By Ehis Agbon, Kaduna | 8 December 2025
Kaduna State joined the rest of the world yesterday to commemorate the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), with the Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) calling for renewed commitment to disability-inclusive education and social development. Speaking on the theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,” the Chairman of OPDs, Kaduna State, Rilwani Mohammed, emphasized that inclusive education remains the foundation for empowerment, independence, and equal opportunity for children with disabilities.
Mohammed stressed that enrolling children with disabilities in public schools is not an act of charity but a moral, legal, and developmental responsibility that drives social progress. He noted that when children with and without disabilities learn together, society benefits from improved social cohesion, reduced discrimination, and strengthened learning outcomes.
The OPDs chairman commended public schools across Kaduna State that have embraced inclusive education, urging stakeholders—including government, teachers, parents, and communities—to intensify efforts to enroll, support, and retain learners with disabilities. He further applauded the media, civil society organizations, and parents’ groups for amplifying disability issues and supporting grassroots advocacy.
A major highlight of the statement was a special recognition of development partners, particularly the PLANE (Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria) programme. Mohammed acknowledged PLANE’s contribution to disability inclusion in basic education, including disability enrolment drives across six LGAs that led to the enrollment of over 3,000 children with disabilities into public schools. He also listed PLANE’s support in piloting the Washington Group Child Functioning Module, strengthening teacher capacity, training Inclusive Education Desk Officers in all 19 LGAs, improving learning assessments, enhancing school safeguarding practices, and promoting inclusive school environments.
He extended appreciation to other development partners for providing technical expertise, advocacy, and investments that have improved policy implementation and increased awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities. The OPDs also commended the Kaduna State Government for its growing commitment to disability inclusion through policies that promote accessible learning environments, teacher training, inclusive data systems, and assistive technologies.
Despite progress, Mohammed warned that children with disabilities still face systemic exclusion in education, healthcare, employment, infrastructure, and social protection. He stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable development or meet SDGs 4, 8, 10, 11, and 17 without integrating disability inclusion into national planning and budgeting.
The OPDs urged government and partners to prioritize inclusive education, accessible infrastructure, disability-inclusive policies, economic empowerment, political participation, and full involvement of persons with disabilities in sustainable development initiatives, including agriculture, climate action, and food security.
As the world marked the 2025 IDPD, the chairman called on all stakeholders to recommit to building a Kaduna State where inclusion becomes a reality. “Together, we can build a Kaduna State where inclusion is not aspirational but actual,” he said.
