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Locked out: Nigeria’s 5.1m people with disabilities and banking barriers
By Rasak Adekoya
Ada sat outside a bank in Anambra, gripping her automated teller machine (ATM) card as if it were a lifeline. She could hear the quiet hum of air conditioning inside, the rhythmic beeps of transactions being processed, and the occasional click of polished shoes against the tiled floor.
But for Ada, the bank’s entrance was an unyielding wall. The steps leading inside, the absence of a ramp, the heavy doors designed without thought for a wheelchair user—each one a silent message that she did not belong.
She waved at the security guard, who hesitated before sighing and calling a banker outside. “Madam, you should come with someone next time,” the official muttered, barely meeting her eyes. Ada swallowed her frustration. Next time. As if she had not spent a lifetime battling barriers that others barely noticed.
Ada’s story is the reality of millions. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), at least 8 percent of Nigeria’s 128 million adult consumers—5.1 million people—live with disabilities. Yet, the financial industry continues to treat them as an afterthought. Banking halls remain inaccessible, ATMs are designed without consideration for the blind, and even something as simple as obtaining a debit card can become a humiliating ordeal.
Burden of assumptions
Too many financial institutions perceive people with disabilities as charity cases, and their economic potential is dismissed before it is even considered. But reality tells a different story.
Take Chuka, a visually impaired entrepreneur in Lagos. When he applied for an ATM card, the bank manager refused, citing “security concerns”. Instead, Chuka was asked to sign an affidavit absolving the bank of any liability should he “misuse” his card.
Meanwhile, his sighted peers simply signed a form and walked out with theirs. This assumption—that people with disabilities cannot manage their finances independently—traps them in a cycle of exclusion and dependence.
Economic and ethical imperative
Banks measure success in two ways: economic performance and ethical reputation. Both suffer when a significant portion of potential customers is locked out.
Let’s break down the numbers. If just half of Nigeria’s 5.1 million adult persons with disabilities were actively banked, saving as little as ₦20,000 monthly, the total annual savings would amount to ₦1.2 trillion—more than the combined 2024 annual budgets of Ekiti and Osun states. This excludes the financial activities of carers and family members who prefer to engage with businesses that support accessibility.
Beyond profit margins, there is the matter of ethics. All Nigerian banks have signed the National Sustainable Banking Principles, which emphasise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. Yet, these principles remain vague when it comes to disability-specific interventions. A bank’s commitment to inclusion cannot exist solely in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports—it must be evident in its operations.
A glimpse of progress
Not all banks are blind to the issue. Access Bank and Standard Chartered have introduced disability-inclusive banking initiatives. Sterling Bank has taken steps to employ persons with disabilities. But these efforts, while commendable, remain the exception rather than the norm. True inclusion demands more than token programmes—it requires a systemic shift.
Learning from global best practices
Nigeria does not need to reinvent the wheel. Countries like Kenya, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have successfully implemented disability-inclusive financial ecosystems. Here’s what must change:
- Regulatory action: The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must update the National Financial Inclusion Strategy to explicitly include disability-specific policies. This means enforcing accessibility standards in bank branches, requiring disability sensitivity training for staff, and ensuring banking apps and websites meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). ATMs should have interactive voice prompts and braille keypads for visually impaired users.
- Human-centred design: Financial products must be designed with input from persons with disabilities. UBA’s introduction of Braille account opening forms was well-intentioned but impractical—blind users cannot submit forms in Braille. Instead, banks should prioritise accessible digital onboarding processes.
- Inclusive financial programmes: Government agencies and non-governmental organisations promoting financial literacy must ensure their programmes explicitly include persons with disabilities. Start-up funding initiatives should require bank accounts for entrepreneurs with disabilities, reinforcing their economic participation.
- Accessible currency: The CBN, in collaboration with the Nigeria Minting and Printing Company, must make currency more accessible for the blind. In the UK, for example, banknotes have tactile markings that help visually impaired individuals distinguish denominations independently.
Beyond inclusion—A future of economic empowerment
Nigeria’s financial sector stands at a crossroads. The exclusion of people with disabilities is not just a matter of fairness—it is an economic miscalculation. An inclusive banking system does not only serve the disabled; it strengthens the economy, fosters innovation, and expands the customer base.
It is time for financial institutions to stop seeing persons with disabilities as burdens and start recognising them as economic actors. Not as recipients of charity, but as contributors to a thriving economy. Not as problems to be managed, but as customers to be served.
For Ada, for Chuka, and for the millions like them, the doors to financial independence must open—not just in words, but in action.
Rasak Adekoya is a disability inclusion specialist and author of four books. With extensive experience in promoting the economic inclusion of people with disabilities across African countries, he advocates for policies that foster accessibility and equal opportunities. He contributes opinion pieces on disability rights and economic empowerment.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Autism Day, a 15-year-old Nigerian autistic artist, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, has shattered expectations with his extraordinary artistic feat.
World Autism Awareness Day is an international observance dedicated to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promoting acceptance, inclusion, and support for individuals with autism.
Observed every 2nd April, the date was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to highlight autism as a growing global health issue and encourage worldwide support for individuals with autism and their families.
After spending three months working tirelessly on a canvas spanning an astonishing 12,303 square metres, Kanye has achieved what many deemed impossible.
His artwork, entitled “Impossibility is a Myth,” surpassed the previous record of 9,652 square metres. The project, which began in November 2024, was completed with the support of JC Best Schools and aimed at raising autism awareness.
In an exclusive interview yesterday with Kanye’s mother, Dr. Silvia Tagbo-Okeke, she said Kanye’s passion for painting is more than a hobby; it is his life.
She explained that the journey had been both a financial and emotional investment for Kanye’s family, who have poured countless resources into making his dream a reality. Kanye’s mother reflected on the challenging yet rewarding journey of her son’s record-breaking artistic achievement.
She noted that, over three months, Kanye, a 15-year-old with autism, completed a remarkable 12,303 square-metre painting, a feat many believed impossible for someone with limited verbal abilities.
Despite the numerous challenges, including financial strain and the daily commute to his school, Kanye’s passion for painting drove him to overcome every obstacle.
His mother emphasised the importance of love, support, and acceptance in fostering his potential.
According to her, Kanye’s work not only serves as a personal achievement but also aims to raise awareness for autism, acceptance, and inclusion.
She said her ultimate goal for Kanye is his independence, expressing hope that one day he will thrive on his own.
“I would say relief. It has been a long journey, three months actually. There is a sense of relief and accomplishment, not for me, but for Kanye. As you can see, the canvas is huge. It’s 12,303 square metres. If somebody had said, ‘Okay, a 15-year-old autistic boy with limited verbal speech can do this,’ a lot of people would say impossible. That’s what it is, the Impossibility Myth. However, nothing is impossible; once you set your mind to it, definitely you can do it.
“A whole lot of things went into Kanye creating this amazing work We had to go every morning to his school. We would drive to his school and then get the space for the first stroke of the brush. But the Chief of Defence Staff was really amazing. He gave us the first break we had by providing us with a 760th goggle ladder for the first stroke of the brush as part of their army-civil relationship. After that, we moved the canvas to his school, JC Best, and then we started painting. It was a bit hard, but looking at it today, it was worth it.
Dr. Tagbo-Okeke has good advice for parents with special needs children.
“The impact we want it to have on other children on the spectrum is for people to accept them for who they are, for inclusion, for awareness for those people that are not aware that there is even anything like autism. So basically, the things that Kanye is trying to achieve with this monumental work are autism awareness, autism acceptance, inclusion, and neurodiversity,” she said.
When asked what she hoped for his future concerning this huge project, she said she wanted her son to be self-sufficient.
“For me, I just want Kanye to be independent. That’s all. Independent. As parents, we don’t want our children to suffer, especially when we are no longer there. So that’s my goal for Kanye, that if I’m no longer there, he will not suffer. That’s just it.
“We have to tell them about Kanye. We have to create an environment of love and acceptance for him. Everybody, my kids, the first thing we talk about is Kanye. We tell people about him so that they understand that being different is not bad. He’s just different. He just thinks differently,” she said.
She said his cousins, his grandma, granddad, extended family, and friends all supported him.
Kanye’s mother noted that for anybody, not even someone on the autism spectrum, to be able to achieve this feat, they must enjoy painting.
“Painting is his life. Painting gives him joy. Painting is just part of him. That’s why it wasn’t that hard for him to do this. As I’m talking to you, every day he would dress up in his main clothes. He wants to paint. It’s not work for him. It’s just like breathing for him. That’s why he’s able to do it. And if you lay another canvas like this for him, he will still do it without breaking a sweat.”
She admitted that a lot of money went into the venture.
“The paint alone cost hundreds of millions. My husband and I, we had a donor, but the money didn’t go far at all. We had to put everything we had. We made unimaginable sacrifices, but we are glad those sacrifices were made. As we celebrate World Autism Day, mine is autism awareness. Tell people about your child.”
She further urged parents with autistic children to accept their children for who they are and show them love, saying that it is difficult because, at times, such challenges can be difficult to deal with.
“But always show them love because they don’t just come and say, ‘I’m just going to misbehave today.’ Something triggers it. Show them love. Show them attention. And just have it at the back of your mind that every child, if the right resources, the right time, the right attention, the right love is given to a child, they normally excel.
“And to everybody out there, no child should be left behind, no matter what. Every child matters, irrespective of the diagnosis.”
Kanye’s brother, Ozichukwu Tagbo-Okeke, said he’s very proud that someone he is related to and so close to, whom he loves, is accomplishing such a great feat.
“I’m lost for words. It’s really amazing seeing him soar to the heights that he’s getting to. When he was small, he used to like drawing and colouring, and they saw that he had an interest in that. So, from that interest, they pushed him, and they pushed his dream for him to accomplish what he has accomplished today.”
He said his brother’s achievement showed parents that their special needs children can accomplish their dreams if supported by their parents and society.
Leadership
By Jason Adeleke
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has called on stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Nigeria’s renewable energy initiatives.
Gufwan made this appeal during a meeting with Anita Adeyemi, Vice President of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A), in Abuja.
The meeting focused on advancing the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector, with plans to offer specialized training in areas such as solar panel installation.
“This partnership will introduce training programs designed to equip PwDs with skills in solar energy installation, maintenance, and entrepreneurship,” Gufwan stated.
He highlighted the need for deliberate efforts to integrate PwDs into various sectors of the economy, given their growing population.
Gufwan also stressed that the rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector made it essential for PwDs to be represented, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to inclusion.
“This collaboration will create new opportunities for persons with disabilities, ranging from access to solar energy solutions to skills development and entrepreneurship,” he added.
He further noted that upcoming national and international renewable energy conferences, including the Brazil Climate Action Summit, would focus on evaluating the clean energy needs of PwDs across different disability groups.
He also mentioned that upcoming national and international renewable energy conferences, including the Brazil Climate Action Summit, would focus on assessing the clean energy needs of PwDs across different disability clusters.
“The transition to clean energy must be inclusive and sustainable, so we call on all stakeholders to join us in making renewable energy accessible to persons with disabilities,” Gufwan added.
He assured Adeyemi of the commission’s commitment to raising awareness and promoting increased inclusion of PwDs in government-backed renewable energy programmes.
“We are committed to ensuring PwDs are not left behind in Nigeria’s clean energy future,” Gufwan added.
In response, Adeyemi highlighted the lack of representation of PwDs in the clean and renewable energy sector.
She pointed out that in most climate action and renewable energy discussions, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) were either absent or not given meaningful roles to contribute their perspectives.
“Despite Nigeria’s push for clean energy adoption, PwDs continue to be largely excluded from participation and access,” she noted.
“We must collaborate to ensure they have access to sustainable energy solutions and opportunities for economic empowerment within the sector.”
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Tribute to Rafat Idris Salami: A Pillar of Strength for Families with Special Needs Children
By Ladi Patrick
We mourn the profound loss of Rafat Idris Salami, a devoted mother whose unwavering love and dedication to her special needs child, Ahmed, was a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all. Her selflessness and compassion touched so many lives, leaving an unforgettable legacy in our hearts.
In 2023, when my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I was lost, overwhelmed and uncertain about what the future held. I turned to you, and you welcomed me with open arms. You embraced me, shared in my tears and then offered words of strength, encouragement and hope. Your invaluable advice became my guide as I began a journey I knew nothing about. I remain forever grateful for your kindness, generosity and unwavering support.
Through your live Facebook podcasts, you courageously shared your struggles and triumphs while raising Ahmed. You gave voice to the realities that so many parents of special needs children face, creating comfort and connection for those of us who often feel isolated.
Mummy Rafat, your passion and dedication to this cause brought strength to our community. You poured your heart into raising Ahmed, celebrating every milestone—no matter how small—with pure joy and pride. Your resilience, boundless love and sacrifices were extraordinary, and your ability to balance motherhood, teaching, mentorship and friendship was deeply inspiring.
Our hearts ache for Ahmed who has lost not just his mother, but his fiercest advocate, champion and caregiver. We pray for God’s comfort and strength to surround him and your entire family during this time of immense grief.
Rest peacefully dear Aunty Rafat. Though you are no longer with us, your light will continue to shine through the countless lives you touched and the legacy of love and strength you leave behind.
Goodnight, Ma. You will be profoundly missed.
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