A Nigerian disability inclusion advocate, Ms Jennifer Abomnger, has decried the disconnect between African women living with disabilities and their non-disabled counterparts.
Abomnger made this submission during a panel discussion on “The Future We Want: Reimagining Our Future Beyond Beijing”, at the African Women in Dialogue (AFWID) 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
She said there was the need to shift the perception of disability from a mere condition to a fundamental issue of social inclusion.
While acknowledging that most African countries have disability laws in place, she emphasised that legal frameworks alone are not enough.
“Despite progress, data shows that African women with disabilities face significant barriers to economic opportunities, political participation, and social inclusion.
“According to the United Nations, nearly 80 per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, and women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience gender-based violence compared to their non-disabled peers.
“The lack of representation in leadership and decision-making spaces further deepens their marginalisation,” she said.
She urged African women organisations to provide reasonable accommodation for women with disabilities in all their diversity, ensuring they are not left behind in key conversations and initiatives.
Also speaking, Riah Phiyega, Chief Executive Officer, Women Development Business, urged women to unite in addressing shared struggles across the continent.
“The issues that affect African women unite them. They may have nuances depending on the region, but they happen in all spaces, hence the need for dialogue,”she said.
On her part, Ms Dolapo Osunsina, Co-founder of hFACTOR, identified mentorship as a way to help women activate and productively use their power.
Speaking on the way forward, Nigerian Beijing veteran, Dr Timiebi Koripamo emphasized the need for negotiations and dialogue with men.
Koripamo said: “I think most of us see men as adversaries, and that mindset will not help us. We must remember that men are our brothers, fathers, uncles, and husbands.
“We should come together, engage them in negotiations, and put forward resolutions.”
The AFWID 2025, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, had over 1000 women from 55 African countries in attendance.
