By Victoria Tokolo
LAGOS — Entrepreneurs living with disabilities have called for increased access to finance, inclusive government policies and expanded business development opportunities to enable them contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The call was made at the 2026 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day organised by Hope Builders for the Physically Challenged Foundation in Lagos. The event, themed “The Future Generation of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as it Affects Persons Living with Disabilities,” brought together government agencies, development partners, financial institutions and members of the disability community to promote inclusive entrepreneurship.
Founder of Hope Builders for the Physically Challenged Foundation, Dr. Christiana Kehinde, said the initiative was established to empower persons with disabilities through entrepreneurship while changing public perceptions about their capabilities.
“Our vision has always been to create opportunities where barriers once existed and to ensure that persons with disabilities are not merely beneficiaries of development but active contributors to economic growth and national prosperity,” she said.
She stressed that entrepreneurs with disabilities deserve equal access to education, vocational training, finance, mentorship, technology and markets, noting that these remain critical to building an inclusive MSME sector.
Speaking on her personal journey as a visually impaired entrepreneur, Kehinde said disability does not define an individual’s potential.
“What often limits people is not disability itself but the barriers society places before them,” she said, adding that many entrepreneurs with disabilities have excelled in agriculture, fashion, technology, catering, consulting, crafts and digital services despite numerous challenges.
Kehinde appealed to governments, financial institutions, corporate organisations and development partners to strengthen investments in disability inclusion through accessible financing, supportive policies, workplace inclusion and expanded entrepreneurship programmes.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the event, she said the programme was organised to commemorate the United Nations International MSMEs Day while creating a dedicated platform for entrepreneurs living with disabilities.
“We want people to understand that we are not liabilities; we are assets. We are not celebrating our disabilities but our strengths, skills and capacity to contribute to business development and national economic growth,” she said.
According to her, the foundation has empowered thousands of persons with disabilities over the years, with many beneficiaries formalising their businesses and achieving greater financial independence.
“When we organised the first edition, about 90 per cent of the businesses were not registered. Today, many have registered their businesses, received empowerment and improved their livelihoods. Partnerships with organisations like SMEDAN, GIZ and the British Council are opening more opportunities for grants and business support,” she added.
Kehinde also urged government agencies to review empowerment programmes that restrict participation to individuals between 18 and 35 years, arguing that many entrepreneurs with disabilities above that age are excluded despite their business potential.
Also speaking, an official of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mr. Babatunde Sefiu, said the agency has continued to expand programmes aimed at promoting the economic inclusion of persons with disabilities.
He disclosed that LASODA has provided financial support of N100,000 each to about 200 persons with disabilities annually since 2024 and plans to increase the number of beneficiaries to about 400 this year.
Sefiu said the agency also supports entrepreneurs through business upscaling initiatives, grants and equipment after assessing individual business needs.
He added that LASODA had partnered with the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency to create procurement opportunities for registered businesses owned by persons with disabilities.
According to him, the lack of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certification remains a major challenge preventing many entrepreneurs with disabilities from supplying supermarkets and government institutions.
“We are engaging with NAFDAC to ensure these products receive the required certification so they can access larger markets,” he said.
Executive Director of Denny Social Welfare Hub, Ambassador Abosede Mary-Otukpe, urged governments and corporate organisations to provide sustained market access for products made by persons with disabilities instead of limiting support to ceremonial engagements.
She noted that although many entrepreneurs showcased quality products during previous editions of the programme, inadequate access to capital has affected business growth.
“The government should go beyond attending programmes. They should showcase these products, empower the producers and create opportunities for wider patronage. That is how these businesses can grow sustainably,” she said.
A representative of the British Council underscored the importance of business registration as a prerequisite for accessing grants, loans and other development opportunities.
The representative said the organisation’s Inclusive by Design initiative has supported disability-focused organisations through micro-grants, digital skills training, mentorship, networking and business development support, while announcing plans to commence a second phase of the programme.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector is essential to unlocking the economic potential of persons with disabilities and advancing inclusive national development.
