Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Nigerian Women with Disabilities Lead Advocacy at UN CSW69 and Beyond  

From Disarray to Advocacy — A Historic Journey 

March: The Month of Africa’s Sahel Region and the Lake Chad Basin Nations, particularly Nigerian Women with disabilities Marching Toward an Inclusive and Accessible 21st Century. The region is making strides toward a transformative movement rooted in the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This grassroot, community-based, and participatory village movement is committed to ensuring that “No One is Left Behind,” with a particular emphasis on inclusivity for persons with disabilities and women. 

The movement encompasses peacebuilding, STEM education, innovation, and a technological paradigm shift, all aimed at fostering sustainable development and equitable progress. By prioritizing accessibility and participation at the local level, this initiative seeks to empower communities, drive innovation, and create a future where every individual, regardless of gender or ability, can thrive. 

For decades, persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria have faced neglect, marginalization, persecution, retaliation, and systemic exclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many PWDs, particularly those in remote villages, lost their lives due to a lack of access to healthcare and essential services. Even in this post-COVID-19 era, PWDs continue to be excluded from government remedial programs and initiatives designed to address the pandemic’s aftermath. 

Their exclusion extends to critical areas such as the Nigerian Constitution—notably the 1999 Constitution—economic development, meaningful national annual budgets, democracy and governance, political and electoral processes, and peacebuilding efforts. Confronting a society that has historically rendered them invisible, the needs of PWDs are consistently sidelined in policy-making and public discourse. This systemic neglect has left them without the necessary support and inclusion to thrive, perpetuating cycles of inequality and marginalization. 

The failure to address these issues not only undermines the rights of PWDs but also hinders Nigeria’s progress toward achieving inclusive and sustainable development. It is imperative to prioritize the inclusion of PWDs in all aspects of society, ensuring that their voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their potential is fully realized. Only then can Nigeria move closer to becoming a nation where no one is left behind.

This pitiable scenario began to change thanks to the courageous efforts of Nigeria’s Pioneers of National and International Disability Civil Rights Movement and Policy Changers/Advocates. Leading this transformative initiative movement were prominent figures such as Lady Omotunde Ellen Thompson, Life Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria (JONAPWD-National- the only Nigeria’s umbrella body Organization for 35.5 million Nigerians with Disabilities and their NGOs/OPDs); Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President and CEO of Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc. (ERPWDI), also known as the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Initiative (ERPWDI); Ngwu EziEgbo OJIANA Initiative and Cooperative Society; and Brigadier General Lonsdale Oladeji Adeoye (Retired), President and CEO of the Foundation for the Support of Wounded Nigerian Veterans. Together with Convener Job Napoleon Agbor, UN Women’s CSW69 Parallel Event Moderator Precious Chinaza Obioma-Henry, and others, they mobilised tirelessly to demand recognition, equal protection, and access to justice for over 35.5 million Nigerians with disabilities, including women and their children. Their advocacy marked a significant turning point in the fight for disability rights in Nigeria.

Historical Great Achievements and Legacies of Senator Osita Izunaso and the Pioneers of National and International Disability Civil Rights Movement and Policy Changers for 35.5 Million Nigerians with Disabilities, Women, and the Nigerian Population at Large 

The Pioneers of Nigeria’s National and International Disability Civil Rights Movement and policy changers/advocates, in collaboration with the distinguished Senator Barr. Osita Izunaso—currently representing the Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu Zone) in the Nigerian Senate—have left an indelible mark on the fight for disability rights in Nigeria. Senator Izunaso, in his official and individual capacities as the former National Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President/Founder of the Kpakpando Foundation, led by Director General Mrs. Patricia Ovuoke Oseh, were the driving force in breaking barriers and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). 

Through high-level diplomatic advocacy and negotiations at both national and international levels, these pioneers played a pivotal role in the passage of Nigeria’s groundbreaking Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. This landmark legislation guarantees equal rights, opportunities, and access for over 35.5 million Nigerians living with disabilities. This achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the U.S. government and American taxpayers, particularly the United States Department of State’s Office of International Disability Rights under the leadership of the late Judy Heumann, as well as institutions such as Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and organizations like Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc. (ERPWDI) in Houston, Texas. Additional support came from groups such as the Anambra State Association of Greater Houston (ASA-Houston), FESTAC-USA, Inc., and other stakeholders who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of PWDs in Nigeria. 

Following this legislative milestone, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was established to ensure the effective implementation of the Act. Other key collaborators included the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari, led by Dr. Samuel Odeh Ankeli, and the Foundation for the Support of Wounded Nigerian Veterans, led by Brigadier General Lonsdale Oladeji Adeoye (Rtd). These efforts also led to the creation of the House Standing Committee on Disability Matters by the 9th National Assembly under the leadership of the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

On the international stage, the relentless dedication of Nigeria’s disability rights pioneers and policy advocates, particularly Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc. (ERPWDI), resulted in significant milestones. Their advocacy ensured that Nigeria joined other United Nations Member States in adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on December 13, 2006. Nigeria subsequently signed and ratified the CRPD and its Optional Protocol on March 30, 2007, and September 24, 2010, respectively. Furthermore, their efforts ensured the inclusion of disability and PWDs in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda, integrating disability rights into global development frameworks. 

Through the tireless advocacy of these pioneers, Nigeria also made strides in regional disability rights. Precisely, on February 10, 2020, President Buhari signed the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was later ratified by President Tinubu on October 23, 2023. These achievements underscore the transformative impact of Senator Izunaso, the Kpakpando Foundation, the US Government and its taxpayers and the broader disability rights movement in Nigeria, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

In the same vein, on June 14, 2017, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, Conference Room 12, between 6.15 pm-8.00 pm, to ensure, that Persons with Disabilities were fully included  and that No one  left behind, under the SDGs 2030 Agenda,  the Pioneers of Nigeria’s National and International Disabilities Civil Rights Movement and Policy Changer Advocates successfully inaugurated a High-Level Side Event, Titled; “Nigerian/African Diasporas & Presidency’s Office roles in breaking barriers placed on Implementation of CRPD.” Please visit the following link and scroll down to the last day, June 14, 2017, Conf: room 12; 6.15 pm-8.00 pm; https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/list-of-side-events.html#14June

Also, to help Nigeria address insecurity, Terrorism, Bandits, Kidnapping, Food Insecurity, Irreconcilable Community Disputes, Climate Change, Toxic, Stressful, Traumatic and Deadly environment, on June 16, 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, Conference Room 11, the Pioneers group successfully organized and held a high-level, “Inauguration of Nigeria’s Disability-inclusive New Rural Development Paradigm and the inclusion and sustainable New Community Model inspired by the Saemaul Undong.” Please visit the following link and scroll down to the last day, June 16, 2016, Conference room 11, 8.00 am-9.30 am. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/cosp9_side-events.html

While advocating, hosting events, and engaging in high-level diplomatic roundtables at both national and international levels, the argument has consistently been that ratifying treaties and raising awareness would address entrenched social issues. These efforts aimed to eliminate street begging, close off sources of recruitment into insecurity by addressing the plight of Almajiri children—victims of childhood trauma—and narrow the gap of exclusion by empowering Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), particularly women, and dismantling systemic barriers. However, six years later, insecurity persists, and systemic neglect has deepened. This is largely because Nigeria has failed to fully implement most of the UN Charters and conventions it has officially signed and ratified, including the accompanying Optional Protocols and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). 

Despite the CRPD being hailed as the Human Rights Treaty of the 21st Century, government actions remain rooted in a paternalistic “charity model,” treating PWDs as objects of pity rather than rights-bearing citizens. This approach starkly contradicts the core principles of the CRPD, particularly Article 4.3, which emphasizes, “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda’s mantra of “No One Left Behind.” These frameworks mandate the meaningful participation of PWDs, especially women, in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Yet, in practice, PWDs continue to be excluded from critical discussions and policies, perpetuating cycles of marginalization and inequality. 

The failure to align government actions with the promises of these international commitments not only undermines the rights of PWDs but also hinders Nigeria’s progress toward inclusive and sustainable development. True implementation of these treaties requires a paradigm shift—from viewing PWDs through a lens of charity to recognizing them as equal stakeholders with the right to shape policies and programs that impact their lives. Only then can Nigeria move closer to achieving the ideals of the CRPD and the SDGs, ensuring that no one is truly left behind.

Awakening Giants: Next Level(s) Paradigm Shift of Nigerian Women with Disabilities at UN CSW69 

In response to this stagnation, Nigerian women with disabilities are taking bold steps to reclaim their decades of historical achievements and legacies. Under the auspices of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Women’s Caucus (JWC), pioneering disability civil rights advocates and policy changemakers, led by Lady Omotunde Ellen Thompson, are rising to the challenge. These women are determined to reignite the momentum of the disability rights movement, ensuring that the hard-won gains of the past are not eroded and that the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly women, remain at the forefront of national and international agendas. Through their leadership and advocacy, they are working to dismantle systemic barriers, amplify their voices, and secure a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

On March 20, 2025, they will participate virtually in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) high-level Parallel Event, amplifying their voices on a global stage. Featuring notable speakers, including Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS who will be speaking on “Overcoming Barriers: Tackling Insecurity and Promoting Resilience Among Women, Inclusive of Women with Disabilities, in Conflict Zones.”

Their message is clear: “disability inclusion through Africa’s Sahel Region, including Lake Chad Basin Nations, especially, Nigeria cannot be politicized or reduced to tokenism”. By engaging in CSW69, these women sought to awaken “sleeping giants”—governments, institutions, and societies—to the urgent need for a rights-based approach to disability, especially for women with disabilities. They opined that Nigeria’s chronic insecurity and social fragmentation will persist unless PWDs, particularly women, are recognized as critical stakeholders in Peacebuilding and governance.  

Honoring Dr. Amina J. Mohammed’s Legacy: Empowering Africa’s Sahel Region Through Disability-Inclusive STEM Education, Innovation, and Women’s Leadership by 2027

Their mission, vision, and goals are clear: With less than two years remaining in Dr. Amina J. Mohammed’s term as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, which will conclude on January 1, 2027, it is their duty as women to ensure her multiple historical achievements and legacies are permanently recognized and celebrated. As the first woman to hold this prestigious position, Dr. Mohammed has made an indelible impact on global development, and it is imperative to cement her contributions as a lasting inspiration for future generations. 

Her lifetime legacy for Africa’s Sahel Region, including the Lake Chad Basin nations—especially Nigeria—has already begun to take shape under the banner of #UNDSGAminaMohammed. This initiative focuses on a disability-inclusive, participatory grassroots, community-based village movement centered on STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), enriched with Art (STEAM Education), Entrepreneurship, Blockchain Architecture, Computer Coding, and Robotics. The program targets at-risk children, starting from kindergarten through primary, secondary, and higher education, while also incorporating adult education and lifelong learning opportunities for ex-Almajiris and school dropouts. The vision is to establish an “Adopt-a-School” system, ensuring that every child in Africa’s Sahel Region can learn and master at least one #UNDSGAminaMohammedCODE by the age of five. 

Furthermore, this movement seeks to successfully inaugurate and implement a grassroots, community-based, participatory village movement that is inclusive of disabilities and women, aligned with the UNDP-Africa’s Timbuktoo Initiative. This initiative, inaugurated under the leadership of Mrs. Ahunna Eziakuonwa-Onochie, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, represents a transformative approach to innovation and development. 

As Precious Chinaza Obioma-Henry, Moderator of the Pioneers of Nigeria’s National and International Disabilities Civil Rights Movement and Policy Changers, emphasized during the UN Women’s 2025 CSW69 High-Level Parallel Event, “It is very doable, and it is important to officially inaugurate this initiative now without further delays to ensure significant progress by January 1, 2027, the end of Dr. Amina J. Mohammed’s term as UN Deputy Secretary-General.” 

Through this collective effort, the vision of a disability-inclusive, women-empowered, and technologically advanced Sahel Region can become a reality, leaving a lasting legacy that honors Dr. Mohammed’s contributions and paves the way for a brighter future for all, especially persons with disabilities and their women folds.

Beyond CSW69: A Bold Vision for July 2025

Recognizing the urgency of their cause, Nigerian women with disabilities are expanding their advocacy. From July 24–26, 2025, they will convene a landmark Post-CSW69 High-Level Parallel Event in Abuja, Nigeria, with a groundbreaking focus: integrating women with disabilities from Africa’s Sahel Region, including Lake Chad Basin Nations, especially Nigeria. This conflict-ridden area, plagued by instability, especially Terrorism, Kidnapping, Bandits, environmental degradation, and displacement, disproportionately excludes women with disabilities from peace processes and humanitarian responses. The event will tackle intersectional challenges through: 

1. Panel Discussions: Addressing systemic exclusion, transboundary air pollution (linked to PTSD), and barriers to education and healthcare as it affects women with disabilities. 

2. Launch of Disability Toolkits on Disability for Africa: Practical guides for governments and NGOs to implement CRPD/SDGs.  

3. Peacebuilding Initiatives: Strategies to include women with disabilities in conflict resolution and post-war recovery.  

4. STEM-Education for At-Risk Children: #UNDSGAminaMohammed & #SenatorOsitaIzunaso, “Disability-inclusive participatory Grassroots, Community-based, village movement STEM-Education, plus Art, STEAM-Education, Entrepreneurship, Blockchain Architecture, Computer Coding and Robotics, for at-Risk Children, starting from Kindergarten-Primary-Secondary and higher Schools, including adult education, school of lifelong learning adult education for ex-Almajiris and school dropouts and adopt a School system.” Bridging the gap in STEM-Education, access for girls with disabilities to build future innovators that will train the at-Risk Children to join the Western Nation in Space War by building 100% made in Nigeria’s Satellite and sends to Space; and also to join the 21^st Century’s global cyber Security and Artificial Intelligent Wars. Build infrared Drums for monitoring and combating Terrorism, kidnapping, and illegal mining, protect women farmers, etc.   5. Trauma-Informed Advocacy: Addressing mental health crises exacerbated by poverty, violence, environmental stressors, continued historical traumas and its post-traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) and others  

A Call for Collective Action  

The women leading this charge underscore a vital truth: disability/women-inclusive and accessible equal rights to justice cannot be achieved by governments alone. Their vision demands collaboration across civil society, international partners, and grassroots communities. By shifting from charity to empowerment, from exclusion to co-creation, they aim to dismantle the structures that perpetuate insecurity and inequality in the Africa Sahel Region, starting from Nigeria.  

Conclusion: From Rhetoric to Rights 

The journey from Nigeria’s Disability Act 2018 to its full realization remains fraught. Yet, the courage of women with disabilities—locally and across Africa’s Sahel Region—offers a blueprint for transformative change. As they declare:

“Nothing about us, without us,” is for us.” Their participation in CSW69 and the upcoming 2025 summit signals a refusal to accept complacency. It is a demand for governments to move beyond palliative gestures and embrace PWDs as architects of a safer, more equitable future.  

Join the Movement: Follow updates on the July 24-26, 2025, Abuja Summit and support initiatives led by women with disabilities. Together, we can turn policy into practice and rights into reality.  

Commitment Statements by Women with Disabilities

The programs and plans outlined above reflect the determination of women with disabilities to drive transformative change, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of equality, inclusion, and sustainable development. They are hereby committed to the following: 

1. They are committed to reclaiming their decades of historical achievements and legacies, ensuring that the rights and inclusion of women with disabilities are prioritized in all aspects of society. 

2. They are determined to bridge the gaps in education, economic empowerment, and political participation, ensuring that their voices are heard and contributions recognized. 

3. They commit to active participation in high-level advocacy, including platforms like the UN Women’s 2025 CSW69 High-Level Parallel Event, to emphasize the importance of disability-inclusive policies and programs. 

4. To continue to lead the charge in advocating for disability-inclusive policies, ensuring that no woman with a disability is left behind in the pursuit of equality and sustainable development. 

5. To ensure that the hard-won gains of the disability rights movement are not eroded. The rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly women, must remain at the forefront of national and international agendas.

6. Disability inclusion in Africa’s Sahel Region, including the Lake Chad Basin nations, especially Nigeria, cannot be politicized or reduced to tokenism. They demand a rights-based approach to disability, especially for women with disabilities. 

7. They are determined to amplify their voices on global platforms like the UN CSW69 to awaken governments, institutions, and societies to the urgent need for disability inclusion. Nigeria’s chronic insecurity and social fragmentation will persist unless PWDs, particularly women, are recognized as critical stakeholders in peacebuilding and governance.

8. To honour Dr. Amina J. Mohammed’s legacy by advancing disability-inclusive STEM education, innovation, and women’s leadership in Africa’s Sahel Region. Every child, especially girls with disabilities, must have access to education and opportunities to thrive. 

9. Their mission is to establish an ‘Adopt-a-School’ system across the Sahel Region, ensuring that every child can learn and master at least one #UNDSGAminaMohammedCODE by the age of five. They call on Africa’s millionaires, billionaires, and wealthy community members to join in bridging the gaps in education that will help Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel Region to find long lasting solution to insecurity, toxic, traumatic, deathly and dehumanizing environment.

10. They are committed to building future innovators through STEM education, empowering girls with disabilities to compete in global arenas such as space exploration, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Together, they can create a generation of problem-solvers and leaders. 

11. They will not rest until women with disabilities are fully included in peacebuilding and governance. Their participation in conflict resolution and post-war recovery is essential for lasting peace and stability in the Sahel Region. 

12. They are committed to addressing the mental health crises faced by women with disabilities, including PTSD and trauma caused by poverty, violence, and environmental stressors (Transboundary air pollution). Trauma-informed advocacy must be at the heart of our efforts. 

13. They are dedicated to launching practical Disability Toolkits for Africa, providing governments and NGOs with the resources they need to implement the CRPD and SDGs effectively. Inclusion must move from rhetoric to reality. 

14. Their participation in the July 24–26, 2025, Abuja Summit is a call to action. Women with disabilities refuse to accept complacency and demand that governments move beyond palliative gestures to embrace PWDs as architects of a safer, more equitable future. 

15. Women with disabilities declare: ‘Nothing about us, without us, is for us.’ They will continue to lead, advocate, and innovate until disability and women-inclusive rights are fully realized in Nigeria and across Africa’s Sahel Region. 

16. They call for collective action. Disability and women-inclusive rights cannot be achieved by governments alone. They need collaboration across civil society, international partners, and grassroots communities to dismantle the structures that perpetuate inequality.