The Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN) and key disability stakeholders have urged both the media and government to move beyond rhetoric and ensure the timely implementation of Nigeria’s commitments at the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025.
This call was made during a one-day media roundtable convened by AAN with support from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), held at Grand Central Hotel, Bompai, Kano.
The event, themed “Amplifying Nigeria’s GDS 2025 Commitments: The Role of Media in Promoting Inclusion for Persons with Albinism and Other Marginalized Groups,” brought together participants from federal and state ministries, media organizations, civil society, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting underscored the urgent need for the structured implementation of Nigeria’s disability-related pledges—particularly the enforcement of the Disability Act, inclusive education, and equitable healthcare services.
Participants noted with concern that despite Nigeria’s GDS 2025 commitments, there is a need to set up mechanisms to track the progress of their implementation.
They stressed that the media must serve not only as an amplifier of voices but also as a watchdog to hold the government and institutions accountable.
“The media has a critical responsibility to spotlight the gaps in disability inclusion policies and to ensure transparency in the delivery of national and international disability obligations,” the communiqué stated.
Challenges identified included the low prioritization of disability issues in the media, limited knowledge among journalists about albinism-specific concerns, poor representation of persons with disabilities in media employment, and inadequate collaboration between the government and the media.
To address these gaps, the roundtable called for the establishment of dedicated disability desks in newsrooms, regular training for journalists on disability rights, and the enhanced use of local languages and community media platforms to reach remote areas.
Stakeholders also urged the government to integrate albinism-related health interventions—such as treatment for skin cancer and access to sun protection—into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), while calling for increased budgetary commitment to disability-related services.
Furthermore, participants proposed the formation of a media–OPD joint task force to monitor and report on the progress of GDS 2025 pledges, with quarterly media engagements and policy briefs.
The communiqué was signed by Dr. Mrs. Bisi Bamishe, Executive Director of AAN, and Hajiya Mariya Ishiaka, Vice President of AAN, on behalf of all participants.
The roundtable concluded with a unified call for “collective action, continuous media engagement, and political will” to translate policy promises into measurable outcomes for persons with albinism and the wider disability community.
