KADUNA STATE — To celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, the DADE Foundation took to the airwaves of Correct FM Kaduna for a powerful live dialogue centered on this year’s global theme: "Give to Gain." The session served as a clarion call to shift the national perspective on women with disabilities, moving away from a narrative of "charity and neglect" toward one of "rights, justice, and strategic investment."
Breaking the Silence on Exploitation and Neglect
During the broadcast, our team highlighted the staggering "Justice Gap" facing women in our community. Recent 2026 data reveals that 53% of women with disabilities in Nigeria have experienced Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
We discussed the "invisible barriers" that keep these women in cages of silence:
The Communication Barrier: The critical lack of sign language interpreters in police stations and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
The Dependency Trap: How reliance on caregivers for daily survival often makes reporting abuse feel like an impossible risk.
The Infrastructure Gap: The reality that justice is inaccessible if a survivor cannot physically enter the building to report a crime.
The "Give to Gain" Economic Case
We challenged Kaduna’s employers and policymakers to "smash the begging bowl." Our message was simple: when society gives access through assistive devices, inclusive schooling, and accessible workplaces, Nigeria gains a goldmine of innovation and productivity.
"Disability is not a lack of ability; it is often just a lack of tools," we shared with the listeners. Investing in a woman with a disability isn't just "doing good" it’s doing better business.
2026: The Year of Accountability
A major highlight of the discussion was the expiration of the five-year "grace period" mandated by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act. 2026 is officially the year for enforcement. We urged the government and private institutions to move beyond policy on paper and ensure that accessibility is treated as a legal requirement, not a favor.
"Nothing About Us Without Us"
We concluded the session by emphasizing that women with disabilities must be at the decision-making tables not just spoken about in air-conditioned rooms in Abuja or Kaduna. Inclusion starts with a shift in attitude: stop looking at the disability and start looking at the woman.
📚 References & Sources
1 - Primary Source: Correct FM Kaduna Live Session: International Women’s Day Special, March 2026.
2 - National Data: “Nigeria-Specific Data: Rights, Justice, and Investment Appendix,” DADE Foundation Concept Note, 2026.
3 - Legal Framework: Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019.
4 - Global Theme: “International Women’s Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action.” UN Women.
Breaking the Silence on Exploitation and Neglect
During the broadcast, our team highlighted the staggering "Justice Gap" facing women in our community. Recent 2026 data reveals that 53% of women with disabilities in Nigeria have experienced Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
We discussed the "invisible barriers" that keep these women in cages of silence:
The Communication Barrier: The critical lack of sign language interpreters in police stations and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
The Dependency Trap: How reliance on caregivers for daily survival often makes reporting abuse feel like an impossible risk.
The Infrastructure Gap: The reality that justice is inaccessible if a survivor cannot physically enter the building to report a crime.
The "Give to Gain" Economic Case
We challenged Kaduna’s employers and policymakers to "smash the begging bowl." Our message was simple: when society gives access through assistive devices, inclusive schooling, and accessible workplaces, Nigeria gains a goldmine of innovation and productivity.
"Disability is not a lack of ability; it is often just a lack of tools," we shared with the listeners. Investing in a woman with a disability isn't just "doing good" it’s doing better business.
2026: The Year of Accountability
A major highlight of the discussion was the expiration of the five-year "grace period" mandated by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act. 2026 is officially the year for enforcement. We urged the government and private institutions to move beyond policy on paper and ensure that accessibility is treated as a legal requirement, not a favor.
"Nothing About Us Without Us"
We concluded the session by emphasizing that women with disabilities must be at the decision-making tables not just spoken about in air-conditioned rooms in Abuja or Kaduna. Inclusion starts with a shift in attitude: stop looking at the disability and start looking at the woman.
📚 References & Sources
1 - Primary Source: Correct FM Kaduna Live Session: International Women’s Day Special, March 2026.
2 - National Data: “Nigeria-Specific Data: Rights, Justice, and Investment Appendix,” DADE Foundation Concept Note, 2026.
3 - Legal Framework: Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019.
4 - Global Theme: “International Women’s Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action.” UN Women.
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