The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has deepened its collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) following a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening disability awareness and enforcing national inclusion laws.
This was revealed during a courtesy visit to the NOA Headquarters in Abuja, the NCPWD delegation, led by its Executive Secretary, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, held extensive discussions with the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and senior officials of the Agency. The talks focused on scaling up institutional cooperation for effective sensitization and the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Hon. Gufwan emphasized that the five-year transition period provided within the Act has expired, making full compliance and enforcement a national imperative. He said NOA’s nationwide presence remains critical to ensuring Nigerians understand the law and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The mandate of the Commission is to promote inclusion and ensure equal opportunities across education, healthcare, employment, and all spheres of national life,” he stated. “To achieve this, we need a functional National Disability Database, full implementation of accessibility standards, and strict adherence to the 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities across all MDAs.”
While responding, NOA’s DG, Mallam Issa-Onilu, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to supporting the Commission in advancing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. He said his administration is determined to eliminate barriers and ensure public institutions comply with accessibility requirements.
“The greatest form of empowerment is not giving money but empowering people to understand and demand their rights,” he said. “The Commission cannot do it alone. Collective responsibility is key, and NOA stands ready to intensify awareness campaigns and champion disability rights nationwide.”
Highlighting NOA’s expansive network of 818 offices across the 774 local government areas, Issa-Onilu assured that sign language interpretation would become standard in the Agency’s outreach programmes and that messaging on disability inclusion would be amplified across all platforms.
A major outcome of the engagement was the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee between both agencies. The committee will develop strategic action plans for implementing the Disability Act, enhancing national sensitization, and promoting a more inclusive society.
The Director of Social Integration at NCPWD, Mr. Lawrence Idemudia, applauded NOA for adopting sign language in its campaigns and requested a monthly national awareness slot to widen the Commission’s outreach.
The meeting concluded with the exchange of publications and official documents, symbolizing a renewed commitment to strengthening disability inclusion across Nigeria.
