Young African American woman tourist with disability sitting in hotel lobby with husband, arriving at wheelchair accessible hotel. Able-bodied man traveling with disabled girlfriend
Stakeholders at the AbilityX 2025 Conference in Lagos have urged employers to prioritise the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s workforce, warning that millions of talented citizens remain marginalised despite their proven value and loyalty.
The event, organised by Project Enable Africa in collaboration with Jobberman Nigeria and other partners, brought together industry leaders to examine why PWDs continue to be excluded, the barriers employers must dismantle, and the economic opportunities Nigeria stands to gain by integrating them more effectively into the labour market.
The conference, themed “The Future of Disability Inclusion in Nigeria,” underscored the need for employers to move beyond charitable gestures and adopt intentional, strategic policies that expand access for the country’s estimated 35 million PWDs.
Speaking at the event, the Country Head of Programmes at Jobberman Nigeria, Mr. Olamide Adeyeye, called on employers to “break systemic barriers” that hinder PWD employment. He advocated the introduction of “measurable, time-bound quotas” for recruiting PWDs.
“Over 35 million people in Nigeria are PWDs. This is a significant portion of the population, and you cannot afford to allow them to be disenfranchised,” Mr. Adeyeye said.
He added that PWDs bring strong loyalty and drive to the workplace, and noted that Jobberman and its partners were working with employers to challenge hiring biases and encourage necessary infrastructural adjustments.
The Executive Director of Project Enable Africa, Mr. Olalekan Owonikoko, described disability inclusion as a global challenge affecting more than one billion people. He said Nigeria’s estimated 35 million PWDs continue to face barriers ranging from inaccessible infrastructure to persistent social exclusion.
“Disability inclusion is a journey, and every year, we strive to take the conversation further. Our goal with AbilityX is to bring professionals and stakeholders from different sectors together so we can spotlight and mainstream disability inclusion,” Mr. Owonikoko said.
The Founding Chairman of the Society for Professional Background Screeners, Nigeria, Dr. Kola Olugbodi, said AbilityX would contribute to shaping the future of disability inclusion across Africa through dialogue, innovation labs, research showcases, and impact awards. He urged participants to work towards building a continent where “no one is left behind.”
In his keynote address, the Group Executive, Human Capital and Corporate Service at Sterling Financial Holdings, Mr. Temi Dalley, argued that Nigeria’s greatest untapped market was inclusion, not oil. He said inclusive organisations consistently outperform their peers because they attract top talent, cultivate resilient systems, and design products that serve wider audiences.
Mr. Dalley referenced a World Health Organisation estimate that the global disability market controls about $13 trillion in annual disposable income. “We keep leaving millions on the table because we see disability as charity, not strategy. That ends today,” he said.
He added that inclusion must progress from rhetoric to deliberate action, noting, “When we embed inclusion into our products, policies, and culture, we unlock innovation, markets, and human potential.”
