By Lanre Oloyede
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to advancing economic opportunities for women with disabilities across Nigeria.
He made this known at the 2nd Policy Dialogue on Advancing Inclusive Economic Empowerment, organised by the Empower To Thrive Development Initiative (ETTDI) under its Empower Her Ability Project.
Represented at the event by his Director of Media and Communications, Mr. Lanre Oloyede, the presidential aide emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration has continued to roll out social intervention programmes designed to promote economic and financial inclusion for vulnerable groups, particularly women with disabilities.
According to him, through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), several initiatives have created pathways for inclusion. These include:
N-Power, which focuses on skills acquisition and improving employability;
Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which provides micro-credit facilities to small-scale traders and entrepreneurs;
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), aimed at supporting vulnerable households; and
The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer, introduced to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
He noted that deliberate measures have been taken within these programmes to prioritise persons with disabilities, especially women.
Beyond NSIPA interventions, Hon. Abba Isa further highlighted that federal initiatives in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development, agricultural value chains, digital economy expansion, and vocational skills training are increasingly integrating disability-inclusive frameworks to ensure no one is left behind.
The presidential aide, however, decried the persistent challenges confronting women with disabilities, describing their situation as one of “double marginalisation” — facing discrimination both on the basis of gender and disability.
He explained that this intersectional exclusion significantly restricts their access to quality education, vocational training, finance, decent employment, entrepreneurial platforms, and leadership opportunities.
He stressed that inclusive economic empowerment must move beyond rhetoric to actionable strategies.
According to him, meaningful progress requires:
Targeted and disability-responsive public policies;
Accessible and affordable training programmes;
Improved access to credit facilities, grants, and entrepreneurship support; and
Intentional inclusion of women with disabilities in public procurement and supply chains.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Ima Chima, Chairman of the ETTDI Board, presented sobering statistics that underscored the depth of exclusion.
Drawing from research and project data, he disclosed that only about two per cent of entrepreneurs with disabilities have access to formal financial services.
He further revealed that nearly 90 per cent of women with disabilities live below the international poverty line, describing the figures as evidence of vast untapped talent and unrealised economic potential.
“Capacity building is important, but strengthening capacity within exclusionary systems will not produce sustainable prosperity,” she stated, calling for reforms in inclusive finance, mentorship, market access, and the broader business ecosystem.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Ayuba Gufwan, represented by Patience Dickson, Head of Gender at the Commission, reiterated the agency’s commitment to accelerating economic empowerment for persons with disabilities, particularly women whose contributions are often overlooked.
He stressed the need to transition from policy declarations to measurable and verifiable outcomes, aligning disability inclusion with Nigeria’s broader national development agenda.
His remarks echoed growing calls from civil society for stronger implementation frameworks and accountability mechanisms to advance disability-inclusive economic policies.
Opening the dialogue, the Programme Manager of ETTDI, Olusola Adeoye, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that women with disabilities are not merely included symbolically, but are adequately equipped, supported, and integrated into the economic mainstream.
“Our mission goes beyond rhetoric — we are here to unlock doors, build bridges, and create genuine pathways that enable women with disabilities to compete, lead businesses, and sustain enterprises,” she said, adding that while the National Disability Act guarantees equal rights, effective implementation and accountability remain critical.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Pierre-Louis Bonnel, representing the French Embassy, the key sponsor of the project, reiterated France’s strong support for inclusive economic empowerment initiatives.
He noted that sustained partnerships and targeted development interventions are essential to addressing longstanding barriers faced by women with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration in promoting entrepreneurship, access to finance, and sustainable business growth.
