The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Forum of Heads of Disability Commissions and Agencies to strengthen coordination and inclusive governance across Nigeria.
The initiative, led by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Social Welfare and other partners, was launched during a two-day workshop held from October 27–28, 2025, in Abuja.
The Forum brings together state disability commissions, government ministries, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and development partners to promote inter-agency collaboration and policy alignment on disability inclusion.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Adebayo Adebukola, Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, described the inauguration as a milestone in strengthening institutional synergy for inclusive governance.
“This Forum will serve as a vital coordination platform to harmonize our efforts, share good practices, and ensure that no person with a disability is left behind in our national development agenda,” he said.
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The workshop, themed “Progressing on Disability Inclusive Development in Nigeria: Moving from Policy to Practice through Effective Inter-Governmental Relations,” emphasized the government’s commitment to translating disability policies into tangible results, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Participants reviewed existing policies, identified institutional gaps, and developed a Joint Action Plan (2025–2026) alongside a Forum Charter and Communication Framework to strengthen coordination and accountability across states.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to building a governance system that guarantees equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.
“When the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was established in 2020, it was with a clear mandate to drive inclusion and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The true success of this mandate depends not only on federal action but on strong and empowered state institutions,” Gufwan stated.
He noted that the Forum would provide a platform for peer learning, harmonization of standards, and enhanced accountability, adding that inclusion is not charity but an investment in national development.
“Today is not just an inauguration, it is the beginning of a new chapter in disability governance; one that emphasizes partnership over isolation, and accountability over rhetoric,” he said.
The Forum will focus on strengthening institutional capacity, aligning state and national policies, promoting inclusive budgeting and data systems, and ensuring meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in policymaking.
The Executive Secretary commended the Federal Government, development partners, and state governors who have established disability commissions and continue to advance the inclusion agenda.
The launch of the Forum marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s disability inclusion journey, creating a unified mechanism for joint action and policy coherence across all levels of government, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to “Leave No One Behind.”
