VDI Calls for Greater Access to Education for Girls with Disabilities

The Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) has urged stakeholders to improve access to education for girls living with disabilities, warning that persistent stigma and discrimination continue to undermine their confidence and limit their opportunities to reach their full potential.
The call was made in Abuja during a town hall meeting and close-out ceremony for the Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE) Project, an initiative aimed at expanding educational opportunities for adolescent girls with disabilities in Bayelsa State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of VDI, Barrister Catherine Edeh Chinyere, said the organisation prioritised confidence-building among the girls, noting that negative societal attitudes often discourage them from believing in their abilities.
According to her, the programme also helped participants develop life skills, set personal goals, and plan for their future despite the challenges they face.
Sharing her own journey, Chinyere said she overcame difficult circumstances to achieve success in her career, encouraging the girls not to allow barriers associated with disability to define their aspirations.
She further appealed to government to deepen collaboration with organisations working in the disability sector and increase funding for programmes that promote inclusion.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Facilitator at Edoka Trauma Care Centre and gender activist, Ene Ede, emphasised that education remains a vital tool for achieving equality, particularly for vulnerable groups such as girls with disabilities.
Ede, who described herself as a survivor of child marriage, said initiatives that support education for girls with disabilities are essential for broader social development.
She noted that although policies on disability inclusion exist, many girls with disabilities still face barriers to education due to stigma, inadequate inclusive infrastructure, and weak implementation of existing policies.
In his remarks, the Director of Special Needs and Nomadic Education at the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Bashir Abubakar, commended VDI for complementing government efforts to improve educational access for children with disabilities.
Abubakar said stronger partnerships between government agencies and non-governmental organisations are needed to tackle the numerous challenges confronting children with disabilities in schools.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of VDI, Daniel Chike Uwaezuoke, explained that the project’s focus on girls with disabilities was intentional because they often face multiple forms of discrimination.
He added that many families remain reluctant to enrol children with disabilities in school, particularly girls, stressing the need for stronger enforcement of inclusive education policies to enable children with disabilities learn alongside their peers in mainstream schools.
According to the organisers, the project targeted 320 adolescent girls with disabilities for educational and empowerment support in Bayelsa State and the FCT.
During implementation, 353 girls were identified and assessed, while 226 beneficiaries received life skills and personal development training.
The initiative also conducted sensitisation sessions for 221 parents and caregivers on inclusive education and disability rights, while awareness campaigns reached about 400 households across communities where the project was implemented.