The Disability Rights Protection Initiative has marked the International Day of Persons with Disability with a pointed appeal to Nigerian institutions, urging them to confront what it describes as long-standing and uncomfortable truths about exclusion across the country.
In a statement released on its official Facebook page and obtained by Inclusion Post, the organisation noted that many persons with disabilities continue to meet barriers in schools, health centres, workplaces and public facilities. It was observed that these barriers persist even in places that claim to support inclusion.
According to the organisation, classrooms still lack the structures needed for equal learning. Health facilities often remain inaccessible. Offices speak of diversity while turning qualified applicants away. Public spaces are built in ways that restrict the movement of anyone who does not fit a narrow expectation of how people should navigate their environment.
The statement added that these problems are not isolated. They appear in every region and are sustained by institutions that choose ease over fairness. It also pointed to the quiet acceptance of those who recognise the gaps but take no steps to challenge them.
The organisation outlined its recent efforts, which include pushing for accessible education, questioning employers who avoid inclusive hiring, and training organisations that once viewed accessibility as an afterthought. It also noted its interventions on behalf of individuals whose rights had been dismissed or ignored.
Despite these measures, the group stated that much work remains. It argued that progress will depend on a wider recognition that persons with disabilities are citizens with rights, abilities and reasonable expectations. It stressed that exclusion is not an accident but a decision made by those who shape policies and environments.
As the observance continues nationwide, the organisation called on leaders, families and communities to acknowledge the scale of the problem and to stop treating the current situation as adequate. It urged the government to decide between maintaining a system that sidelines people or building one that offers equal opportunity.
The statement closed with a clear position from the organisation’s management, affirming its commitment to continue pressing for a more just and inclusive Nigeria.
