0806 673 1702

990 NAL Boulevard, Central Business District Abuja
info@tafafrica.co
Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Instagram
GIVE

Over 300 Persons with Disabilities Sensitised as TAF Africa Takes Able2Vote to Six Communities in Osun State

In six communities across Osun State, a quiet but powerful shift is underway. Persons with disabilities who have historically been sidelined at the polls are now being equipped, informed, and encouraged to claim their place in the democratic process — one conversation at a time. Between July 13 and July 17, TAF Africa's Able2Vote campaign convened no fewer than 50 persons with disabilities at each of six venues across Osun State, reaching over 300 PWDs with direct voter education and civic sensitisation ahead of the August 15, 2026 off-cycle election and the 2027 general elections.

Where the Outreach Happened

# Community LGA Date
1 Alapa Ede North July 13
2 Ayiwola Iwo July 13
3 Ifelodun Ifelodun July 15
4 Ilorunshogo Osogbo July 15
5 Ireakiari Ife Central July 17
6 Iretayo Ilesa West July 17
At every stop, the message was the same: your vote matters, your voice counts, and your disability should never be a barrier to participation. Facilitators walked participants through the voting process, addressed the accessibility challenges many had faced or feared, and encouraged them to show up — not just as spectators of democracy, but as active participants in shaping it.

Why It Matters

Persons with disabilities are too often an afterthought in electoral planning — overlooked in accessibility provisions, undercounted at polling units, and underrepresented in political conversations. Able2Vote exists to change that story, one community at a time. By reaching over 300 PWDs in a single week across Osun State, TAF Africa is not just distributing information — it is building confidence, correcting misinformation, and reinforcing a simple truth: an election is only as credible as it is inclusive. This outreach forms part of TAF Africa's broader Able2Vote campaign, implemented under the EU-SDGN Programme, which works to:
  • Promote equal participation of PWDs in the electoral process
  • Increase voter turnout among PWDs
  • Improve the accessibility of electoral processes for PWDs
  • Enhance political awareness and civic engagement among PWDs
  • Strengthen accountability among electoral stakeholders

Looking Ahead

With the August 15, 2026 off-cycle election fast approaching and the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the sensitisation delivered in these six communities is more than an event — it is an investment in turnout, in confidence, and in a more inclusive democracy for Osun State and beyond. TAF Africa will continue to expand the reach of Able2Vote, ensuring that persons with disabilities are not just counted among the electorate, but heard, seen, and represented at the polls. Democracy becomes meaningful only when no one is excluded or left behind.    
 

A visually impaired man wearing sunglasses speaks into a microphone held by a young woman, addressing an audience at the Able2Vote community outreach event in Osun State, with an EU-funded banner and TAF Africa branding in the background.

More Posts

Inside the Joint EU Election Hub: How TAF Africa Tracked PWDs Participation in the Osun’s Election in Real Time

Adolak Events Hall, Osogbo, Osun State — 15th August 2026   When the polls opened across Osun State on 15 August 2026, thousands of voters with disabilities weren’t just showing up to cast a ballot — they were testing whether Nigeria’s electoral system was finally built for them too. Through a wide-reaching pre-election and election-day intervention, TAF Africa’s Able2Vote Campaign, implemented under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme, set out to answer that question with evidence rather than assumptions — and the results tell a story of real progress, alongside gaps that still demand attention. Breaking the Communication Barrier for Deaf Voters Perhaps the most tangible innovation was the deployment of 24 trained Sign Language Interpreters (SLIs) to 29 polling units across 12 LGAs, supporting 84 deaf voters on election day. Olorunda LGA alone accounted for 24 of those voters, while Ife Central, Osogbo, and Iwo rounded out the areas of highest concentration — together representing nearly two-thirds of all deaf voters reached. The data-driven approach — matching interpreter deployment to where deaf voters were actually registered — offers a replicable model. As one flexible deployment in Iwo showed (two interpreters covering five polling units), smart resource allocation can stretch limited capacity without leaving voters behind. Feedback from beneficiaries confirmed the impact: for many deaf voters, this was the first election where communication wasn’t a barrier to independent participation. What 150 Trained Observers Saw on Election Day To ground all of this in hard evidence, TAF Africa trained 150 election observers and deployed them, alongside its TAF Disability Hub App and a citizen eyewitness feature called The Third Eye, to document what was really happening at the polls. The numbers paint a nuanced picture: The good news •       94.3% of polling units were physically accessible to PWDs •       91.9% offered priority voting •       95.3% reported no harassment of PWD voters •       98.3% of votes were counted openly, and 94.6% of results were announced on-site •       97.66% of PWD voters who came to vote were able to do so The gaps that remain •       Braille ballot guides were available in just 22.8% of polling units; magnifying glasses in only 5.7% •       Only 46.3% of polling units had PWDs serving as INEC ad-hoc staff — and zero had observed PWD party agents •       Security personnel were present in just 46.3% of polling units •       78.1% of PWD voters relied on trusted aides rather than assistive devices or trained support •       Observers recorded 91 cases of PWD voters being induced, 23 cases of intimidation, and 40 incidents of violence around polling units   Indicator Positive Gap Physically accessible polling units 94.3% 5.7% not accessible Priority voting provided 91.9% 8.1% no priority voting No harassment of PWD voters 95.3% 4.7% harassment cases Votes counted openly 98.3% 1.7% not counted openly PWD INEC ad-hoc staff present 46.3% 53.7% no PWD staff PWD party agents observed 0% 100% no PWD party agent   The takeaway is clear: physical access to a polling unit is no longer the main battle. The next frontier is making sure PWDs can vote independently, are represented inside election structures, and are protected from manipulation that specifically targets their vulnerability. Stories the Statistics Can’t Tell Numbers aside, some of the most telling moments came from individual polling units. At Ile-Epo in Ward 4, a blind voter arrived with his wife’s assistance and later described the process as seamless — officials correctly completed the required Form EC40H to document his participation, a small but crucial act of accountability. Just a short distance away at Ataoja C PU 002, the story was different: officials seemed unfamiliar with the same form, producing other paperwork instead when asked about it. The same election, the same state, two very different experiences — a reminder that policy on paper means little without consistent training on the ground. At that same location, a wobbly wooden plank bridging an open drainage channel — the only route to where voter names were displayed — illustrated how accessibility gaps can hide in the details officials never think to check. The Road to 2027 With Nigeria’s next General Elections on the horizon in 2027, the report’s central message is a call to move from basic access to full, meaningful participation. Among the key recommendations: •       Institutionalize the provision of assistive devices and Sign Language Interpreters as standard election infrastructure, not a one-off intervention •       Set clear targets for recruiting qualified PWDs as election officials and party agents •       Conduct pre-election accessibility audits to catch physical barriers before voting day •       Strengthen disability-responsive security to protect PWD voters from intimidation and inducement •       Expand digital reporting tools like the Disability Hub App and Third Eye to make election monitoring faster and more evidence-based •       Embed PWD organizations directly into electoral planning, not just as consultees but as decision-makers The Bigger Picture The Osun State Governorship Election shows what’s possible when advocacy, technology, and stakeholder collaboration work in concert. Nearly all PWD voters who showed up were able to cast a ballot — a real achievement. But the same data reveals that acceptance at the ballot box hasn’t yet translated into representation within the system itself. Closing that gap — from voter to observer, from observer to official, from official to decision-maker — is the work that lies ahead as Nigeria looks toward 2027. This article is based on TAF Africa’s Osun State Governorship Election disability inclusion report, produced under the EU-SDGN Programme.

Call for Supply of Laptops and Office Chairs

TAF Africa, a leading disability inclusion organisation advancing the rights, inclusion, and meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in governance, democratic processes, education, and economic empowerment, is inviting quotations from competent and reputable vendors for the supply of laptops and ergonomic office chairs. This procurement is being carried out under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SGDN) Programme, Component 5B, to equip project staff with the tools they need to deliver on programme objectives. Objective To procure durable, high-performance laptops and ergonomic office chairs for project staff in line with the operational requirements of the EU-SGDN Programme, Component 5B. Scope of Supply S/N Item Minimum Specification Quantity 1 Laptop Computers Intel Core i7 (11th Gen or higher), 16GB RAM or higher, 500GB SSD or higher, backlit keyboard, touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, integrated webcam, original Windows 11 Professional (or latest version) 4 Units 2 Office Chairs High-back ergonomic design, adjustable seat height, adjustable armrests, lumbar support, breathable mesh or premium upholstery, five-wheel base, 360° swivel, gas lift mechanism 6 Units All equipment must be brand-new, come with a minimum one-year manufacturer warranty, and be delivered fully packaged with warranty documentation. Who Can Apply Interested vendors should be able to provide: Certificate of Incorporation (CAC) Valid Tax Clearance Certificate Company Profile demonstrating relevant experience Evidence of at least three similar supply contracts Manufacturer’s Authorization (where applicable) Evidence of warranty support Quotation in Nigerian Naira (NGN), inclusive of taxes, transport, and delivery costs Delivery timeline Evaluation Criteria Submissions will be assessed on compliance with technical specifications, vendor experience, product quality, delivery schedule, warranty and after-sales support, cost competitiveness, and completeness of documentation. Delivery and Payment The successful vendor must complete delivery within 14 calendar days of contract award or issuance of a Purchase Order. Payment will be made after successful delivery, inspection, acceptance of items, and submission of all required documentation. How to Submit Send the following by email: Financial quotation Pictures of items Years of warranty Required supporting documents Email subject line: “Supply of Laptops and Office Chairs” Send to: procurements@tafafrica.co Submission deadline: 12th August 2026 General Conditions TAF Africa reserves the right to accept or reject any quotation without assigning a reason. Submission of a quotation does not constitute a commitment to award a contract. Only shortlisted vendors will be contacted for further clarification or negotiation. All supplied equipment must be genuine, brand new, and free from defects.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn