By Emmanuel Emeka | Narratives Hub
ABUJA — Advocates for disability rights have called for stronger policies and improved access to education for girls with disabilities, warning that stigma and discrimination continue to undermine their confidence and limit their opportunities.
The call was made by the Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) during a town hall meeting and project close-out ceremony for the Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE) Project, held on Thursday in Abuja.
The initiative focused on improving access to education and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls with disabilities in Bayelsa State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of VDI, Barrister Catherine Edeh Chinyere, said the organisation prioritised confidence-building for the girls because many had been discouraged by persistent societal attitudes.
She explained that the programme helped participants develop self-confidence, learn goal-setting skills and begin planning their future despite the barriers they face.
Sharing her personal story, the lawyer said she overcame significant challenges to become a professional, noting that young girls with disabilities need encouragement and support to realise their potential.
Highlighting the programme’s impact, she said:
“A lot of adolescent girls with disability lack confidence because of societal stigma. They have been crushed to the point that they no longer value themselves. We came to restore that confidence.”
Chinyere also urged government authorities to strengthen collaboration with organisations working in the disability sector and to increase funding for initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion.
Also speaking at the event, gender activist and Chief Facilitator at Edoka Trauma Care Centre, Ene Ede, said education remains one of the most powerful tools for achieving equality, particularly for vulnerable groups such as girls with disabilities.
Ede, who described herself as a survivor of child marriage, stressed that programmes encouraging inclusive education are vital for social progress.
According to her, despite the existence of policies supporting disability inclusion, many girls with disabilities still struggle to access education because of stigma, lack of inclusive infrastructure and weak policy implementation.
In his remarks, the Director of Special Needs and Nomadic Education at the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Bashir Abubakar, commended VDI for complementing government efforts to improve access to education for children with disabilities.
He said partnerships between government institutions and non-governmental organisations remain critical to addressing challenges faced by children with disabilities in schools.
The Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of VDI, Daniel Chike Uwaezuoke, noted that the project deliberately focused on girls with disabilities because they often face multiple layers of discrimination.
He explained that many families still hesitate to send children with disabilities to school, particularly girls, due to societal attitudes and misconceptions.
Uwaezuoke therefore called for stronger implementation of inclusive education policies to ensure that children with disabilities can study alongside their peers in mainstream schools.
According to the organisers, the IGNITE project targeted 320 adolescent girls with disabilities for educational and empowerment support across Bayelsa State and the Federal Capital Territory.
During implementation, 353 girls were identified and assessed, while 226 of them received life-skills and personal development training. The project also carried out sensitisation programmes for 221 parents and caregivers on inclusive education and disability rights.
In addition, awareness campaigns reached about 400 households in communities where the programme was implemented, helping to promote greater understanding of disability inclusion and the importance of education for girls with disabilities.
