The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Ability Life Initiative (TALI) Foundation to strengthen efforts toward advancing disability inclusion and implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
The signing of the agreement took place at the NCPWD headquarters in Abuja today 10th September, 2025 and it was witnessed by senior officials of the Commission, including the Director of Social Integration, the Director of Compliance and Enforcement, the Deputy Director, Human Resources Management, and the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics while the TALI Foundation team was led by its Co-Founder, Barr. Prada Uzodimma.
While describing the partnership as a “marriage of purpose,” NCPWD’s Executive Secretary, Hon. Ayuba Burki Gufwan, stressed importance of the MoU, and opined that it must be translated into concrete actions that removes barriers and expands opportunities for Nigeria’s estimated 35.5 million persons with disabilities.
“We are not just signing papers today; we are committing ourselves to action. The Disability Act is one of Nigeria’s most progressive laws, but its success requires every hand on deck. With partners like the TALI Foundation, we are confident that implementation will move faster and deeper across the country,” Gufwan said.
He emphasized that inclusion is not a favour but a fundamental human right, urging government, civil society, and the private sector to unite in upholding the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities.
In his remark, the Co-Founder of the TALI Foundation, Barr. Prada Uzodimma expressed his gratitude to the Commission for its longstanding support, describing the MoU as the start of larger initiatives. “From our very first programme three years ago, the Commission stood by us. Today, we formalize a relationship that has already been tested and proven. This MoU is not the end but the beginning of bigger initiatives, as we walk side by side with NCPWD to bridge the gap for persons with disabilities in Nigeria,” Uzodimma said.
She said that TALI Foundation’s work focuses on five pillars, housing accessibility, transportation accessibility, healthcare accessibility, mental well-being, and advocacy which are some of key objectives of the Disability Acts.
As part of the partnership agreement, both organizations aimed to jointly convene the First Lady Stakeholders’ Forum on Disability Inclusion in November 2025. The idea of the forum is to bringing policymakers, development partners, and disability advocates to together to fast-track state-level implementation of the Act, while the NCPWD reaffirmed its readiness to provide technical support and policy guidance to ensure the partnership delivers measurable benefits for persons with disabilities nationwide.
The agreement, when fully in operation, signals a stronger relationship between government institutions and civil society, thereby reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to building an inclusive society where no one is left behind.
