“We are excited to announce the graduation of 72 young women and men with disabilities from the Entrepreneurship Track of the #WeCanWork Academy in Lagos and Abuja this month…”
This month marked more than a graduation ceremony in Nigeria — it marked a powerful statement of resilience, growth, and possibility.
Across Lagos and Abuja, 72 young women and men with disabilities completed the Entrepreneurship Track of the #WeCanWork Academy, stepping forward not only as graduates, but as advocates, changemakers, and emerging business leaders.
A Journey Beyond Skills
Under the #WeCanWork program, participants begin with foundational training designed to:
- Build confidence
- Strengthen communication skills
- Encourage self-acceptance
- Promote self-advocacy
From there, they transition into specialized tracks:
- Employability training
- Technical skilling
- Entrepreneurship development
Each pathway is intentionally designed to equip youth with disabilities with practical, market-relevant skills that support sustainable livelihoods and long-term economic independence.
For many, the transformation is deeply personal.
One participant from Abuja shared:
“Despite being a health personnel, I was not able to socialise until I joined the We Can Work programme. It opened my mind, helped me appreciate myself, and now people in my community see me as a role model.”
This is the true impact of inclusion — not just economic empowerment, but renewed confidence, dignity, and community leadership.
Partnership in Action: Turning Vision into Sustainable Impact
The graduation milestone coincided with an important moment of collaboration.
Over the past few weeks, the #WeCanWork Programme Director visited Nigeria, creating space for meaningful conversations and strategic planning. The focus was clear:
Co-creating practical, place-based solutions that strengthen partnerships, deepen disability inclusion, and expand dignified economic opportunities.
These discussions were not abstract. They were grounded in local realities — in the lived experiences of young women and men navigating barriers, and in the shared commitment of partners determined to remove them.
When partnerships are built on:
- Shared vision
- Mutual trust
- Deep understanding of community contexts
Impact becomes not only possible — but sustainable.
The visit reinforced a simple but powerful truth: inclusive development thrives when global vision meets local leadership.
From Graduation to Greater Possibility
The story of these 72 graduates is not separate from the story of partnership. It is the result of it.
Programs like #WeCanWork succeed because they combine:
- Skills development
- Personal empowerment
- Strategic collaboration
- Long-term systems thinking
As these young entrepreneurs begin or strengthen their business journeys, they carry with them more than training certificates. They carry confidence. They carry community pride. They carry proof that disability inclusion is not charity — it is smart, sustainable development.
o the graduates: we celebrate your bold commitment to building inclusive futures.
To the partners and leaders shaping this work: thank you for turning vision into action.
And to champions like Daniel OLOO — thank you for your leadership and dedication to advancing dignified economic opportunity for all.
The work continues. The impact grows. The future is inclusive.
