NBDN calls for more inclusion of PWDs in workplace
Nigeria Business and Disability Network (NBDN) and other stakeholders in the private, public, and civil society sectors have canvassed for more inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the workforce of organisations.
Also, NBDN said it will be launching an app that will connect PWDs to find jobs befitting their qualifications.
The call was made at the second edition of the Nigeria Diversity and Inclusion Conference, hosted by Access Holdings and held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The conference serves as a platform for employers to enhance disability confidence, foster inclusion practices, and promote job readiness for people with disabilities in the workplace.
Under the theme ‘Disability Inclusion in Corporate Sustainability,’ the event highlighted the economic value of disability inclusion and its significance in achieving sustainable business practices.
Speaking at the event, the chair, NBDN, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, said that over the years, there has been an increased call for corporations to integrate people with disabilities (PWDs) into roles befitting their qualifications.
According to the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Nigeria has an estimate of over 30 million PWDs who are being marginalised on the grounds of gender, poverty, age, or other factors.
She added that it has become imperative for PWDs to have equal access to opportunities across all sectors, saying that including disability in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) not only boasts company value and shareholder return but also reduces workplace inequality.
Victor-Laniyan noted that the proposed app will address job issues among people with disabilities, saying that the app basically is to link employers with qualified disability.
Senior Global Advisor, Save the Children International, Dr. Toyin Aderemi, said, “The unemployment rate among persons with disabilities is double that of persons without disabilities. This is worse for women with disabilities.
“Apart from the government, the private sector presents a sizable employment opportunity to persons with disabilities, who are mostly employed in the informal sector, where they are poorly paid.
“When employed in the formal sector, they usually experience underemployment and misemployment.”
She added, “We believe that companies have a great role in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities.
“Both international companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the major players in the employment of labour.
“In addition to being employers, companies participate in the creation and dissemination of practices, therefore complementing public initiatives. Such include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) policies.”
Country Director, Sightsavers Nigeria, Dr. Joy Shuaibu, stated that diversity and inclusion make good business, saying that each and every member of the Nigeria business and disability network is actively building sustainability, increasing their economic profit margins, and driving innovation through diversity mainstreaming.
Also, Senior Programme Officer of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Nigeria, Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, said that “inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace is crucial as they are equal humans with equal rights to economic empowerment and decent work.
“Employing people with disabilities also has increasing benefits for companies, as research has proven that organisations that promote disability inclusion outperform those that do not.
“By focusing on skills rather than stereotypes, companies can gain access to a huge pool of untapped talent and maximise the potential of their workforce.
“These employees have diverse experiences, including different disabilities, that equip them with different approaches to problem-solving and can increase the company’s capacity for innovation.”
