As the world commemorates the International Women’s Day (IWD), some women with disabilities have underscored the critical importance of prioritising the rights, inclusion and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities.

Accessing funds and loans is difficult as financial institutions looked down on PWDs, with the notion that the venture may not thrive or that they may not be able to pay back.

They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at an event organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to mark the IWD 2024. The theme for the IWD 2024, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” aims at tackling economic disempowerment.

Women and girls with disabilities face compounded challenges due to the intersection of gender and disability, leading to heightened vulnerability to violence, social exclusion, and limited access to opportunities.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recognises this reality, calling for urgent action to address the specific needs and rights of women and girls with disabilities.

Deaconess Adedoyin Beyioku-Alse, a member of Hearing Impaired/Deaf Cluster, lamented the absence of financial inclusion for women and girls with disabilities. Beyioku-Alse said the turf was already tough on the male gender, not to talk of the women.

She said that accessing funds and loans was difficult as financial institutions usually looked down on PWDs, with the notion that the venture may not thrive or that they may not be able to pay back.

“And without money, we become beggars.

“However, we are work in progress. But we can only get there when we are counted as part of the society,” Beyioku-Alse said.