By Yahaya Yusuf Kumo
MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE.
The Sound Abilities for Vulnerable Women Initiative Nigeria (SAVWIN), with support from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), has officially launched the State Platform on Disability Inclusive Climate Governance in Borno to promote the meaningful participation of women with disabilities in climate action, governance, and decision-making processes.
The platform was launched on 15th June 2026 at Armani Events World, Maiduguri, during a multi-stakeholder engagement themed: “From Margin to Mainstream: Disability Inclusive Governance in Borno State.”
The event brought together representatives from government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), development partners, and women with disabilities to strengthen collaboration and advance disability-inclusive climate governance in the state.
The initiative is part of SAVWIN’s project titled “Advancing Gender and Disability Justice in Climate Action, Governance and Economic Resilience for Women with Disabilities.”
The newly established platform is designed to create a coordinated space for stakeholders to address barriers faced by women with disabilities in climate governance and ensure their voices are included in climate policies, programmes, disaster preparedness, and decision-making processes.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of SAVWIN, Ms. Miyausa Wayuta Mshelia, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of disability inclusion in climate governance. She stressed the need for stronger partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, and disability groups to achieve sustainable and inclusive climate action.
Representatives from the Borno State Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Environment, Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and Ministry of Women Affairs commended SAVWIN for initiating the platform and expressed their commitment toward supporting disability-inclusive climate programmes.
The representative of the Borno State Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Ali Bukar Adamu, appreciated SAVWIN for convening the engagement, describing it as timely due to the growing impact of climate change. He reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate and support initiatives that promote inclusion.
The Ministry of Environment representative, Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, also applauded SAVWIN for the initiative and stated that the ministry remains open to supporting programmes that promote disability inclusion.
Representing SEMA, Falmata Kyari, commended the organizers and participants, noting that collaboration among stakeholders is essential for effective disability-inclusive climate governance.
During the technical session on Disability Inclusive Climate Governance, participants discussed climate action, climate justice, governance systems, and challenges affecting women with disabilities in accessing climate-related opportunities.
Key barriers identified included limited participation in decision-making, inaccessible information, lack of sign language interpretation, physical barriers, digital exclusion, disability stigma, gender inequality, economic constraints, and inadequate disability-related data.
Participants emphasized that women with disabilities experience multiple vulnerabilities due to the intersection of disability, gender inequality, poverty, and climate impacts.
The platform will focus on policy advocacy, stakeholder coordination, accessible climate information, capacity building, monitoring of climate programmes, and creating partnerships that support inclusive climate solutions.
During the official unveiling, the Director of Administration at Borno State SEMA emphasized that climate change affects women and girls with disabilities disproportionately and highlighted the importance of including their voices in climate decisions.
She officially unveiled the State Platform on Disability Inclusive Climate Governance in Borno, reaffirming commitment toward ensuring climate policies, budgets, early warning systems, shelters, and livelihood programmes are designed with the participation of women and girls with disabilities.
Stakeholders including government agencies, OPDs, and civil society organizations pledged their support toward the success of the platform.
The event concluded with the official launch of the platform, strengthened stakeholder commitments, and renewed efforts toward ensuring women with disabilities are meaningfully included in climate governance, decision-making, and resilience-building initiatives across Borno State.
The initiative reinforces the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in climate action and sustainable development.
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