Nigeria’s push for youth empowerment gained fresh momentum on International Youth Day, with advocates emphasising the economic dividends of inclusive policies for young persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The call, articulated in a press statement by Miss Saratu Hamidu Samaila, the Executive Director of Muryar Matasa Initiative for Employment, Development and Inclusion and North West Youth Coordinator for the Joint National Association for Persons with Disabilities, aligns with the 2025 theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” as outlined by the United Nations.
This focus on local actions underscores how targeted implementation of existing laws could boost national productivity and reduce poverty amid persistent youth unemployment challenges.
The statement, delivered on this global observance day, extends warm greetings to young people worldwide, saluting their “tireless efforts, remarkable achievements, and inspiring aspirations that are shaping a better, more inclusive, and more peaceful world.” It declares an unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, pledging to drive initiatives that promote job creation, purpose discovery, passion pursuit, and environmental protection for future generations.
Samaila, speaking as a young woman with a disability, stresses personal resolve in promoting inclusivity and diversity, supporting youth “regardless of their background, ability, or circumstance.”
Central to the message is a pledge to amplify youth voices, advocate against injustices, and create opportunities benefiting society. Commending youths excelling in education, business, community service, and leadership, the statement urges them to “continue pursuing your passions, and continue making a positive impact.” Samaila appeals to governments and decision-makers to prioritise youth development, fostering environments for growth, innovation, and empowerment.
A key highlight is the urgent call for full implementation of the 5% employment quota for PWDs, mandated under Section 29 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018. This law, signed into effect on January 23, 2019, prohibits discrimination and establishes the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to enforce rights.
The advocate notes, “This single action will go a long way in reducing unemployment, poverty, and vulnerability among youths with disabilities and it will allow them to contribute to society and realize their potential.
“Drawing from personal experience, she adds, “Implementing the 5% quota is not only a legal obligation, it is a moral responsibility that will enrich our economy and our communities.”
Real data underscores the economic stakes. Nigeria is home to approximately 29 million PWDs, representing about 15 per cent of the population, according to estimates from the MacArthur Foundation and aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) global figures where 16 per cent of people 1.3 billion worldwide live with significant disabilities
A 2020 World Bank rapid assessment reveals that unemployment rates among PWDs in Nigeria are nearly double those of the general population, driven by attitudinal barriers, mobility issues, and limited access to education and training.
For youth specifically, this disparity exacerbates vulnerabilities: the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that in Q1 2024, youth unemployment (ages 15-24) stood at 8.4 per cent, down slightly from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023, but still reflecting broader economic pressures.
By Q2 2024, the figure dipped to 6.5 per cent, per Trading Economics data, yet this masks underemployment, with 20.3 per cent of the workforce in time-related underemployment as per NBS.
Globally, the International Labour Organization (ILO) pegs youth unemployment at 13 per cent in 2023 equivalent to 64.9 million young people out of work a 15-year low but still highlighting recovery fragilities post-COVID-19.
In low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, employing PWDs could increase GDP by 3-7 per cent, according to ILO estimates, by enhancing workforce diversity and reducing reliance on social assistance.
A 2018 Accenture study (corroborated in broader ILO reports) shows companies prioritising disability inclusion experience 28 per cent higher revenue, twice the net income, and 30 per cent higher economic profit margins compared to peers. In Nigeria, where PWDs often face lower socioeconomic status, as per the World Bank’s 2020 assessment, inclusive hiring could unlock similar gains, potentially adding billions to the economy through increased productivity and consumer spending.
Despite these potentials, implementation of the 2018 Act lags. As of mid-2024, only 23 out of 36 states have domesticated the legislation, according to reports from the NCPWD and civil society trackers.
The House of Representatives expressed concern in October 2024 over non-compliance, establishing a Disability Inclusion Committee to monitor progress.<
At the federal level, the NCPWD’s collaboration with the National Population Commission in October 2024 addressed data gaps, revealing that about 11 million PWDs live in core households, impacting targeted interventions.<
Yet, stigma and inaccessibility persist: a 2024 UN Disability and Development Report notes that progress on SDG targets for disability inclusion is insufficient, with only 17 per cent of overall SDGs on track globally, and over one-third stalled.<
For Nigeria, this translates to limited access for 338,664 children with disabilities in humanitarian contexts, per UNICEF’s 2025 Humanitarian Action report, hindering education and future employability.
The statement’s call to action targets multiple stakeholders: governments to enforce the quota and invest in youth-led initiatives; private sector to create inclusive workplaces and mentorship; civil society to develop empowerment programs; and youth to “seek them, create them, and lift others as you rise.”
It concludes, “Let us work together to ensure that all young people including those with disabilities have equal opportunities to thrive, to succeed, and to make a difference.”
This advocacy resonates with Nigeria’s ratification of the African Disability Protocol in June 2025, joining 15 African Union states to mandate accessibility and criminalise discrimination. European Union-funded projects in states like Benue and Delta further advance rights, but experts from the Global Disability Fund stress that without full quota enforcement, economic losses mount potentially excluding 18 million working-age PWDs from contributing, as per a 2025 SSRN paper.
As the World Economic Forum’s 2024 youth employment analysis warns, with 65 million global youth unemployed, inclusive policies are not just ethical but essential for sustainable growth.
Bridging these gaps could position Nigeria as a leader in SDG-aligned youth inclusion, fostering innovation and reducing poverty rates, currently at 40.1 per cent nationally per World Bank 2022 data, updated in 2024 assessments.
With youth comprising 70 per cent of the population under 30, per UN Population Division figures, the economic ripple effects of empowerment particularly for disabled youth promise long-term prosperity.
