NAB as an Advocacy Organisation for the General Well-being of Persons with Visual Impairment and PWDs: Its Expected Advocacy Roles on Disability Right Laws No ratings yet.

PAPER Presented at the Mega Conference of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), South West Zone

Held in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria

Presenter: Lukeman Abolarinwa Salami
Date: 28^th day of August, 2025

Abstract

The Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) has, for decades, served as a leading advocacy voice for persons with visual impairment (PWVI) and, by extension, for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. This paper examines NAB’s role as an advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting the general well-being of persons with visual impairment and its broader expected advocacy roles in ensuring the effective implementation of disability rights laws in Nigeria. It explores NAB’s advocacy journey, its achievements, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening its impact. Practical recommendations are made for repositioning NAB as a catalyst for inclusion, empowerment, and protection of the rights of all persons with disabilities in the South West and across Nigeria.

1. Introduction

The struggle for disability rights in Nigeria is a long and ongoing one. Persons with visual impairment and other categories of PWDs continue to face significant barriers to education, employment, healthcare, mobility, and social participation. The Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), founded in 1968 as a representative body for persons with visual impairment, has evolved into an advocacy platform promoting the rights and welfare of PWDs.

Today, the need for strong advocacy is even greater with the existence of key disability laws such as the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 at the federal level and the Lagos State Special People’s Law 2010, alongside other state-level legislations in the South West. These laws offer a framework for inclusion, but their promises remain far from being fully realized due to gaps in awareness, implementation, and enforcement.

This seminar presentation therefore focuses on:

• NAB’s role as an advocacy organisation.

• NAB’s contribution to the general well-being of persons with visual impairment and other PWDs.

• The expected advocacy roles of NAB in advancing and enforcing disability rights laws in Nigeria.

2. Understanding Advocacy in the Disability Context

Advocacy simply means speaking up, standing up, and acting on behalf of others. In the disability rights movement, advocacy involves:

• Raising awareness of the rights and needs of PWDs.

• Influencing policies and laws to guarantee inclusion.

• Monitoring the enforcement of laws protecting PWDs.

• Empowering PWDs to speak for themselves.

For NAB, advocacy goes beyond lobbying government; it also means educating communities, supporting members, collaborating with stakeholders, and holding authorities accountable.

3. NAB as an Advocacy Organisation: Background and Role

The Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB) was founded to give a collective voice to blind and partially sighted persons. It functions as a Disabled Persons’ Organisation (DPO) that represents and defends the rights of persons with visual impairment while working in solidarity with other disability groups under umbrella organisations like Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).

Over the years, NAB has:

• Advocated for inclusive education (braille, talking books, accessible ICT).

• Fought for accessible public infrastructure.

• Pushed for employment opportunities for blind persons in government and private sectors.

• Partnered with media, civil society, and international donors to promote disability inclusion

4. Promoting the General Well-being of Persons with Visual Impairment and PWDs

Well-being is a holistic concept that covers physical, social, economic, and psychological dimensions of life. NAB’s advocacy should therefore target:

(a) Education

• Promoting inclusive schools and accessible curriculum.

• Ensuring adequate funding for special education needs.

• Advocating for braille, large print, and digital learning tools.

(b) Health and Rehabilitation

• Pushing for access to healthcare facilities for blind persons.

• Advocating for training of health workers on disability-friendly services.

• Supporting community-based rehabilitation and provision of assistive devices.

(c) Employment and Economic Empowerment

• Encouraging government and private employers to implement disability employment quotas.

• Advocating for vocational training centres for PWVI.

• Supporting entrepreneurship initiatives and access to credit facilities.

(d) Accessibility and Mobility

• Ensuring urban transport systems are disability-friendly.

• Campaigning for accessible ICT and assistive technologies.

• Advocating for built environments to comply with accessibility standards.

(e) Social Inclusion

• Combating discrimination and stigma.

• Promoting participation of PWVI in politics, culture, sports, and community life.

• Encouraging self-advocacy and leadership development among blind youths and women.

5. NAB’s Expected Advocacy Roles on Disability Rights Laws

While the existence of laws like the Disability Act (2018) and LSSPL (2011) is commendable, laws without advocacy remain dormant. NAB has a crucial role to ensure these legislations work in practice:

1. Awareness Creation

   • Sensitizing communities, PWDs, and service providers about the provisions of disability laws.

2. Policy Monitoring and Accountability

   • Tracking implementation of disability rights laws in education, health, employment, and transport.

   • Publishing reports and holding government accountable.

3. Legal Advocacy

   • Supporting strategic litigation to enforce rights when laws are violated.

   • Offering legal aid to blind persons facing discrimination.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

   • Collaborating with ministries, civil society, and international partners.

   • Engaging traditional rulers and religious leaders to promote inclusion.

5. Advocacy for Accessibility

   • Ensuring compliance with accessibility provisions in buildings, roads, ICT, and public services.

6. Capacity Building

   • Training members in advocacy, leadership, and legal literacy.

   • Empowering blind youths and women to become champions of disability rights.

6. Challenges Facing NAB’s Advocacy Efforts

Despite its achievements, NAB faces several challenges:

• Weak enforcement of disability laws by government agencies.

• Limited funding for sustained advocacy campaigns.

• Negative cultural attitudes and persistent stigma against PWDs.

• Low public awareness about disability rights.

• Limited institutional capacity in some NAB branches.

7. Strategic Recommendations for Strengthening NAB’s Role

1. Strengthen NAB’s organisational structure and leadership capacity.

2. Establish state-level advocacy desks focused on monitoring disability law implementation.

3. Build alliances with media, civil society, and international partners.

4. Train NAB members in ICT and digital advocacy tools.

5. Develop an annual State of Disability Rights Report to track progress in South West states.

6. Create platforms for youth and women participation in advocacy leadership.

7. Lobby for increased budgetary allocations for disability programmes in state and federal budgets.

8. Conclusion

The Nigeria Association of the Blind has a proud history as an advocacy organisation for persons with visual impairment. But the challenges of today demand stronger, more strategic, and more innovative advocacy approaches. By embracing its expected roles in promoting and defending disability rights laws, NAB can ensure that blind persons and all PWDs enjoy their rights to education, health, employment, accessibility, and full social inclusion.

The future of disability rights in Nigeria will not only depend on the existence of laws but on the strength of advocacy by organisations like NAB. This is the time for NAB to rise as a stronger, louder, and more united voice for inclusion and justice.

References (Selected)

• Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

• Lagos State Special People’s Law, 2011.

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2006.

• World Health Organization (2011). World Report on Disability.

• JONAPWD Policy Briefs and Advocacy Reports (2019–2024).