How DRC supports Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria to reclaim their rights and dignity
DRC, with support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), is ensuring persons with disabilities in conflict-affected Madagali, Northeast Nigeria, are heard and included by providing psychosocial support, advocacy, and awareness programs that challenge discrimination.
DRC, Nigeria
Posted on 12 Mar 2025
In Madagali, a conflict-affected local government area in Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria, community members with disabilities face severe discrimination and exclusion. Many of the approximately 250 persons with disabilities in Madagali are denied access to services, opportunities, and humanitarian assistance due to stigma, social isolation, and a lack of assistive devices and transportation. This exclusion has led to psychological distress, including fear, abuse, and rejection by community members, further deepening their vulnerability.
Providing psychosocial support and advocating for inclusion
With support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) UNOCHA, the DRC is providing protection monitoring, psychosocial support (PSS), and promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Madagali. This includes advocating for their rights, raising awareness within the community, and ensuring they have equal access to services and decision-making spaces. This program targets both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members in partnership with the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency, and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) – a local grassroots organisation.
The impact of DRC’s support
Through focus group discussions and interactive assessments, DRC worked closely with persons with disabilities to understand their daily challenges and provide tailored support. Over 10 psychosocial support sessions were conducted, including psychoeducation and group counselling, aimed at improving emotional well-being, confidence, and social integration. To ensure full participation, DRC provided transportation support, enabling persons with disabilities to access DRC protection mobile clinic regularly for essential protection-related services.
Through these sessions, many participants began to regain their confidence and sense of belonging. They shared their struggles in safe spaces, found strength in each other’s experiences, and learned coping mechanisms to deal with stigma and emotional distress. For the first time, they felt heard.
By providing a platform for persons with disabilities to voice their concerns and actively participate in discussions, perceptions of disability are beginning to shift. Community members who once saw them as dependent and invisible started to acknowledge their rights and contributions.
More than half of the participants reported gaining confidence to engage in social and community activities. The program has not only empowered individuals but also laid the foundation for a more inclusive society in Madagali.
We are very happy and comfortable coming to DRC’s mobile clinic. With the support we have received, we are now able to access humanitarian services more easily
/ A participant expressed
Ensuring lasting change for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria
In Nigeria, many of the over 29 million (Source: WHO) people with disabilities face stigma and discrimination, limiting their access to essential services like education, healthcare, and employment. In Madagali, the lack of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walking sticks, and hearing aids, and economic opportunities means that, despite their newfound confidence, they continue to struggle with daily survival. While discrimination has reduced, it has not been eliminated.
To ensure lasting change, continued support is essential to expand psychosocial support and livelihood programs, ensuring that every person with a disability can live a dignified life. Strengthening community awareness campaigns will further shift mindsets, promoting a society where inclusion is not the exception but the norm.
Overall, fully implementing the Nigeria Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and building stronger partnerships with local organizations and government agencies will be key to sustaining these efforts. DRC commits to continue integrating disability inclusion into humanitarian programming, creating a long-term shift in how persons with disabilities are treated and supported.
Group picture with persons with disability in Madagali, Nigeria
DRC, Nigeria
