Employment For Disable: NDE, Disability Commission Strengthen Partnership

By Ayodele Oni

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have reaffirmed commitment to fostering inclusive employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.

This was highlighted during a high-level meeting held on Saturday in Abuja between the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Ayuba Gufwan, and the Director General of the NDE,  Silas Agara.

In a statement, Head, Media & Publicity of NCPWD, Ishaku Kigbu, pointed out that the discussions focused on expanding employment initiatives for PWDs, ensuring the enforcement of existing policies, and strengthening collaborative efforts to provide sustainable economic empowerment.

According to Gufwan, “Disability inclusion is not an act of charity; it is a fundamental right. We must move beyond rhetoric and take actionable steps to ensure that PWDs have equitable access to employment opportunities.”

Gufwan commended the NDE for its dedication to inclusive employment and acknowledged its achievements in skill development programmes.

He highlighted pressing challenges, including inadequate budget allocations and the lack of enforcement of the 5 percent employment quota for PWDs in government institutions.

He called for immediate action to ensure full compliance across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Responding, the Director General of the NDE, Agara, reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to equipping PWDs with essential skills for economic independence.

He revealed that under the Renewed Hope Initiatives programme, the NDE has successfully trained over 3,000 individuals, including PWDs, across 27 states.

“Our training programmes are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind. We have engaged Sign Language interpreters to support hearing-impaired individuals, and we are taking deliberate steps to create a more disability-friendly employment landscape.”

“To further empower beneficiaries, the NDE has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to provide starter kits to trainees upon completion of their training programmes.”

The Director General encouraged PWDs to register for the upcoming training cycle scheduled to commence in May, as the NDE has allocated 3,000 training slots specifically for PWDs.