Advancing disability rights in Nigeria

With funding support from the European Union, this CBM project will strengthen disability rights in Nigeria. With a budget of €990,506 ($1.13 million), the project will support the enforcement of the Disability Act, empower persons with disabilities through training and economic opportunities, and promote inclusion in society.

As of 2018, approximately 14.9% of Nigerians were living with a disability. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reveals that 7% of individuals over age five face significant challenges in at least one functional area, with this rate rising to 9% among older adults. Despite the enactment of Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 2018, millions are still unjustly excluded from education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

As of 2024, 26 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Benue and Delta, have yet to implement this critical legislation. This is mainly due to a lack of funding, poor awareness, and ineffective enforcement mechanisms. Furthermore, while Nigeria ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010, enforcement remains alarmingly weak. Discrimination and economic exclusion endure, particularly at the state and community levels, and this must change.

 

CBM, with funding from the European Union, has launched a €990,506 ($1.13 million) initiative to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. The Disability Rights Advocacy Project for Inclusive Development (D-RAPID) will run from March 2025 to February 2028, targeting Benue and Delta States, where legal protections remain weak despite national legislation.

The funding from European Union will support Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to improve access to and enforcement of rights for persons with disabilities.

The project at a glance

•    Lead Organisation: CBM

•    Co-Funded by: European Union

•    Budget: €990,506 ($1.13M)

•    Partners: TAF Africa (Delta), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (Benue)

•    Duration: 36 months

•    Reach: 1.7 million people, including 260,000 persons with disabilities
 

What will the project do?

The D-RAPID initiative is part of the EU’s Human Rights and Democracy Thematic Programme, which promotes and protects human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law worldwide. It aligns with the EU Human Rights and Democracy Country Strategy for Nigeria, adopted in 2021 while contributing to the UN’s Leave No One Behind agenda.

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    Domestication and enforcement of the Disability Act

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    Capacity building for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities

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    Civil society advocacy and government engagement

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    Economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, digital training, and Village Savings and Loans Associations

How will it work?

A three-tiered approach will concentrate on strengthening national and state-level institutions to guarantee disability inclusion, expediting the implementation of disability laws in specific regions, and supporting economic empowerment through technology and entrepreneurial skills.

This intervention will be implemented at the national, state, and community levels.

  1. Strengthened Capacity of NCPWD: The project will enhance the capacity of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to effectively implement the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
  2. Adaptation and Domestication of the Act: D-RAPID will facilitate and support the adaptation and domestication of the Act in Benue and Delta States, ensuring that local contexts and needs are addressed.
  3. Improved Livelihood Opportunities: The project will provide economic empowerment and technological/entrepreneurship skills development to improve livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.

 

Sustainability and Synergy

D-RAPID builds on CBM’s existing EU-funded resilience and development projects in both target states. It will leverage established local structures such as disaster risk committees and Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs). The approach integrates climate-smart agriculture and inclusive governance, ensuring long-term impact beyond the project lifecycle.

 

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