On February 12, 2025, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), with the generous support of the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), hosted a pivotal event in Abuja—the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025: One-Day Commitments Harmonization Meeting for Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Nigeria. This gathering served as a significant milestone in the journey toward advancing disability rights and fostering inclusive development across the nation.

The event brought together a diverse array of distinguished stakeholders, including cluster heads, representatives from various OPDs, and key government officials. The primary aim was to create a robust framework of commitments for the upcoming Global Disability Summit, an opportunity not only to advance the rights of persons with disabilities but to establish meaningful partnerships that drive change.

The meeting was strategically designed with several specific objectives:

  1. Driving Dialogue and Deliberation: Participants engaged in meaningful discussions to draft actionable commitments that would propel progress for persons with disabilities. The focus was on creating realistic and measurable actions that can be implemented effectively post-summit.

  2. Fostering a Unified Front: One of the key aims was to cultivate a unified front among disability organizations, government representatives, and other stakeholders. This collaboration is crucial for championing disability rights and ensuring that inclusive development becomes a priority across all sectors.

  3. Establishing a Framework for Collaborations: Recognizing that advocacy must continue beyond the Global Disability Summit, the meeting sought to establish a solid framework for collaborations. This framework is essential to sustaining momentum for disability rights advocacy and ensuring that the commitments made are actionable and impactful.

The GDS 2025 Commitments Harmonization Meeting served as a vital platform for brainstorming, sharing perspectives, and articulating innovative ideas to promote disability-inclusive development. Participants exchanged insights, experiences, and strategies, fostering an environment of collaboration and empowerment.

Key Comments from participants at the Summit include: 

  1. A participant raised a comment about the proposed commitment for dermatological centers, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the proposed centers cater primarily to persons with albinism, while also offering necessary services to other persons with disabilities as needed
  2. A representative of the deaf community expressed the need for official recognition of Nigerian Sign Language and urged for policy adoption before moving forward with any further implementation measures. He also expressed the importance of inclusivity and the need to ensure that the voices of all marginalized groups, including those with hearing impairments, are heard and addressed.
  3. A representative from the intellectual disabilities community emphasized the need to consider the unique challenges faced by persons with intellectual disabilities when designing vocational training programs and employment opportunities. They highlighted the necessity of early intervention and appropriate educational accommodations to ensure that these individuals are equipped with the skills and support needed to lead independent and productive lives.

This point was emphasized with the aim of promoting inclusion and ensuring that the commitments address the diverse needs of persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities who often face unique barriers to employment and vocational training.

  1. A participant drew attention to the crucial role that political participation plays in securing rights and achieving progress for persons with disabilities. By highlighting the absence of a specific commitment to political participation.
  2. A multi-layered commentary delivered by a participant addressed several significant issues in the draft commitments. Firstly, the speaker urged the inclusion of the deafblind community, drawing attention to their often overlooked needs and suggesting the use of professional terminology (“intervenors”) to accurately describe their support requirements.Secondly, the speaker proposed an alternative approach to advocating for accessibility and inclusion in healthcare settings by advocating for “disability support agents.” This would address the needs of all persons with disabilities, rather than focusing solely on specific groups, such as the deaf and deafblind.

As we look ahead to the Global Disability Summit in 2025, the commitments and collaborations forged during this meeting will lay the foundation for a more inclusive future for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

In conclusion, the path forward is promising, and we remain committed to championing the cause of disability rights.

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