By Lanre Oloyede
As part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has entered into a strategic partnership with The Ability Life Initiative (TALI) ahead of the upcoming First Ladies’ Forum on Disability Inclusion and Social Protection.
The partnership was formalized on Friday during a strategic meeting between the SSA and the founders of TALI at his office in Abuja.
The meeting was convened to identify and strengthen key areas of collaboration between the Office of the SSA and TALI in preparation for the landmark Forum — an initiative spearheaded by TALI in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
Speaking at the meeting, Barr. Prada Uzodinma, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of TALI, expressed optimism about the partnership and commended the SSA’s long-standing support for the organization.
“We are here to formalize our partnership with the SSA concerning the upcoming First Ladies’ Forum. The SSA has been supportive of TALI’s activities from day one, and this marks the beginning of even greater things to come,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Oprah Uzodinma-Ohaeri, Co-founder of TALI, underscored the importance of involving First Ladies in driving the implementation of the Disability Act across the federation.
She said: “It’s been over seven years since the National Disability Act was signed into law, yet implementation has been slow in many states. To accelerate progress, we are bringing together the First Ladies of all 36 states, as their offices are central to social inclusion at the state level. Through them, we hope to appeal to their husbands — the Governors — to domesticate the Act and establish implementing agencies.
“While about 28 states have domesticated the Act, many still lack functional implementation agencies, including the FCT. Since the Office of the SSA is the highest government authority on disability inclusion, we believe this partnership is crucial to the success of this initiative.”
In his response, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa warmly welcomed the TALI team and commended their grassroots-oriented approach:
“As a grassroots organization, you’ve made our work in the disability community easier. The government has shown great commitment to social inclusion and protection, but implementation remains slow. We must all take ownership of the process — we already have the necessary legal frameworks and policies; now it’s time to move from policy to action and from paper to practice.
“Collaboration is the wheel that drives progress. With the involvement of the First Ladies, I believe the era of full implementation has just begun, because they are powerful influencers when it comes to policy advocacy and social transformation,” he stated.
Hon. Abba Isa further commended the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, for assenting to the state’s Disability Act and aligning with the national agenda on disability inclusion. The SSA pledged his 100 percent maximum support for the TALI initiative.
“Let me commend you for this noble and timely effort. By creating a platform that brings together the First Ladies across the federation, you are helping to bridge a critical gap in our inclusion agenda — the domestication and implementation of the Disability Act.
“This aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes equity, social justice, and opportunity for all Nigerians, including the over 35 million persons with disabilities,” the SSA stressed.
The senior presidential aide noted that his Office serves as the vital link between the Presidency and the disability community — ensuring that their voices are heard, progress is documented, and policies are aligned with inclusion goals.
Areas of Strategic Partnership
According to Hon. Abba Isa, the partnership between his Office and TALI will focus on the following key areas:
- Technical and Advisory Support:
The Office of the SSA will provide policy advisory inputs and coordinate with the Presidency to ensure that the Forum’s outcomes feed directly into national policy frameworks. - Visibility and Media Collaboration:
Both parties will jointly promote disability inclusion stories, amplify success narratives, and spotlight the First Ladies’ commitment to inclusion through coordinated media efforts. - Monitoring and Evaluation:
The Office of the SSA will serve as the Monitoring and Evaluation hub for the project to ensure that progress aligns with the Forum’s objectives.
Mutual Benefits
The partnership offers tangible benefits to both parties.
For TALI, it enhances visibility, credibility, and access to national platforms and networks — opening doors to joint funding opportunities through government and donor-supported programs.
For the Office of the SSA, it strengthens outreach capacity, deepens engagement at the grassroots, and enriches policy feedback to the Presidency.
Together, both parties aim to explore resource mobilization strategies, joint project proposals, and co-hosted programs that guarantee financial and operational sustainability for inclusive development across Nigeria.
