Last week, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), through the RIA Project and with the support of CBM Global Disability Inclusion and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, convened a two-day Advocacy Engagement and Policy Influencing Training for Self-Advocates (Cohort II).
The training brought together self-advocates to strengthen their understanding of disability rights, policy engagement, stakeholder influence, and evidence-based advocacy. Over two intensive days, participants moved beyond theory to explore practical approaches for influencing policies and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities across Nigeria.
Rather than viewing advocacy as simply raising awareness, the sessions challenged participants to see it as a strategic process that requires knowledge, collaboration, and sustained engagement with decision-makers.
Building a Human Rights-Based Understanding of Disability
The training opened with sessions led by Adedotun Esan, Executive Director of the Mental Health with Ditty Foundation, who established a strong foundation by framing disability inclusion through a human rights lens.
Participants explored the barriers that continue to prevent persons with disabilities from participating fully in society and examined the legal frameworks that protect their rights.
One of the defining messages of the training was:
“Persons with disabilities are rights-holders, not objects of charity.”
— Adedotun Esan
This message reinforced that disability inclusion is not an act of goodwill but a matter of justice, equality, and human rights.
Transforming Lived Experience into Policy Influence
The conversation then shifted from understanding rights to influencing systems.
Facilitating the session on strategic engagement and lobbying, Aver Akighir, Executive Director of Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI Nigeria), demonstrated how self-advocates can convert lived experiences into meaningful policy outcomes through strategic stakeholder engagement.
Among the session’s most memorable insights was:
“The goal is not just to be heard; the goal is to systematically transform community realities into structural political power.”
— Aver Akighir
Participants also learned that sustainable advocacy depends on building relationships with decision-makers, using credible evidence, and maintaining consistent engagement beyond campaigns.
Addressing the Barriers That Create Disability
Day Two focused on understanding the barriers that continue to exclude persons with disabilities from equal participation.
Facilitated by Comfort Ekwo, Executive Director of Sauri Growth Initiative, the session examined physical, communication, institutional, technological, economic, and attitudinal barriers.
One of the most thought-provoking reflections from the session stated:
“Disability is often created by barriers, not by the impairment.”
The discussion challenged participants to recognise that inclusion requires transforming environments, systems, and attitudes, not changing individuals.
Advocacy Must Address Root Causes
Continuing the day’s learning, Jumoke Odeleye Dorcas of FACICP Disability Plus guided participants through the principles of advocacy, lobbying, campaigning, and policy influencing.
The session distinguished advocacy from service delivery and highlighted the importance of strategic planning, coalition building, and long-term engagement.
A particularly powerful takeaway was:
“Service delivery helps people cope with problems; advocacy aims to eliminate the root causes of problems.”
Participants were encouraged to develop advocacy initiatives that not only respond to immediate needs but also influence policies capable of creating lasting systemic change.
The training concluded with a compelling reminder that effective advocacy requires more than passion, it demands commitment, collaboration, and action.
The final message resonated strongly with participants:
“Do not just identify the problem; be part of the solution.”
The RIA Project continues to strengthen the capacity of self-advocates to engage decision-makers, influence policies, and champion disability-inclusive development across Nigeria.
By equipping persons with disabilities with practical advocacy skills and a deeper understanding of policy processes, JONAPWD is investing in a future where self-advocates are not only represented but are actively shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
As participants return to their communities, they carry forward more than knowledge, they carry the tools, confidence, and networks needed to transform lived experiences into meaningful policy change.
