From Establishment to Effectiveness: Edo State Pushes Disability Inclusion Forward at the 14th Rights Above Charity Lecture

The 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in Edo State was marked with strong calls for action, collaboration, and accountability as stakeholders gathered for the 14th Rights Above Charity Lecture (RACL), hosted by the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID) in collaboration with the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (ESCPD) and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II).

Held on 5 December 2025 at Jasmine Event Centre, the annual lecture brought together government officials, development partners, disability advocates, civil society actors, and members of the disability community to reflect on the theme:

“From Establishment to Effectiveness: Making Inclusion the Heart of Governance in Edo State.”

The event was more than a commemoration. It served as a strategic platform to evaluate progress made in disability inclusion in Edo State and to chart practical pathways toward implementing the Edo State Disability Law and strengthening inclusive governance.

A Gathering of Commitment and Leadership

The lecture attracted several distinguished personalities and institutional leaders who reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the rights and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Edo State.

The Special Guest of Honour was His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Umar Ikhilor.

Other dignitaries present included:

• Senator Adams Oshiomhole, represented by Hon. Justice Peter Isibor (Rtd)
• Hon. Justice D. I. Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, represented by the Deputy Chief Registrar
• Dr. Adesuwa Ebosele, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning
• Hon. Theophilus Egbondion, Chairman, Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (ESCPD)
• Melody Omosah Esq., Executive Director of NAPVID and Chairman of the Joint Planning Committee
• Comrade Ann Ojugo, Edo State Chairperson of JONAPWD
• Representatives of the Office of the First Lady, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Education, RoLAC II, GIZ-SKYE, and other key stakeholders.

The programme opened with welcome remarks from Melody Omosah Esq., who stressed that the Rights Above Charity Lecture was not merely an annual celebration but a call for measurable outcomes and meaningful inclusion.

He noted that while the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities had been established, the real task now was ensuring its effectiveness through adequate funding, policy implementation, and stakeholder collaboration.

Comrade Ann Ojugo also emphasized the need to move away from charity-based approaches toward rights-based inclusion, equal opportunities, and dignity for persons with disabilities.

A Powerful Story of Hope and Possibility

One of the most emotional moments of the event was the presentation of the story of Barrister Kindness Idahosa.

After dropping out of school in JSS 2 in 2000 due to a degenerative spinal condition that left her wheelchair-bound and significantly affected her mobility, Kindness Idahosa’s educational journey appeared uncertain. However, through the intervention and support of NAPVID under the Project HELP initiative, she was rehabilitated and re-enrolled in school in 2013. In 2025, she achieved a remarkable milestone by being called to the Nigerian Bar — a powerful testament to resilience, inclusion, and the transformative impact of support and opportunity.

Her story stood as a living testimony that disability is never inability and highlighted the transformative impact of inclusive support systems and access to education.

In response to the story, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor, directed that a memo be submitted through his office recommending her immediate employment by the Edo State Government. Today, Kindness Idahosa is gainfully employed in the Edo State Ministry of Justice which is a fulfilment of the promise made.

Keynote Address: Turning Disability Law into Lived Reality

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Ngozi Finette Unuigbe, Director of Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Benin.

Her presentation challenged stakeholders to move beyond simply having disability laws on paper toward ensuring that persons with disabilities experience the benefits of those laws in everyday life.

According to her, no society can truly claim development while barriers continue to prevent citizens from accessing education, healthcare, mobility, employment, and participation in governance.

Prof. Unuigbe described the Edo State Disability Law as one of the most progressive disability laws in Nigeria but stressed that:

“Laws do not implement themselves — people and systems do.”

Drawing lessons from countries such as Canada, Finland, Rwanda, and South Korea, she emphasized that disability inclusion is not charity but a strategic driver of development, justice, and socio-economic progress.

Her keynote strongly aligned with the central message of the event: inclusion must become the heartbeat of governance in Edo State.

Read her keynote address here…

Strong Commitments from Government and Development Partners

Representatives of government institutions and development organizations used the platform to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening disability inclusion.

Barr. Musa Umar Ikhilor, representing Governor Monday Okpebholo, announced that the Edo State Government had already begun moving “from establishment to effectiveness” by allocating funding to the Disability Commission through a supplementary budget and by supporting the Commission’s programmes and advocacy activities.

He also emphasized that the activities of NAPVID and JONAPWD should continue to be integrated with the work of the Commission to strengthen collaboration and accountability.

RoLAC II, represented by Ms. Uchenna Nwokedi, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting access to justice, strengthening implementation of disability rights, and promoting inclusive participation in governance processes.

The Office of the First Lady of Edo State, represented by Dr. Andrew Iyamu, pledged continued support for initiatives promoting healthcare access, economic empowerment, education, and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

GIZ-SKYE and the Ministry of Education also highlighted ongoing efforts to promote inclusive education, teacher training, accessibility standards in schools, and skills development opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Inclusion

A major highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled:

“Making Inclusion Work: Multi-Stakeholder Partnership for Sustainable Disability Mainstreaming in Edo State.”

The session featured representatives from RoLAC II, GIZ-SKYE, and the Ministry of Education, moderated by Mr. Ibrahim Momoh.

Discussions focused on:

• Strengthening implementation of the Edo State Disability Law
• Inclusive education reforms
• Accessibility and assistive devices in schools
• Capacity development for disability organizations
• Economic empowerment and employability skills
• Partnerships between government, civil society, and development organizations.

Panelists agreed that sustainable inclusion requires coordinated action across all sectors and that disability inclusion must be intentionally integrated into governance, education, justice, employment, and public service delivery.

Recognising Champions of Inclusion

The event also celebrated individuals and institutions advancing disability inclusion in Edo State.

Disability Champion Awards were presented to:

• His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State
• Her Excellency, the First Lady of Edo State
• Barr. Musa Umar Ikhilor, Secretary to the State Government.

These recognitions reflected growing political support for disability rights and inclusive governance within the state.

Key Outcomes and Results from the Lecture

The 14th Rights Above Charity Lecture produced several important commitments and outcomes, demonstrating that the event was not only symbolic but action-oriented.

Key outcomes included:

• Approval and release of a brand-new 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus for the Edo State Commission for Persons with Disabilities
• Directive for the immediate recommendation and processing of employment opportunities for Barrister Kindness Idahosa
• Assurance of full consideration and appropriation of the Commission’s budget by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning
• Approval of a supplementary budget of ₦20 million by the Edo State Government to support activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• Renewed commitments by RoLAC II, GIZ-SKYE, and other development partners to strengthen disability inclusion, access to justice, inclusive education, and stakeholder collaboration.

Moving Beyond Celebration to Action

As the 14th Rights Above Charity Lecture concluded, one message remained clear: disability inclusion must move beyond policy statements and ceremonial recognition to practical implementation and measurable impact.

The event reinforced the importance of partnerships between government, civil society, development organizations, and the disability community in building a society where rights, dignity, and equal opportunities are guaranteed for all.

For NAPVID, ESCPD, JONAPWD, and their partners, the 2025 IDPD commemoration was not simply a celebration of progress made — it was a renewed call to action toward a more inclusive Edo State where persons with disabilities are fully recognized as equal contributors to governance and development.