By AWC Global Affairs Desk – Seoul, South Korea
In a historic stride for disability inclusion, Nigeria has deepened international cooperation after the House Committee on Disability Matters concluded a high-level Knowledge Exchange Programme with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) in Seoul, South Korea — an engagement analysts say could significantly transform disability employment policy in Nigeria.
The week-long programme, held 14–21 November 2025, brought Nigerian Delegation face-to-face with one of the world’s most advanced disability employment-support systems.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Hon. Dr. Bashiru Ayinla Dawodu, Chairman of the House Committee on Disability Matters, the country’s foremost legislative body responsible for disability rights oversight and lawmaking.
A Landmark Visit to Korea’s Global Disability-Inclusion Model
The exchange programme — hosted by KEAD under the leadership of its President, Jung-Sik Cho (조중식), according to public KEAD records — offered the Nigerian delegation unprecedented access to Korea’s disability employment architecture, including:
- KEAD headquarters in Seoul
- KEAD Job Support Centers
- Assistive Technology Development Labs
- Inclusive Workplace Vocational Training Institutes in Gyeonggi Province
Over two days (Nov 17–18), the Delegates engaged senior Korean officials, disability rights advocates, researchers, and employment experts.
Hon. Dawodu described the experience as “a turning point for disability governance in Nigeria,” praising Korea’s structured enforcement systems, technology-driven employment support, and rigorous accessibility standards.
Nigeria Showcases Its Legal Framework — But Notes Gaps
Speaking during a joint session in Seoul, Dr. Dawodu outlined Nigeria’s current disability legislation, particularly the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, highlighting:
- Section 29’s 5% mandatory employment quota for PWDs in federal institutions
- Penalties for discrimination by individuals and corporate entities
- Accessibility requirements for public buildings and transport
- Free and inclusive basic education for PWDs
- The role of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD)
With an estimated 35.1 million Nigerians living with disabilities — roughly 15% of the population — Dr. Dawodu emphasized that Nigeria must move from “laws on paper to enforceable rights in practice.”
He further acknowledged challenges such as:
- Weak private-sector compliance
- Low penalties for violations
- Inadequate disability data
- Uneven domestication of the Act (only 19 states so far)
- Low awareness among legislators and implementers
Korea’s Disability Employment Success Wows the Nigerian Delegation
KEAD’s president briefed the Nigerian lawmakers on several pillars of South Korea’s internationally acclaimed system:
1. Mandatory Disability Employment Quota With Strict Enforcement
South Korea enforces a 2–3.6% employer quota, with:
- Strong monitoring
- Mandatory annual reporting
- Heavy fines for non-compliance
2. State-Funded Assistive Technology and Vocational Training
From AI-powered mobility devices to job-matching platforms, Korea deploys high-level technology to guarantee workplace inclusion.
3. Job Support Centers Nationwide
Over 69 KEAD service centers provide:
- Career counselling
- Job placement
- Employer training
- Rehabilitation support
4. High Employment Outcomes
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labour (MOEL), Korea maintains one of the highest disability employment rates in Asia, with annual incremental growth.
Nigeria expressed optimism that adapting such frameworks could dramatically strengthen implementation of its 5% quota.
Shared Commitments: Nigeria–Korea Disability Cooperation Set to Deepen
Following extensive engagements, there are possibilities of:
Establishing an Annual Nigeria–Korea Disability Governance Forum
To exchange legislation models, enforcement strategies, and policy innovations.
Developing a Roadmap for Nigerian MDAs to Adopt KEAD’s Job-Support Template
Including digital systems, monitoring structures, and employer compliance mechanisms.
Partnering on Assistive Technology Expansion in Nigeria
KEAD pledged technical support to help Nigerian agencies adopt appropriate assistive devices.
Future Exchange Programmes for Legislators and Disability Commissioners
To improve inclusive lawmaking and oversight capacity.
Hon. Dawodu affirmed Nigeria’s readiness to work closely with KEAD, stressing:
“Our objective is clear — to transform the legal promise of inclusion into LIVE realities for millions of Nigerians with disabilities.”
Why This Exchange Matters for Nigeria: Data and Implications
1. Potential Boost to Employment
If Nigeria fully enforces its 5% federal employment quota, an estimated 250,000+ jobs could open for PWDs across MDAs.
2. Economic Inclusion
A World Bank study shows that excluding PWDs from the workforce costs nations 3–7% of GDP. Korea’s model provides a template for reversing this trend.
3. Strengthened Legislative Reforms
Nigeria plans amendments to:
- Raise penalties for discrimination
- Mandate private-sector quota compliance
- Increase NCPWD enforcement powers
4. Better Disability Data
Korea’s digital disability employment database inspired a push to establish Nigeria’s first comprehensive national disability register.
Nigeria–Korea: A Model of South–South Cooperation
Global disability advocates have praised the programme as one of the most substantive bilateral engagements for disability rights in recent years.
KEAD’s president, Jung-Sik Cho, commended Nigeria for “taking bold steps to elevate disability rights as a national development priority,” adding that Korea will “stand as a reliable partner in this journey.”
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Disability Inclusion in Nigeria
The Seoul knowledge exchange marks the beginning of a deeper, more structured partnership between Nigeria and South Korea on disability employment policy, assistive technology, and inclusive governance.
With strengthened laws, legislative reforms underway, and international collaboration rising, analysts argue Nigeria may now be on the cusp of the most ambitious disability-inclusion transformation in its history.
As Hon. Dawodu declared in Seoul:
“This visit is not the end — it is the beginning of a new chapter for disability rights in Nigeria.”
