UN Women Launches Bold Drive to Empower Adamawa’s Disabled Women

UN Women Launches Bold Drive to Empower Adamawa’s Disabled Women

In Nigeria, a woman with a disability doesn’t just face double discrimination — she walks a path littered with barriers others don’t even see.

She’s ignored in job interviews because of her crutches. Denied access to loans because her business is “too small.” Shut out of government contracts because she can’t navigate the red tape.

For thousands of women and girls living with disabilities across Adamawa State, economic inclusion isn’t a privilege. It’s survival.

That is why UN Women Nigeria is stepping in — not with sympathy, but with strategy.

Through a transformative initiative titled “The Empowerment of Women and Girls with Disabilities Towards Full and Effective Participation and Gender Equality in Adamawa State,” the organization is rewriting the rules of engagement for economic access.

This isn’t charity. It’s a recalibration of justice, a long-overdue course correction in a society that has, for too long, pushed these women to the margins.

For Hadiza, a 27-year-old entrepreneur with a mobility disability, life used to mean working twice as hard for half the opportunity. “I could make soap,” she says, “but I couldn’t sell it to the government. I had no idea where to even begin.”

Under the guidance of Patience Ekechukwu, Programme Officer for Women’s Economic Empowerment at UN Women, this programme is carving out space for women like Hadiza — not by lowering the bar, but by leveling the field.

The goal? Break open access to decent work, social protection, and procurement contracts — three pillars that have kept women with disabilities locked out of economic growth.

Ekechukwu is not mincing words: “Women with disabilities deserve more than handouts. They deserve fair access. They deserve seats at the table.”

This programme isn’t just about inclusion. It’s about power.

UN Women is working to equip policymakers, business leaders, and government institutions with the right tools to build inclusive systems.

One of the boldest outcomes expected? Real budget allocations — from both the government and private sector — for programs that prioritize the economic inclusion of women with disabilities.

But theory without action is hollow. That’s where Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) comes in.

As part of the same initiative, GRP aims to ensure that women-owned or women-led businesses — especially those in marginalized communities — gain fair access to procurement opportunities.

Today, less than 1% of corporate spending goes to women-owned businesses. GRP is turning that figure on its head by making procurement more inclusive — targeting women-led enterprises, especially at the grassroots.

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

GRP isn’t just policy on paper. In places like Ekiti State, a 30% procurement quota for women has already boosted female participation and widened economic empowerment.

Now, Adamawa is next in line.

For Grace, a visually impaired schoolteacher who joined one of the programme’s forums, it’s a turning point. “Most policies forget us,” she says. “But now, they’re asking our opinion — not just ticking a box. That matters.”

In practical terms, GRP means that procurement systems will now identify and include women-owned businesses when sending out bids. It means making sure information is accessible, mentoring is available, and bureaucracy doesn’t bury women in paperwork.

It also means holding institutions accountable. UN Women is pushing for systems that track procurement inclusion, enforce prompt payments, and provide feedback to women who didn’t win contracts — so they can grow stronger and try again.

The barriers are plenty. Many women with disabilities operate in the informal sector, which disqualifies them from contract thresholds. Others can’t afford prequalification costs or don’t have access to bank financing.

Some are shut out simply because the system feels too overwhelming — complex steps, unclear information, and zero mentorship. Add sexual harassment and late payments to the mix, and it’s no wonder many give up before they even start.

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That’s what makes this initiative revolutionary. It doesn’t just offer opportunity — it dismantles the barriers to it.

And this isn’t just a government thing. UN Women is rallying everyone — civil society, private sector players, community groups, and traditional leaders — to co-create solutions that stick.

From group workshops to one-on-one consultations, women are not just seen — they are heard, they are respected, and their needs are shaping the agenda.

There’s training, too. From understanding the procurement process to building capacity for women entrepreneurs, the programme is rooted in sustainability, not tokenism.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But the momentum is building.

Also READ: Stakeholders Push for Economic Inclusion of Women with Disabilities in Nigeria

Hadiza, who once thought government contracts were for “big people in Abuja,” now knows how to bid for one. She’s part of a local women’s cooperative that’s learning the ropes of formal procurement.

“We’re not just getting trained,” she says. “We’re getting empowered.”

UN Women’s plan is to ensure that what starts in Adamawa doesn’t stay there. This model — combining economic inclusion, gender equality, and procurement reform — could set the pace for Nigeria and beyond.

As the programme deepens its reach, one thing is clear: the economic map is changing.

No longer will ability or disability dictate who gets to thrive.

And in communities where once only the loudest were heard, women with disabilities are rising — with voices full of purpose, businesses full of promise, and futures full of hope.

They’re no longer knocking at the door.

They’re walking in — and holding it open for others.