ECOWAS Hands Nigeria Assistive Devices, Unveils Regional Push for Disability Inclusion

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has intensified efforts to advance disability inclusion across the region with the formal handover of assistive devices to children with disabilities in Nigeria, unveiling a broader strategy aimed at expanding access to assistive technology, promoting local production and strengthening national systems for disability support.

The intervention, implemented under the ECOWAS Regional Programme for the Provision of Assistive Devices to Children with Disabilities in West Africa, marks Nigeria’s participation in the first phase of the initiative alongside Togo after nearly two years of planning and implementation.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Gufwan, described the occasion as one of the happiest moments of his life, saying it represented far more than the distribution of equipment.

According to him, assistive devices restore dignity, independence and opportunity to persons with disabilities by enabling them to participate fully in education, employment and community life.

“There is ability in disability,” he said. “No matter the severity of a person’s disability, with the right environment and appropriate assistive devices, everyone can contribute meaningfully to humanity.”

Gufwan noted that while an estimated nine out of every 10 persons with disabilities require one form of assistive technology or another, the overwhelming majority still lack access, leaving millions excluded from education, healthcare, employment and independent living.

He said Nigeria alone has more than 26 million persons with disabilities requiring assistive technology, with demand for quality, affordable and appropriate devices far exceeding available supply.

“Behind these statistics are children who cannot attend school because they lack mobility devices, adults excluded from employment because they do not have access to appropriate technology, and families struggling to access rehabilitation services,” he said.

The Executive Secretary announced that the Commission has established a dedicated Assistive Devices and Technology Unit to coordinate national efforts, improve service delivery and deepen collaboration with development partners.

He also disclosed that the Commission, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and international partners, has developed key policy instruments including the Nigerian Priority Assistive Products List, an investment case for assistive technology and a National Assistive Technology Scale-up Plan designed to expand access across the country.

Gufwan stressed that an assistive device achieves its purpose only when it matches the functional needs of the individual, adding that the new framework would ensure coordinated assessment, procurement and delivery of appropriate devices.

While commending ECOWAS for selecting Nigeria as one of the first beneficiaries of the regional programme, he urged governments, development partners, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and the private sector to deepen collaboration towards sustainable access to assistive technology.

He also advocated the establishment of local manufacturing and assembly plants for assistive devices, arguing that domestic production would reduce dependence on imports, lower costs, improve availability, stimulate innovation and create jobs.

Representing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Barnard Doro, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister on Humanitarian Affairs reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.

The representative described the donation as more than a humanitarian intervention, saying it aligns with the ministry’s integrated approach that combines humanitarian response with poverty reduction and social protection.

He said persons with disabilities often face barriers not because of their conditions but because society fails to provide the support and opportunities they require.

“This ceremony is more than a formal exchange of items. These assistive devices represent dignity restored, independence regained and doors reopened,” he said.

He commended ECOWAS for demonstrating regional solidarity through the initiative and urged the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the devices to those most in need.

Development partners were also encouraged to increase investments in disability inclusion while expanding support for assistive technology programmes across Nigeria.

Earlier, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, represented by officials of the Commission, said the programme was initiated following a regional disability inclusion study conducted in 2024 which revealed severe shortages in access to assistive technology across West Africa.

The findings, she said, showed that children with disabilities remain among the most vulnerable populations in the region, prompting ECOWAS to prioritise interventions targeted at improving mobility, communication, learning and participation.

According to the Commission, about 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, while approximately 15 per cent of children aged between zero and 17 years in West and Central Africa have one form of disability.

Officials explained that despite the global need for assistive technology, access remains extremely limited, particularly in low-income countries where affordability, inadequate services and weak policy implementation continue to exclude millions.

ECOWAS said its regional programme aligns with Vision 2050, which seeks to build “a fully integrated community of peoples living in a peaceful and prosperous region, supported by strong institutions, respect for fundamental rights and inclusive, sustainable development.”

The Commission also said the initiative is anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises accessibility as a fundamental human right.

Providing an overview of the programme, ECOWAS officials said Nigeria and Togo were selected as the first beneficiaries after extensive consultations with governments and organisations of persons with disabilities.

The programme has since expanded to additional member states, although implementation remains at different stages because of procurement and logistics processes.

ECOWAS disclosed that future priorities include strengthening disability data collection to support evidence-based policymaking, promoting local production of assistive technology through strategic partnerships, and expanding the regional programme to more member states.

Officials said disability inclusion has become a central pillar of ECOWAS’ development agenda, reflecting a shift from a traditional focus on trade and free movement towards a more people-centred model of regional integration.

The Commission emphasised that improving access to assistive technology contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing inequalities and ensuring that no child is left behind.

Beneficiaries and their families were encouraged to use the devices responsibly while healthcare professionals, teachers and caregivers were urged to provide continuous support, maintenance and follow-up to maximise their impact.

For both ECOWAS and Nigeria, the ceremony signalled more than the distribution of mobility aids and other equipment. It reflected a growing regional commitment to ensuring that disability is no longer a barrier to education, employment, participation or opportunity, while laying the foundation for a more inclusive West Africa where assistive technology is available, affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it.

ECOWAS Hands Nigeria Assistive Devices, Unveils Regional Push for Disability Inclusion

ECOWAS Commissions Landmark Abuja Headquarters, Nigeria and China Renew Commitment to Regional Integration

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday inaugurated its new permanent headquarters in Abuja, with leaders describing the imposing complex as a powerful symbol of regional unity, institutional renewal and the deepening strategic partnership between West Africa and China.

The commissioning ceremony brought together senior government officials, diplomats and regional leaders, with Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and China’s Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Yu Dunhai, outlined a shared vision for stronger regional integration, economic transformation and closer Africa-China cooperation.

The modern headquarters, financed by the People’s Republic of China, was described by speakers as more than an office complex. It was presented as a lasting symbol of cooperation, resilience and a renewed determination to build a peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.

Touray described the inauguration as “a truly historic milestone” in the life of ECOWAS, noting that the headquarters represents the fulfilment of a vision conceived during the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2022.

He thanked Xi Jinping for China’s support, saying Beijing had once again demonstrated its commitment to West Africa by providing the regional body with a world-class headquarters.

According to him, China’s contributions to ECOWAS have gone beyond infrastructure, recalling the country’s earlier support for regional peacekeeping through the provision of strategic military equipment and vehicles for ECOWAS security operations, alongside numerous development interventions across member states.

Touray said the completion of the headquarters within about two years reflected the strength of the partnership between China and ECOWAS.

He also praised Nigeria for its unwavering support as host nation, citing the country’s role in providing land, policy support and institutional backing that made the project possible.

For decades, the ECOWAS Commission operated from offices spread across different locations in Abuja, creating operational and logistical challenges.

Touray said the new integrated complex would significantly improve coordination, efficiency and productivity by bringing Commission staff together under one roof.

He disclosed that the facility consists of a central nine-storey tower flanked by two seven-storey wings and is equipped with modern conference rooms featuring interpretation facilities, archives, kitchenettes, banking halls, restaurants, a clinic, gymnasium, shops and even a daycare centre for nursing mothers.

Despite celebrating the physical accomplishment, the ECOWAS Commission President stressed that infrastructure alone could not guarantee progress.

“Buildings do not deliver transformation; people and institutions do,” he said, urging member states to ensure that the headquarters becomes a centre of excellence that drives innovation, strengthens collaboration and delivers tangible benefits to citizens across the sub-region.

Representing President Xi Jinping, Ambassador Yu described the building as the “Eye of West Africa” and a flagship achievement under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

He said the headquarters reflects China’s enduring support for African integration and demonstrates the strength of China-Africa relations.

The ambassador noted that China continues to pursue cooperation with Africa based on sincerity, mutual respect, friendship and shared development.

He recalled that during the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, China and African leaders adopted an ambitious framework for building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future through six major pillars and ten partnership actions.

According to Yu, China will continue to support ECOWAS in promoting regional peace, economic development and improved living standards.

He pledged that Beijing would deepen cooperation in infrastructure development, digital economy, agriculture, food security, trade and investment, while fully implementing China’s zero-tariff policy for eligible African exports to strengthen Africa’s productive capacity.

The ambassador also called for stronger cultural, educational, youth and sporting exchanges, noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and has been designated the Year of China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges.

“China remains forever a trustworthy, sincere friend and a reliable partner to ECOWAS and all West African nations,” Yu declared.

Delivering President Bola Tinubu’s message, Vice President Shettima described the commissioning as both the inauguration of a landmark building and the renewal of ECOWAS’ founding covenant of solidarity, integration and shared prosperity.

He said nations and regional communities endure because their people refuse to abandon the ties that bind them together, insisting that the new headquarters stands as a reminder of the vision of ECOWAS’ founding fathers more than five decades ago.

The Vice President commended the ECOWAS Commission for delivering the ambitious project and expressed appreciation to China for financing the complex, describing Beijing as a dependable development partner whose own economic transformation offers valuable lessons for Africa.

While acknowledging ECOWAS’ achievements in peacebuilding, democratic governance, economic cooperation and the free movement of people and goods, Shettima warned that the region still faces daunting challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, food insecurity, climate change, economic vulnerability, public health threats and rising unemployment among young people.

He argued that regional integration must now move beyond facilitating trade to building productive economies capable of creating jobs and sustaining growth.

“The hour has come to transform our regional market into a regional production base,” he said.

“We must deepen industrialisation, strengthen regional value chains, expand intra-regional trade and unlock innovation, manufacturing and investment opportunities for our young people.”

According to him, West Africa cannot continue to depend on imported goods if it hopes to achieve genuine economic independence.

“Our integration must increasingly be driven by what we produce rather than by what we consume because a community that consumes what it does not make will forever remain at the mercy of the goodwill of others,” he said.

Shettima also urged member states to strengthen political cooperation and collective security while keeping the door open to countries that have withdrawn from ECOWAS, stressing that regional integration has become indispensable to peace, stability and sustainable development.

He expressed confidence that the headquarters would become a centre for visionary leadership, innovation and collective decision-making capable of advancing the welfare of West Africans.

Together, the three speeches reflected a common theme: that while the new headquarters is an important physical achievement, its true significance will depend on the decisions taken within its walls.

For ECOWAS, the building represents not only a new administrative home but also a renewed commitment to regional integration at a time when West Africa is confronting complex political, economic and security challenges.

For China, it reinforces an expanding strategic partnership with West Africa built around infrastructure, trade and development cooperation.

And for Nigeria, as host nation, the commissioning underscores its continued central role in the affairs of ECOWAS and its determination to support the bloc’s pursuit of peace, stability and economic prosperity across the region.

ECOWAS Commissions Landmark Abuja Headquarters, Nigeria and China Renew Commitment to Regional Integration

Interior Minister Seeks Stronger Federal-State Partnership on Security, Governance

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with state legislatures to drive reforms in internal security, governance and public service delivery across the country.

Tunji-Ojo gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving members of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, led by its Chairman and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior headquarters in Abuja.

The minister commended the Conference for seeking closer institutional cooperation, describing state legislatures as indispensable partners in the country’s governance architecture. He said stronger collaboration between federal and sub-national institutions was essential to achieving lasting reforms in internal security and civic administration.

According to him, the ministry remains committed to building productive relationships with state legislatures and will give due consideration to proposals presented by the Conference within the framework of existing government policies and national priorities.

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the Ministry of Interior would continue to implement people-focused reforms aimed at improving national security, enhancing border management and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s internal governance systems.

Earlier, Guwor congratulated the minister on what he described as his reform-driven leadership, saying the initiatives introduced under his stewardship reflected the confidence reposed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that the Conference of Speakers, as representatives of state legislatures closest to the grassroots, occupies a strategic position in supporting policies and reforms that directly affect citizens.

Guwor called for deeper collaboration between the Conference and the Ministry of Interior in areas that would promote national unity, reinforce Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the delivery of public services.

He also pledged the readiness of State Houses of Assembly across the country to provide the legislative backing required to advance the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement and strategic cooperation, expressing confidence that stronger federal-state partnerships would contribute to improved governance, enhanced internal security and better service delivery for Nigerians.

Interior Minister Seeks Stronger Federal-State Partnership on Security, Governance