Beyond Compliance: Firms Demand Incentives To Drive Disability Inclusion

NIGERIA’S labour market stakeholders are pushing for a shift from punitive hiring mandates to incentive-driven inclusion, as leading employment platform Jobberman Nigeria and the Mastercard Foundation launch the second phase of their work transition initiative, Young Nigeria Works.

Expanding Access for Young Nigerians with Disabilities

Unveiled at the AbilityX Project Enable Africa inclusion event – AbilityX, the programme aims to support millions of young Nigerians into decent employment while removing structural barriers that limit participation for persons with disabilities (PWDs), who represent an estimated 15% of Nigeria’s population.

Jobberman’s Country Head of Programme, Olamide Adeyeye, challenged prevailing assumptions that workplace accommodation is always expensive, stressing that many disability types require minimal or no financial outlay.

He cited examples including persons with albinism and candidates with speech impairments, noting that in most cases, inclusion depends more on awareness and attitude than capital investment.

Policy Window 2026: A Case for Tax Rebates

With new tax reforms expected in 2026, Adeyeye urged government to embed incentives such as tax rebates for organisations that hire PWDs, arguing that “inclusion is more effectively driven by rewards than penalties.”

Voices from Lived Experience

Participant Olowu Oluwakemi emphasised that disability inclusion is both a moral duty and an economic opportunity, warning that attitudinal bias—where disability is mistaken for illness—remains a major obstacle.

She urged government to revisit existing frameworks and ground policy in intentional design and everyday barrier removal.

Tracking Commitments Beyond the Conference Room

Project Enable Africa’s Executive Director, Olalekan Owonikoko, disclosed a six-month post-event accountability framework that includes follow-up meetings, technical support, and mid- and end-cycle reviews to ensure pledges translate into measurable inclusion outcomes.