A significant step toward inclusive governance was taken as Deputy Directors and senior technical staff convened for a 1-day High-Level Training on Disability-Inclusive Social Protection, aligned with Nigeria’s National Social Protection Policy (NSPP).
The training was convened by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in partnership with WIEGO – Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). It brought together key government actors responsible for shaping and implementing Nigeria’s social protection architecture.
Moving Disability Inclusion from the Margins to the Mainstream
The central objective of the training was clear: to strengthen implementation frameworks so that disability inclusion is systematically embedded as a foundational element of social protection delivery — not treated as an afterthought.
Participants engaged in high-level discussions focused on closing persistent implementation gaps across the core pillars of the NSPP:
- Social Assistance
- Social Insurance
- Social Care Services
- Labour Market Interventions
- Governance & Institutional Coordination
Using the 6 A’s Framework — Availability, Affordability, Awareness, Abilities, Accessibility, and Accountability — the sessions explored practical pathways for embedding disability inclusion across these pillars.
Key Focus Areas
The training addressed critical structural and operational issues, including:
- Disability-sensitive targeting and accessible enrolment systems to ensure persons with disabilities are not excluded at the entry point.
- Risks of digital exclusion in social protection delivery, particularly as systems become increasingly digitized.
- Strengthening disability-disaggregated data systems to improve evidence-based planning and accountability.
- Institutionalizing OPD engagement in programme design, implementation, and monitoring.
- Building responsive grievance redress mechanisms that truly work for persons with disabilities.
These conversations reinforced a powerful message: effective social protection systems require coordinated governance, inclusive digital transformation, and sustained institutional commitment to equity.
Leadership and Participation
Key participants included the National President of JONAPWD, Abdullahi A. Usman, alongside Deputy Directors and senior technical staff across relevant ministries and agencies. Their engagement underscores growing recognition that disability inclusion must be central to Nigeria’s social protection reform efforts.
Intentional Inclusion
At this training, one powerful message echoed throughout the room — inclusion must be intentional. Theophilus Odaudu moderated a thought-provoking session that challenged participants to rethink how systems are designed and who they truly serve. His statement, “Accessibility is not a favour — it is the difference between inclusion and exclusion,” reframed accessibility as a fundamental principle of equitable governance rather than an optional add-on.
Mr. Odaudu emphasized the need to look beyond policy documents and good intentions, asserting that practical adjustments are crucial for ensuring services genuinely work for everyone. He posed a critical reflection: “If your system only works for the majority, then it was never designed for everyone.” This challenge illuminated deeper discussions about the structural barriers embedded within social protection programs.
Embedding Inclusion in Implementation
As conversations continued, a clear message emerged: disability-inclusive social protection cannot remain aspirational. It must be intentionally embedded in the implementation of Nigeria’s National Social Protection Policy. True inclusion requires:
- Intentional planning
- Budgetary allocation for accessibility measures
- Data systems that capture disability-disaggregated information
- Continuous engagement with persons with disabilities
The training reinforced a vital principle for policy leaders: accessibility is not charity — it is structural justice and the foundation upon which inclusive social protection must stand.
Toward a System That Leaves No One Behind
This high-level engagement signals a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s social protection framework so that it works for everyone — especially persons with disabilities who often face compounded barriers to access.
As Nigeria advances its governance and development priorities, disability-inclusive social protection is not optional — it is essential.
Together, stakeholders are working toward a future where no person with disability is left behind.
