North West Nigeria is set to benefit from a €4.8 million fund aimed at supporting persons with disabilities in conflict-affected communities.
The initiative, funded by the German government and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), was officially launched in Abuja and will run for four years, focusing on Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina States. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities joined CBM’s CEO, Dr. Rainer Brockhaus, to announce the project.
Dr. Brockhaus highlighted the importance of partnerships in creating lasting solutions for disability management. “Building resilience and achieving sustainable change requires strong partnerships and a shared commitment,” he said, thanking the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development for its support. He also described the grant as CBM’s largest-ever co-financing in Nigeria.
Nike Akinbola, Head of Development at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, commended CBM for its efforts in disability inclusion. She noted that the project is timely, as insurgency in the North West has led to a surge in disability cases. “This initiative will make a big difference. Disability cases have risen, and intervention has been limited. This is a significant step forward for affected communities,” Akinbola said.
CBM Nigeria’s Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, Ishaku Karagama, explained that the project aims to strengthen the resilience of host communities while prioritizing persons with disabilities. He emphasized that inclusion is at the heart of CBM’s work, a sentiment echoed by Country Director Samuel Omoi. “Crises, whether man-made or natural, hit persons with disabilities the hardest,” Omoi said, adding that Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges remain severe, with over 2.9 million people displaced and millions more facing hunger and other acute needs.
The project, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Management Agency, officially started on November 1, 2024, and will run until December 31, 2028. It is expected to provide much-needed relief and support to vulnerable groups in the region.