tone for an urgent and sustained global commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities, reaffirming that disability inclusion is non-negotiable.

Key highlights include:

Presentation of Regional Summits: Findings from regional consultations conducted over two years informed the global commitments presented at GDS2025.

Key Global Voices:

His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan highlighted Jordan’s progress in disability inclusion since becoming a co-host and called for stronger global action to protect persons with disabilities, especially in conflict zones.
H.E. Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to disability inclusion, announcing support for inclusive education and the 15% for 15% target.
Dr. Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance, emphasized the role of OPDs, urging that they be recognized as decision-makers and that inclusion must be reflected in every plan and budget.
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, emphasized the urgency of reinvigorating efforts toward the lagging disability targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Opening II saw additional commitments:

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, announced a new initiative that brings together health and disability organizations to enhance collaboration and impact.

Charlotte Young, IDA Youth Ambassador, presented the Youth Call to Action, ensuring that young voices are central to the disability rights movement.

Sanja Tarczay, President of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB), shared key takeaways from the Civil Society Forum (CSF) and presented the Civil Society Declaration.

H.E. Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, Minister of International Development, Norway, reinforced Norway’s legacy as a GDS co-host and announced increased funding for development aid.

Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), announced a new initiative focused on accessible cities and declared UN-Habitat’s endorsement of the Amman-Berlin Declaration.

Marie Luise Abomo, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, called on African states to ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

3. TAF AFRICA’S STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS

3.1 High-Level Panel Participation: Inclusive Labour Markets and Decent Work

Amb. Jake Epelle, CEO/Founder of TAF Africa, served as a panellist in the session titled “Shaping Inclusive Labour Markets and Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities.”

• The session explored policy implementation challenges under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) within employment systems.

Key panellists included:

Erol Kiresepi, Honorary President at International Organisation of Employers (IOE)
Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation
Caroline Casey, Founder and Director, The Valuable 500

TAF Africa’s Contribution:

Amb. Epelle acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts in building capacity for PWDs through policy and skill development programs.
He advocated for deeper collaboration between government and OPDs to scale inclusive job access.
Emphasis was placed on the enabling role of legal frameworks and innovative partnerships to remove systemic employment barriers.
Persons with disabilities were motivated to stand up for themselves and unite their voices towards self-empowerment and growth.

3.2 Fireside Chat Host: TAF Africa Disability Inclusion Forum

TAF Africa independently hosted a side event titled “TAF Africa Disability Inclusion Forum,” providing a platform to showcase Nigeria’s efforts in mainstreaming disability in political and economic spaces.

Speakers:

Hon. Dr. Yusuf T. Sununu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
Amb. Jake Epelle, CEO/Founder, TAF Africa
Alhaji Zayyanu Umar-Aliero, Kebbi State Commissioner for Special Duties

Key Discussion Points:

Dr. Sununu elaborated on the positive impact of social intervention programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) on poverty reduction within the disability community.

Amb. Epelle highlighted TAF Africa’s innovative programs:

Able to Vote – Promoting PWDs electoral participation through voting
Electability – Enhancing visibility and engagement through political campaigns and vying for elective positions.
Able to Serve – Advocating inclusive governance through political appointments.

The chat emphasized collective responsibility across sectors to drive systemic change.

4. DAY 2: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND GLOBAL REPORT LAUNCH

4.1 Launch of the Global Disability Inclusion Report

The Global Disability Inclusion Report: Accelerating Disability Inclusion in a Changing and Diverse World, developed for the Global Disability Summit 2025, examines these challenges and outlines concrete pathways for change.

The report is the result of a collaborative effort of several UN agencies, the International Disability Alliance, the International Disability and Development Consortium, and their members and academia. It has been funded mostly by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with co-funding from the London Stock Exchange Group and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The report highlights:

The impact of global trends like climate change, technology, and urbanization
Legal, policy, and financing measures to drive inclusion.
Strategies for inclusive education and humanitarian action, healthcare, employment, and social protection

The report offers a valuable roadmap for our policy engagement and programming in 2025 and beyond.

4.2 Side Event Panel: Companies as Allies for Inclusive Employment

Amb. Jake Epelle again represented TAF Africa as a panellist at this high-impact session that brought together private sector leaders and disability advocates.

Panelists included:

Andy Garrett, Director – GSK Global Workplace Adjustments Service
Jürgen Menze, Disability Inclusion Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Nadine Schönwald, Inclusion officer, Board UnternehmensForum,
Susan Scott-Parker, Business Disability International (Moderator)

TAF Africa’s Key Contribution:

Amb. Epelle emphasized the importance of education, digital skills, and professional readiness among persons with disabilities to boost their employability.

He presented the Framework for the National Access to Work Scheme, co-developed by TAF Africa and NCPWD with funding from Sightsavers, which supports private employers to employ qualified persons with disabilities by providing technical and material support.

5. STRATEGIC VISIBILITY AND INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT

TAF Africa’s strategic positioning at GDS 2025 achieved the following:

Enhanced Global Visibility: TAF Africa’s voice resonated on critical issues of inclusive governance and employment through speaking engagements and hosting a side event.

Strengthened Partnerships: Our presence created pathways for deeper collaboration with global development agencies, OPDs, and private sector actors like the Christoffel Blinden Mission, Sightsavers International, International Disability and Development Consortium, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, etc.

Inspiration for Action: TAF Africa’s programs, Able to Vote, Electability, Able to serve and the Access to Work Scheme, were used as models of good practice, inspiring replication and adaptation.

PRESS STATEMENT: TAF AFRICA LAUNCHES ABLE2RUN CAMPAIGN TO ADVANCE POLITICAL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA

PRESS STATEMENT TAF AFRICA LAUNCHES ABLE2RUN CAMPAIGN TO ADVANCE POLITICAL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA Able2Run – Electability Campaign Organised by TAF Africa Palm Hotel, Abuja – May 12, 2026 Democracy finds its deepest meaning not merely in periodic elections, but in the equal participation of all citizens in shaping governance and national development. A democracy that excludes millions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from political leadership and decision-making cannot truly claim to be inclusive, representative, or just. TAF Africa is proud to launch the Able2Run – Electability Campaign to see the estimated 34 million Persons with Disability in Nigeria actively participate in politics, not only as voters, but as aspirants, candidates, elected officials, and leaders at all levels of governance. The Able2Run campaign seeks to deepen the national conversation on disability inclusion in governance and confront deeply rooted stereotypes that equate disability with inability. Disability is not incapacity. The real barriers for persons with disabilities are the structural and societal obstacles that limit participation. Across the world, history has shown that disability does not diminish leadership capacity. For perspective, the total votes secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election were approximately 8.8 million, a number far fewer than the estimated number of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. This comparison underscores a critical point on the strength this constituency possess. If mobilised and politically organised, persons with disabilities represent a voting bloc large enough to both influence elections, and potentially produce elected leaders at every level. Yet, despite these numbers and the potential, the political inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria remains alarmingly disheartening. TAF Africa’s recent comprehensive national studies on the political participation of persons with disabilities between 2019 and 2025 reveal a troubling pattern of exclusion and underrepresentation. The study documented over 200 persons with disabilities occupying political positions across Nigeria. However, only four persons with disabilities were found to have held elective political offices across the national, state, and local government levels within the study period. This represents less than 0.1% of all elective positions in Nigeria. More disturbing is the fact that none of these elected officials were women with disabilities, highlighting a severe intersectional gap affecting women and girls with disabilities in politics. In contrast, the study identified 213 persons with disabilities occupying appointive positions. Over 99% of positions occupied by PWDs are appointive rather than elective, with more than half (55.2%) serving as Special Advisers or Special Assistants on Disability Matters. While appointments remain important, the dominance of such positions raises legitimate concerns about tokenism rather than genuine political inclusion driven by equity, competence, and democratic participation. The research further revealed that between 2019 and 2025, only 116 persons with disabilities presented themselves as candidates for elective positions nationwide. This shows that beyond societal barriers, there is also an urgent need to inspire confidence, mentorship, political consciousness, and leadership ambition among PWDs themselves. At the national level, the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in politics are clearly protected under Nigerian law. The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, specifically guarantees the participation of persons with disabilities in politics and public life. Section 30 of the Act provides that persons with disabilities shall be encouraged to fully participate in politics and public affairs, while the government is mandated to actively promote an environment where PWDs can participate effectively and without discrimination in public affairs, political parties, and governance processes. These protections are also reinforced by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom from discrimination, freedom of association, freedom of expression, and the right of every citizen to participate in public life and governance. Nigeria’s obligations do not end at the national level. Internationally, Nigeria is a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), one of the most important global instruments protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Article 29 of the Convention clearly guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities to vote, to be elected, to hold public office, and to participate fully in political and public life on an equal basis with others. The Convention further requires governments to ensure accessible electoral systems, accessible voting materials, inclusive political processes, and active participation of persons with disabilities in political parties and public administration. Nigeria, having ratified this Convention, carries both a moral and legal obligation to ensure these rights become realities rather than aspirations. Unfortunately, significant barriers continue to hinder the political participation of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. These include inaccessible polling units and meeting venues, discriminatory attitudes and stereotypes, poverty and lack of financial resources, communication barriers arising from inaccessible information formats, and exclusion within political party structures. Equally concerning is the inadequacy of disability-disaggregated electoral data. Current information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly reflects fewer than 100,000 registered voters with disability data. This grossly underrepresents the true voting population of persons with disabilities in Nigeria and undermines effective planning for inclusive elections. Political parties also continue to fall short in ensuring full inclusion. TAF Africa’s Political Inclusion Index assessment of major political parties in Nigeria showed that most parties operate only at a moderate or limited level of disability inclusion. While some progress has been recorded, only one of the assessed parties achieved a high inclusion rating. This demonstrates that significant work remains to ensure disability inclusion becomes institutionalised within party structures, policies, and electoral processes. In response to these realities, TAF Africa has opened a national mentorship and coaching programme for aspiring politicians with disabilities interested in contesting elective offices at all levels, including councillorship, chairmanship, State Houses of Assembly, governorships, National Assembly seats, and the Presidency. This initiative is supported by the European Union, under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme. Through this programme, TAF Africa intends to establish virtual political incubation hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and provide mentorship support to at least 180 aspiring politicians

TAF Africa Launches Able2Run Electability Campaign: A Call To Persons With Disabilities To Contest For Office Ahead of Nigeria Decides 2027

TAF Africa Launches Able2Run Electability Campaign A Call To Persons With Disabilities To Contest For Office Ahead of Nigeria Decides 2027 https://youtu.be/r6rJzCLba7s On Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, TAF Africa, supported by the European Union through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme formally launched the Able2Run Electability Campaign at Press Conference in Abuja, Nigeria. The Able2Run Electability Campaign aims to see the estimated 34 million PWDs in Nigeria actively participate in politics, not only as voters, but as aspirants, elected officials, and leaders at all levels of governance. Our campaign aims to dismantle the stereotype that ‘disability equals inability’ and to move persons with disabilities from the margins to the center of democratic leadership. We urge persons with disabilities (PWDs) to run for office and reject self-doubt; for political parties to adopt inclusion policies, waive nomination fees for PWDs, and make materials accessible in braille, large print, and audio, and INEC to enforce disability inclusion guidelines and update its voter register with accurate disability-disaggregated data. Register for the Political Leadership Programme (PLP) for PWDs. Our Political Leadership Program (PLP) for PWDs stands part of our collection of flagship campaigns in Inclusive Elections and Governance. It is a national mentorship and coaching programme for aspiring politicians with disabilities interested in contesting elective offices at all levels. We will be establishing virtual political incubation hubs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and provide mentorship support to at least 180 aspiring politicians with disabilities. If you a person with disability and are passionate about doing your part to transform Nigerian society for the better, to put your commitment on the table for a better future for Nigerian children of all demographics, visit this link: https://tafafrica.co/abletorun-electability-campaign/ and register at the bottom of the page. Moving Forward, more work needs to be done, more people need to be reached, the net needs to widened, and we need more inclusive participation in elections in Nigeria and Africa at large. You can support TAF Africa’s work through donations on our website, volunteering, and sharing our work to your network. 🔗 Support TAF Africa.

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