GDGI Summit: Stakeholders Demand Climate Justice, Green Jobs for Persons with Disabilities
By Saheed Badmus
Stakeholders at the National Summit on Disability-Inclusive Climate Action in Abuja have called on the Federal Government to ensure that persons with disabilities have meaningful roles in climate policy decisions, equitable access to climate finance and opportunities in the emerging green economy.
They stressed that Nigeria’s climate response would remain incomplete without the active participation of persons with disabilities in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
The call was made at a two-day summit convened by the Global Disability Green Initiative (GDGI) from October 14 to 15, 2026, to advance disability-inclusive climate policies and sustainable development ahead of COP31 in Türkiye
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The summit, themed “From Belém Commitments to COP37 Implementation: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Climate Action in Nigeria,” brought together government officials, development partners, disability advocates, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to explore practical strategies for making climate interventions accessible and inclusive.
Representing the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the ministry’s Deputy Director of Planning, Alhaji Baba Ibrahim, who formally declared the summit open, said effective climate action must ensure that everyone could access its benefits.
Ibrahim called for accessible early-warning systems, inclusive evacuation plans and climate adaptation technologies that address the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
He emphasised that disability inclusion should be integrated into climate programmes from the planning stage rather than treated as an afterthought.
He also identified climate-smart agriculture as an important area for intervention, urging stakeholders to provide farmers with disabilities with accessible training, affordable technologies and practical information.
The ministry official further called for deliberate measures to expand access to green employment, business opportunities and climate finance, stressing the need for measurable outcomes.
GDGI Seeks Urgent Action on Climate Inclusion
Earlier, the Founder and President of GDGI, Angelina Ugben, called for urgent and deliberate action to ensure that persons with disabilities were fully integrated into Nigeria’s climate policies, financing mechanisms, green employment initiatives and environmental sustainability programmes.
Ugben said climate action must move beyond policy commitments to practical interventions that recognise persons with disabilities as active participants, leaders, innovators and decision-makers in addressing climate change.
She noted that although climate change affects everyone, persons with disabilities often face additional barriers to accessing climate information, emergency protection, financing and opportunities in the green economy.
Drawing from her experience as a woman with a disability and an advocate for inclusion, Ugben described disability-inclusive climate action as a matter of justice, equality and fundamental human rights.
She maintained that persons with disabilities should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of climate interventions but as equal partners whose knowledge, experiences and contributions were essential to building resilient and sustainable communities.
“Disability inclusion is not charity; it is justice, equality, and a fundamental human right,” she declared.
Ugben urged stakeholders to dismantle barriers preventing persons with disabilities from participating fully in climate-related initiatives and to ensure that inclusive policies translated into equitable opportunities in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, green entrepreneurship and other emerging sectors.
Presidential Aide Calls for Climate Investments
Also speaking at the summit, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, Mr Olamide Fagbuyi, said the gathering provided an opportunity to translate climate commitments into investments, stronger partnerships and measurable development outcomes.
Fagbuyi highlighted the importance of international cooperation and increased climate financing ahead of COP31.
He said the effectiveness of climate action should be assessed not only by policies adopted but also by the jobs created, technologies deployed and improvements in community resilience.
His remarks reinforced calls for practical interventions that would enable persons with disabilities to participate in Nigeria’s transition to a greener and more sustainable economy.
Abuja Declaration Expected
A major anticipated outcome of the summit is the development of an Abuja Declaration on Disability-Inclusive Climate Action, which is expected to provide direction for strengthening implementation in Nigeria and contribute to the broader global climate agenda.
Ugben urged participants to develop actionable recommendations to strengthen inclusive climate policies, improve access to climate finance, expand accessible green employment, promote renewable energy, support climate-smart agriculture and build more resilient communities.
She stressed that the success of the summit would depend not merely on the quality of discussions but on stakeholders’ commitment to translating recommendations into tangible results.
The GDGI president also expressed optimism that the summit would strengthen partnerships among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities.
She commended the Federal Ministry of Environment, the National Council on Climate Change and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations for their roles as co-hosts.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, CBM International, the Justice Development and Peace Caritas Initiative, the National Assembly, development partners, GDGI’s Board of Trustees, the planning committee and organisations of persons with disabilities.
Ugben said their support was critical to building a stronger coalition for inclusive climate policies and sustainable environmental action.
She further acknowledged participants who joined virtually from different parts of Nigeria and other countries, describing their contributions as important to the collective effort to advance disability-inclusive climate action.
As Nigeria looks towards COP31, stakeholders say the country must ensure that persons with disabilities are included in climate decision-making, financing arrangements, environmental protection measures and emerging economic opportunities.
For GDGI, the priority is to turn commitments into concrete action and ensure that disability inclusion becomes an integral part of Nigeria’s response to climate change.
