This report presents the findings from the baseline assessment of the We Can Work (WCW) programme in Nigeria. The WCW programme, implemented by Light for the World (LFTW) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is a regional initiative aimed at improving the lives of at least 1,000,000 young women and men with disabilities across seven African countries by facilitating their access to dignified and fulfilling employment. The programme focuses on five key areas: fostering positive change, promoting entrepreneurship, empowering youth participation in decision-making, and advancing disability inclusion. In Nigeria, the baseline survey and Rapid Gender Assessment (RGA) serve as the foundation for tracking progress, setting benchmarks, and guiding the development of disability-inclusive strategies. This report provides a focused approach to measuring programme outcomes and ensuring targeted interventions in the country.
The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques to collect data from a wide range of participants, including youth with disabilities, caregivers, and key stakeholders such as Organizations for Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), labour market actors and community leaders. The assessment was carried out in six Nigerian locations, each focusing on specific priority sectors of the WCW programme: Abia (Creatives), Borno (Digital Economy), Imo (Agriculture), Kano (Agriculture), Lagos (Creatives and Digital Economy), and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (Creatives). The report includes a baseline evaluation, and a rapid gender analysis aimed at exploring gender dynamics within these targeted sectors. A total of 543 participants were selected through stratified random sampling, while 25 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 40 key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to provide qualitative insights into the experiences and challenges of youth with disabilities. Data collection was managed digitally using KoboToolbox, with secure data protocols in place for collection, storage, and analysis, including the use of NVivo for thematic analysis for the qualitative component.
