In commemoration of World Disability Day on December 3, Executive Director of Theseabilities Foundation, Adetoye Abioye has called for more recognition and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in leadership roles across society.
The World Disability Day theme for 2024 is ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’
Speaking in an exclusive interview with News Central, Abioye highlighted the theme of leadership among PWDs, emphasising the urgent need to amplify their potential.
“We know what we want to amplify—it has been identified—and that is the leadership of persons with disabilities,” he stated.
He noted that PWDs are often excluded from roles in families, communities, and organisation. “For a society like ours in Nigeria, we must ask: Are persons with disabilities even considered for leadership positions? Do we even allow them to lead in homes and families, let alone in society at large?” Abioye queried.
UN’s Call to Action: Leadership and Inclusion
Drawing from the United Nations’ call to action on promoting the leadership abilities of PWDs, Abioye emphasised that society must acknowledge the capacity of disabled individuals to lead. “What the United Nations is saying to us is that we need to acknowledge that persons with disabilities can lead. They are not to be seen as incapable of providing leadership,” he said.
He underscored the role of inclusion in fostering a sustainable and equitable future. “If we want a sustainable tomorrow and an inclusive society, we must realise that PWDs provide leadership in areas such as banking, education, sports, and IT,” Abioye said, adding that society must collectively work to amplify these contributions.
Disability: A Shared Vulnerability
Abioye pointed out that disability is a reality that could affect anyone. “Disability is only a function of time for everyone. If you have an accident, you might join the category of persons with disabilities. And in a country like Nigeria, where healthcare facilities are underdeveloped, such risks are heightened,” he explained.
Empowering Stories, Changing Perceptions
After the passing of the founder of Theseabilites foundation, Adeboyejo Abioye who died 2016, Abioye Adetoye took over the Theseabilities Foundation in orther to keep the dream alive by challenging societal perceptions of disability and projects the abilities of PWDs. “We played on the word disability to say these abilities—to show the potential of persons with disabilities to do much more,” he explained.
He emphasised that even tasks like remote work, software development, or IT designs are examples of leadership by PWDs. “That person is providing leadership. The role of the media in amplifying these stories is crucial. How are we talking about people leading in their homes, leading themselves, or leading others?” Abioye asked.
As the world observes Disability Day, Abioye’s message is a reminder of the need to create an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of physical ability, can lead and contribute meaningfully.
