The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to disability inclusion with the official handover of assistive devices for children with disabilities to Nigeria’s National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in Abuja.
The handover, held on Thursday in Abuja, is part of the ECOWAS Regional Assistive Devices Programme aimed at improving access to essential assistive technologies for children with disabilities across West Africa.
The initiative seeks to reduce barriers to education, healthcare, communication, mobility and social participation by providing children with the support they need to live independently and participate fully in society.
Speaking at the ceremony, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind.
She said the programme reflects ECOWAS Vision 2050, which places people, particularly vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, at the centre of regional development.
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Professor Sarr noted that access to assistive technology remains a major challenge across West Africa despite its recognition as a fundamental human right under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
She explained that although millions of people require assistive devices, only a small proportion have access to them because of their high cost.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Mohammed Isah, described the donation as more than the provision of equipment, saying it demonstrates ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting social inclusion, human dignity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across the region.
He said the devices would improve mobility, education, communication, healthcare access and the overall quality of life of beneficiary children, while supporting their full integration into society.
Mr. Isah also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing policies that guarantee equal opportunities and full participation for persons with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, described the handover as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s efforts to expand access to assistive technology.
He commended ECOWAS for selecting Nigeria as one of the beneficiaries of the programme, noting that the devices would enable children with disabilities to access education, healthcare, communication, mobility and independent living.
Development partners congratulated ECOWAS and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities on the successful implementation of the initiative in Nigeria and Togo. They noted that similar projects are ongoing in Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic, the Gambia, Senegal and Guinea.
They called for stronger collaboration to expand disability-inclusive policies and improve access to assistive technologies across the region.
The ceremony concluded with the formal presentation of the assistive devices to the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and a renewed commitment by ECOWAS, the Federal Government of Nigeria and development partners to strengthen regional cooperation on disability inclusion.
