By Ayo Onikoyi

Following a high-level roundtable held at the Bukhari Bello Auditorium, NHRC Headquarters, Abuja, hosted by The Ability Life Initiative (TALI), in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), high officials have called for an immediate enforcement of the African Disability Protocol (ADP) in Nigeria.

The roundtable, the first of its kind in Africa, brought together a distinguished audience, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Assembly, the United Nations system, the NCPWD, and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), among others.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, OFR, SAN, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, stressed the urgency of translating legal commitments into practical, measurable outcomes. He emphasized the protocol’s critical role in protecting vulnerable populations and called for stronger, multi-sectoral collaboration to ensure its full implementation.

Key sessions at the event included a formal presentation on the African Disability Protocol and its integration into the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, delivered by Mr. Hilary Ogbonna. The day also featured panel discussions focused on thematic areas of the ADP and strategy-based working groups.

TALI Co-founder, Barr. Prada Uzodimma, called for a clear, inclusive, and actionable roadmap that ensures the protocol is implemented at every level of governance. She stressed the importance of inclusive planning and a results-oriented approach. Ms. Oprah Uzodimma-Ohaeri, also a Co-founder of TALI, highlighted the need for national ownership of the process and proposed the establishment of a multisectoral implementation committee to drive accountability and momentum.

Participants at the roundtable identified several urgent priorities to bring the ADP to life in Nigeria like the creation of a Disability Rights Media Fund, certification programs for sign language interpreters, disability inclusion scorecards for state governments, fully accessible education and electoral systems, a national rollout plan covering all six geo-political zones, accountability frameworks to monitor and enforce progress.

Mr. Hilary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser at the NHRC, underscored that the African Disability Protocol should not be seen merely as a regional framework but as a national imperative, one that demands urgency, courage, and shared responsibility.

With active contributions from the UN system, parliamentarians, OPDs, and grassroots organizations, the roundtable marks a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward inclusive governance and the full realization of the rights of persons with disabilities.