By Odafe Isharo
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, has called for stronger institutional action to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure their full participation in society.
Erebe made the call during a session organised by the Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers with Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF) at the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The session, titled “Beyond Barriers,” formed part of the conference themed “Beyond Limits.” The NBA programme listed Erebe among the speakers for the session, which focused on removing obstacles to the participation of lawyers with disabilities.
Erebe said disability rights should be treated as enforceable rights rather than privileges that affected persons must continually struggle to obtain.
He stressed the need for greater public awareness, effective implementation of disability-related policies and deliberate efforts to dismantle institutional, physical and social barriers that restrict persons with disabilities from enjoying equal opportunities.
According to him, persons with disabilities are entitled to equal treatment, dignity and access to opportunities under the law, placing a responsibility on government institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that such rights are translated into practical realities.
He particularly advocated the development of functional sign-language interpretation systems in courts and hospitals to improve access to justice and healthcare for people with hearing disabilities.
“The rights of persons with disabilities should not be demanded. Everyone is just a step away from disability, and everybody should be a disability-inclusion advocate.”
The NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to building a more inclusive legal profession and improving accessibility for lawyers and other persons with disabilities.
Badejo-Okusanya, who was sworn in as the NBA’s 33rd president in Port Harcourt on August 28, succeeded Afam Osigwe, SAN.
Reflecting on her earlier encounter with the NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum during a summit in Asaba, the NBA President said the experience significantly changed her understanding of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
She said the encounter made her appreciate how people without disabilities could remain unaware of the barriers confronting those living with disabilities.
“I became converted for life,” she said, adding that people who consider themselves more able could be oblivious to the difficulties experienced by persons with disabilities.
Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA had already taken an important step by securing the approval of its Disability Policy through the National Executive Council, but stressed that the next priority should be ensuring effective implementation.
She pledged to collaborate with the NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum and the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) to ensure that disability inclusion became firmly embedded in the operations and structures of the legal profession.
The NBA President further encouraged lawyers with disabilities to speak out more strongly on issues affecting them and participate actively in advocacy for reforms.
She noted that years of societal attitudes could cause some persons with disabilities to internalise limitations imposed on them by their environment, stressing the need to challenge such barriers.
Badejo-Okusanya assured members of the forum of her administration’s support for initiatives aimed at improving accessibility, removing discriminatory barriers and creating a more inclusive professional environment.
She also called for greater recognition of individuals who have contributed significantly to disability advocacy, particularly the outgoing Chairperson of the NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum, Patient Itumudo.
