…as Nigeria pushes for stronger disability inclusion

By Esther Onyegbula

Nigeria’s drive toward a more inclusive society will receive a major boost on December 2 as leading development stakeholders converge on Lagos for the maiden edition of the AbilityX Disability Inclusion Conference.

Organised by Project Enable Africa (PEA) in partnership with Jobberman Nigeria, the conference, scheduled to hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, forms part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Speaking on the significance of the event, Executive Director of Project Enable Africa, Mr. Olalekan Owonikoko, said AbilityX represents a decisive shift from “advocacy to action” in the country’s disability landscape.
According to him, “AbilityX is about ensuring persons with disabilities are not just beneficiaries of inclusion but active architects of Africa’s inclusive future.”

He said the conference will spotlight the intersection of disability, data, technology and the future of work, with conversations anchored on policy reforms, inclusive digital solutions and emerging assistive technologies.

The one-day event will gather influential voices across critical sectors to examine long-term pathways for disability inclusion, covering financial inclusion, employability, entrepreneurship, healthcare, hospitality, inclusive media and data-driven policymaking.

Among the confirmed speakers are Dr. Kola Olugbodi, CEO, Background Check International; Temi Dalley, Group Executive, Human Capital & Corporate Services, Sterling Financial Holdings; Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Sports; Oluseun Onigbinde, CEO, BudgiT; Cosmas Okoli, CEO, MAARDEC; Dipo Adesida, COO, Verdant Zeal Group; Kingsley Ezeocha, Head of Sales and Marketing, Hygeia; Dolapo Agbede, Disability Inclusion and DEI Expert; and Tosin Ishola, COO, Lafiami.

Jobberman Nigeria described its partnership with Project Enable Africa as a continuation of its commitment to inclusive growth and equal opportunity.
Olamide Adeyeye, the organisation’s Country Head of Programmes, said, “We are excited to partner with Project Enable Africa in advancing inclusion as we collectively reimagine the future of work for marginalised populations, especially persons with disabilities.”

The event will also feature the inaugural AbilityX Impact Award to honour organisations and individuals breaking barriers and advancing disability inclusion across sectors.

According to the organisers, AbilityX marks the evolution of Project Enable Africa’s six-year Disability Inclusion and Leadership (DIAL) Forum into a broader, innovation-driven ecosystem aimed at positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in disability-inclusive development.

The conference is expected to set a new benchmark for sustainable partnerships, disability leadership and inclusive innovation in the country.