UN Women Nigeria has held a four-day workshop in Adamawa State to promote economic inclusion for women with disabilities, with a strong focus on improving access to business and procurement opportunities.
The event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, and disability communities to address barriers preventing women with disabilities from participating fully in economic life. Discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as limited access to finance, discriminatory practices, and the exclusion of women-led businesses from government contracts.
Despite Nigeria's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals, participants noted a significant gap between policy and practice, particularly in states like Adamawa.
One of the key areas addressed was inclusive procurement. Stakeholders proposed practical steps such as simplifying bidding processes, offering registration fee waivers, and reserving portions of public contracts specifically for women with disabilities—10% for goods, 3% for works, and 7% for services.
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The workshop also called for the creation of a Disability Empowerment Fund, enforcement of the 5% employment inclusion policy, and the establishment of a State Disability Inclusion Task Force. Participants stressed the importance of digital training, awareness campaigns, and reforms that would enable women with disabilities to build viable businesses.
UN Women and partners urged the Adamawa State Government to set the pace nationally by domesticating the 2018 Disability Act, creating a State Disability Commission, and ensuring inclusive budget allocations across ministries.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to unlock the economic potential of women with disabilities and support inclusive SME development in Nigeria.
