National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment have agreed to determine a technical working committee to develop methods for integrating individuals with disabilities (PWDs) into the ministry’s commerce, funding and entrepreneurship programmes.
The settlement adopted a gathering between the chief secretary of NCPWD, Ayuba Burki Gufwan, represented by the fee’s director of Social Integration, Lawrence Idemudia, and the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, in Abuja.
According to a assertion issued by Ishaku Kigbu, head of NCPWD Media and Publicity Unit, the fee sought alternatives for individuals with disabilities to take part within the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026, alongside different initiatives designed to advertise entrepreneurship, expertise acquisition and financial empowerment.
Gufwan stated the proposed collaboration would allow individuals with disabilities to contribute extra successfully to Nigeria’s financial improvement by commerce, industrialisation and the inventive economic system.
He stated the fee, established underneath the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, was mandated to advertise and shield the rights and welfare of Nigerians with disabilities.
“Disability inclusion is economic inclusion,” he stated, including that individuals with disabilities shouldn’t be excluded from the nation’s commerce and industrialisation plans.
“We are not here to ask for charity. We are here to unlock a 35.5 million-strong market of consumers, producers and entrepreneurs through the creative industry and trade and investment strategies,” Gufwan stated.
He counseled Oduwole for supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, notably in industrialisation, the expansion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and commerce growth.
In his response, the minister assured the fee of her ministry’s assist, saying individuals with disabilities could be thought-about for alternatives underneath its ongoing programmes.
Oduwole stated the ministry’s initiatives, together with these referring to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), might present alternatives for PWDs to take part in commerce and enterprise improvement.
She additionally recognized CANEX WKND 2026 as a platform for increasing entry to markets, funding and enterprise alternatives for certified individuals with disabilities.
The minister directed officers of the ministry, the fee and its improvement companions to determine a technical working committee to establish areas of collaboration and make sure the inclusion of PWDs in related programmes.
Among its requests, the fee sought approval to showcase the inventive skills of individuals with disabilities at CANEX WKND 2026, noting that many had skills in music, movie, vogue, visible arts and different inventive fields.
It additionally proposed collaboration on a nationwide actuality tv expertise hunt for PWDs, in partnership with the Discovering Ability in Disability Initiative (DADI).
The proposed programme would cowl music, comedy, performing, vogue design, portray, dance, culinary arts, content material creation and assistive know-how innovation, with the intention of figuring out, coaching and mentoring contributors.
Another proposal is the Farm City Project, which the fee is growing in partnership with the Peace for Humanity Foundation to advertise alternatives for individuals with disabilities in agriculture, enterprise and different profession ventures.
The fee stated integrating the initiatives into the ministry’s entrepreneurship and MSME improvement programmes would develop financial alternatives for individuals with disabilities and assist wealth creation.
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