Stakeholders have highlighted the significance of dismantling barriers to inclusive employment for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and addressing systemic challenges.
They also championed long-term solutions to ensure equal opportunities for PWDs in the workforce. This was stated at the Disability Empowerment and Employability Project (DEEP) Conference and the launch of the Recruitment Toolkit for Inclusive Hiring, with the theme ‘Driving Inclusive Employment Through Partnership, Innovation and Policy Action’, organised by The Irede Foundation, in collaboration with the Disability Rights Fund in Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, emphasised the government’s commitment and the need for collaboration, adding that disability inclusion is not a privilege but a fundamental right and an economic necessity.
He lauded the unveiling of a new Recruitment Toolkit for Inclusive Hiring, calling it a game-changer that would guide both public and private institutions on how to hire and retain PWDs. “True empowerment goes beyond opportunity. It’s about accessible environments, reasonable accommodation, and eliminating stigma.”
While unveiling the recruitment toolkit, Founder, The Irede Foundation, Crystal Chigbu, emphasised that the toolkit was developed to serve everyone in the employment ecosystem, from HR professionals and employers to disability organisations and policymakers.
“The toolkit is a step-by-step guide on hiring, supporting, and retaining persons with disabilities. It’s not about pity. It’s about removing barriers. Persons with disabilities do not need sympathy; they need access,” she said.
According to her, the toolkit would be distributed in accessible formats, including Braille and downloadable versions via the Irede Foundation’s website. She challenged attendees to take the message back to their organisations. “Train PWDs the same way you would train any other hire. Inclusion must be intentional, structured, and consistent,” she added.
Programme Officer, Africa, Disability Rights Fund, Theophilus Odaudu, brought attention to the lived experiences of job-seekers with disabilities, sharing his struggle with institutional discrimination despite holding advanced degrees.
“Employers often assume for us instead of asking what we need. During COVID, organisations found ways to accommodate everyone. That proves inclusion has always been possible, it just wasn’t prioritised,” he said.
General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, provided insights into the economic and educational gaps facing PWDs. “Research shows that hiring a person with a disability often creates a micro-team that supports productivity, not drains it. But employers don’t ask the right questions about workplace structure or accessibility,” she said.
She lamented the poor representation of PWDs in tertiary education. “We’ve seen private universities worldwide failing to identify and include students with disabilities. The quality of education for persons with disabilities remains inconsistent. If we don’t create competitive, accessible spaces for them, we will keep losing their potential.”
Executive Director of the Nigerian Network of NGOs (NNNGOs), Oyebisi Oluseyi, was represented by Beulah Chigbu, who challenged both the public and private sectors to move from conversation to action.
