UN Women, NHF, Others Empower Women with Disabilities

UN Women, NHF Empower Women with Disabilities

In a sunlit conference hall in Yola, the air was filled with something rarely found at policy events — hope with a heartbeat. The spotlight wasn’t on statistics or empty speeches for the first time in a long time. It was on real people — women and girls with disabilities who’ve been pushed aside for too long.

The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with UN Women Nigeria and with strong funding from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), has launched an inclusive empowerment initiative. It’s not just a programme. It’s a promise — one that seeks to help women and girls with disabilities finally get the tools, the support, and the recognition they deserve.

The programme is titled “Empowerment of Women and Girls Towards Full and Effective Participation and Gender Equality in Adamawa State.” Sounds like a mouthful, but its heart is simple — inclusion, dignity, and opportunity.

The initiative welcomed participants from every corner of Adamawa — many representing civil society groups, UN agencies like UNFPA and UNHCR, and local ministries. These weren’t just observers. They were contributors, advocates, and change-makers in their own right.

Also READ: UN Women Launches Bold Drive to Empower Adamawa’s Disabled Women

A powerful policy dialogue took centre stage, led by a team of experts who didn’t just talk theory — they talked impact. The panel featured:

• Mr. Moses Yohanna: Principal Special Assistant to the governor on Civil Society and Humanitarian
• Mrs. Astalai Jafaru, Director, Rehabilitation, State Ministry of Women Affairs, Adamawa State
• Engr. Sanusi Aminu Yero, Director- General Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority
• Engr. Sani Sabo, Chariman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Adamawa State
• Mrs. Deborah Birdling, Founder, Debbie Kauna Foundation
• Ms Godiya Simon, Executive Director, Adamawa Concerns for Disabled Initiative

Their conversation focused on one thing: “Advancing Economic Inclusion for Women and Girls with Disabilities.” That may sound like jargon. But break it down and it means this — it’s time to create space at the table for people who’ve never been allowed in the room.

Now let’s talk results. This wasn’t just talkshop therapy. There were hard-won outcomes and realistic goals laid out. Here are the three major outcomes:

1. Freedom from Violence: Every woman and girl with a disability has the right to live free from abuse. That includes emotional, physical, and institutional violence. No more tolerance for silence. No more looking the other way.
2. Economic Empowerment: This is where it gets real. Women with disabilities need the right skills, access to jobs, and control over their income. The goal is financial independence, not handouts.
3. Resilience and Inclusion in Crisis Response: Women with disabilities face unique risks during crises, from floods to conflict. They must be included in planning, protection, and recovery. They aren’t weak — they just need a system that sees their strength.

The Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Neido Geoffrey Kofulto, gave a passionate address. You could tell she wasn’t reading off a paper — she was speaking from experience.

“We are ready to work with anyone who shares our commitment to making sure no woman or girl with a disability is left behind,” she said.

Also READ: UN Women Launches Economic Inclusion Initiative for Women with Disabilities in Adamawa

From the UN Women side, Dr. Olaniyi Aderigbe didn’t hold back either. As Programme Analyst on Humanitarian Peace and Security in the North East, he sees the gap — and the urgency.

“This isn’t about pity. It’s about power. These women are talented. They’ve shown it. They’ve created beautiful, market-ready products from their skill training. What they need is investment and access,” he stressed.

Mrs. Patience Ekechukwu, UN Women Programme Officer, took things up a notch. She didn’t just cheer on the initiative. She presented a draft policy brief — practical steps that could help women with disabilities in Adamawa get jobs, social protection, and access to public procurement contracts.

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That’s big. That’s how policy meets reality.

Even Mr. Fabian Sylvester, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, took notes. Inspired by Kaduna’s successful gender-sensitive model, he said he wants to bring a similar department to Adamawa. That’s the kind of commitment we need more of — one that doesn’t stop at praise, but moves to replication.

Several agencies showed support too. UNFPA, UNHCR, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement all sent representatives. Their message? We’re on board.

But no matter how polished the speeches were, the most powerful moments came from the women themselves.

Take Mary, a soft-spoken young woman who lost her hearing during childhood. She stood up and spoke through an interpreter: “I don’t want to be pitied. I want to be productive. I have the skills, just open the doors.”

Another woman, Halima, clutched a fabric bag she had sewn herself. “This is my proof,” she said. “I made this. All I need is a market.”

Also READ: Adamawa Ministry and UN Women Push for Sustainable Coordination as Project Nears End

These women aren’t broken. They are ready. All they need is access — to jobs, markets, education, and above all, policies that include them.

The world doesn’t change because of events. It changes when ideas from those events get turned into laws, budgets, and daily practices.

What Adamawa State, UN Women Nigeria, and NHF have done is light a path. Whether it leads anywhere depends on what happens next.

But for now, something important happened in that room in Yola — for a few hours, women and girls with disabilities weren’t statistics or charity cases. They were leaders, creators, and problem-solvers.

And the future? It’s still uncertain. But one thing is clear.

They’re not going back to silence. Not anymore.