In September 2024, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Charles Chukwuemeka Okolie delivered a training workshop for healthcare service providers in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria to raise awareness of inclusive healthcare services and improve access to healthcare for gender and sexual minority individuals.
Dr Charles Chukwuemeka Okolie is a public health physician working in the development sector in Nigeria. He isa health program implementer and a consultant in gender, sexuality and reproductive health. Dr Okolie is also a researcher in gender and sexuality studies collaborating with the department of primary care and population studies at the University college, London.
His activity promoted the ACEF theme, Gender and sexuality.
Dr Afeez Shittu
Promoting political rights for People with Disability in Nigeria
In November 2024, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Afeez Shittu delivered two workshops for high school students on disability rights and political participation for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Dr Shittu is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Nigeria. His institution is the only specialised tertiary institution dedicated to the education and training of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, and one of just two in Sub-Saharan Africa. With this unique positioning, Dr Shittu brings extensive experience in both researching disability-related issues and actively engaging with persons with disabilities.
His activity promoted the ACEF theme, Disability inclusion in institutions.
PWDs and their political rights
In Nigeria, like many other African countries, there is a lack of accurate data on the number of PWDs. The 2017 Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) report reveals that over 31 million of Nigeria’s population constitutes PWDs. This population is a significant minority group and a powerful voting bloc in any democratic society.
However, PWDs, face prominent barriers in exercising their rights to political participation, including marginalisation in electoral and representative politics. Prominent barriers include a lack of awareness and information on disability rights, stigma and discrimination, and inaccessible polling units.
To address this, Nigeria has proposed and implemented laws, policies and reforms, including Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to promote the rights of PWDs to participate in public and political processes.
Dr Shittu’s workshop presented a pathway for high school students with and without disabilities to participate equally in Nigeria’s political process.
Workshop for high school students
90 high school students at two inclusive community schools in Oyo State, Durbar Grammar School and Oniyere Commercial Grammar School participated in the workshops. All students were below the voting age of 18 years.
The workshops adopted a student-centred, interactive format featuring lectures by guest speakers and Q&A sessions.
In his opening remarks, Dr Shittu presented on the fundamental rights of all citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity or ability. Emphasis was placed on the right to vote and be voted for, a fundamental entitlement under Nigerian and international law. He highlighted key legal frameworks that protect the political rights of PWDs, ranging from international conventions to regional protocols and Nigerian legislation.
At Durbar Grammar School, guest speaker Mr Adesina Abass Ademola, a visually impaired teacher at the school, delivered the opening lecture on the challenges faced by PWDs in political participation in Nigeria. Mr Ademola shared personal experiences from past elections, highlighting the absence of assistive voting tools such as braille ballots and challenges in voting by proxy, where party agents made choices contrary to his will. He also addressed discrimination and systemic barriers that continue to disenfranchise voters with disabilities.
At Oniyere Commercial Grammar School, the first lecture was delivered by Mr Samuel Adelekan Bello, a lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, and South-West Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind. Mr Bello highlighted the importance of political participation for PWDs and the broader challenges they face in Nigeria’s political environment. His contribution reinforced the need for systemic changes to enable equitable participation.
Both workshops concluded with Q&A sessions, providing a platform for students with and without disabilities to engage directly with the speakers, exchange perspectives on the issues raised, and deepen their understanding of disability inclusion in politics. Through ongoing discussions, they learned the importance of inclusive design in the political sphere and the important of advocating for physical and informational accessibility.
Evaluating the impact of the workshop
A visually impaired school teacher delivered a goodwill message at Oniyere Grammar school, Ibandan.
A summative evaluation conducted by Dr Shittu post-workshops indicated that all improved their understanding of the legal frameworks that support the rights of PWDs, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Nigeria Disability Act, and the Electoral Act, as well as the implications of these frameworks for the electoral system.
At the end of the workshop, over 80% of students expressed a strong interest in participating in initiatives aimed at ensuring equal political participation for PWDs. Students with disabilities expressed a strong intention to participate in politics by joining political parties within their local communities, voting in Nigeria’s next general elections, and even standing as candidates contesting for local representative positions. Many pledged to become advocates within their schools and communities.
Developing partnerships and collaborations
The workshops successfully created opportunities for collaboration with local NGOs, community leaders and government institutions to promote more effective policies for disability inclusion within Nigeria’s political landscape.
For high school students, the workshops provided opportunities for meaningful interaction between peers with and without disabilities. These sessions allowed students with disabilities to better understand their political rights and recognise their ability to participate fully in Nigeria’s political landscape. At the same time, students without disabilities were encouraged to view their peers as equal rights-holders, fostering a culture of inclusion and mutual respect.
Dr Afeez Shittu along with the team, chaperone, and sign interpreter
Dr Shittu plans to expand outreach and conduct similar awareness workshops in other states across Nigeria. In addition, he intends to collaborate with the Oyo State Ministry of Education to integrate disability civic rights education in the public secondary school curriculum. It is hoped that these efforts will create a ripple effect across the nation, ultimately contributing to disability-inclusive elections in Nigeria.
Dr Afeez Shittu is a 2021 Commonwealth Split-site Scholar from Nigeria. He completed his PhD in Political Science at the University of Leeds and Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.
