Draft:Disability Watch Foundation

Disability Watch Foundation

Disability Watch Foundation

DWF official logo
Nickname	DWF
Formation	September 2023
Founder	Abubakar Musa Usman
Purpose	Humanitarian
Headquarters	Yobe State, Damaturu
Location	Nigeria
Leader	Ibrahim Umar
Staff	8
Website	https://dwf.org.ng

Disability Watch Foundation (DWF)[1] was a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in Nigeria with the primary mission of advocating for the rights, dignity, and development of people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.

Founded by Abubakar Musa Usman, a passionate disability rights advocate and social entrepreneur, DWF played a pioneering role in promoting social inclusion, accessible education, and equal opportunity for the vulnerable populations in Nigeria and across Africa.

Background and Establishment

The Disability Watch Foundation (DWF)[2] was born out of the personal journey and lived experiences of its founder, Abubakar Musa Usman, who grew up witnessing the daily hardships, social exclusion, and neglect experienced by people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria. Growing up in Potiskum, Yobe State, he developed a deep sense of empathy and responsibility toward creating a more inclusive and just society—particularly for those often pushed to the margins.

Driven by the belief that disability is not inability, Abubakar saw the urgent need to bridge the massive gap between government promises and the lived realities of millions of Nigerians with disabilities. Public policies existed, but enforcement was weak. Social attitudes were often rooted in superstition, ignorance, or indifference. Facilities, schools, workplaces, and even religious centers were largely inaccessible to persons with physical or cognitive challenges.

In response to these challenges, Abubakar founded the Vulnerable Network Foundation in September 2023 as a grassroots initiative aimed at giving voice, power, and opportunity to the forgotten and disadvantaged. What started as a small community effort—with limited resources but an ambitious vision—quickly attracted attention from like-minded advocates, educators, and volunteers who shared the dream of equity and empowerment.

The foundation was guided by the core principle that vulnerability should not mean invisibility. Every person, regardless of their physical, economic, or social status, deserves access to quality education, healthcare, employment, and the chance to contribute meaningfully to their community.

In its early days, the Foundation focused on three key areas:

1. Awareness and Advocacy – challenging stereotypes and discriminatory norms through public sensitization campaigns and radio outreach in local languages.
2. Direct Support Services – providing mobility aids, educational scholarships, and livelihood support to vulnerable individuals and families.
3. Community Engagement – working with traditional leaders, religious institutions, and grassroots organizations to promote inclusion and accessibility.

With time, DWF became a beacon of hope for hundreds of marginalized individuals and communities. Through resilience, commitment, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation transitioned from a small local NGO to a nationally recognized advocate for disability rights and inclusive development in Nigeria.

The foundation’s establishment marked a turning point in how vulnerable populations—especially persons with disabilities—were seen, treated, and included in broader conversations about development, justice, and nation-building.

Objectives and Mission

DWF was established to address the following core objectives:

• To promote equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.
• To empower vulnerable groups through education, vocational training, and mentorship.
• To eliminate societal discrimination and harmful stereotypes.
• To advocate for policy reforms that improve accessibility and inclusion.
• To build partnerships with national and international organizations to advance disability rights.

The mission of the Foundation was to create a society where every person—regardless of disability, social status, or background—can live a life of dignity, purpose, and hope.

Sources of Funding

The Foundation shall secure funds from the following sources to sustain its activities:

• Donations: Contributions from individuals, corporations, and philanthropic organizations.
• Grants: Funding from local, national, or international grant programs aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
• Fundraising: Proceeds from events, campaigns, and activities organized by the Foundation to raise funds.
• Government Support: Assistance from government programs and partnerships for disability services, as applicable.

Programs and Activities

The Disability Watch Foundation (DWF) implemented a wide range of programs that targeted the social, educational, economic, and legal empowerment of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups across Nigeria. The organization emphasized sustainable, community-driven development by equipping beneficiaries with the tools, knowledge, and support systems necessary to lead independent and dignified lives.

1. Disability Empowerment Program (DEP)

One of DWF’s flagship initiatives, the Disability Empowerment Program, focused on equipping individuals with disabilities with practical skills and resources. The program offered vocational training in fields such as tailoring, shoemaking, ICT, phone repair, hairdressing, and beadwork. Special attention was given to aligning these skills with local market demands to ensure economic viability.

Graduates of the DEP were often provided with startup kits and ongoing mentorship to help them launch their own small businesses or access employment.

2. Entrepreneurship Grants for People with Disabilities

Recognizing that economic independence is a cornerstone of empowerment, DWF launched a Micro-Enterprise Grant Scheme to support small-scale entrepreneurs living with disabilities. Under this initiative:

• Individuals received seed grants to start or expand businesses in sectors like agriculture, trade, crafts, and digital services.
• Grantees were paired with business mentors and provided with financial literacy training to ensure long-term sustainability.
• The foundation organized annual pitch competitions where aspiring disabled entrepreneurs could showcase their ideas and receive funding.
• Over 200 businesses were started or revived through this program, helping many individuals move from dependence to self-sufficiency.

This initiative helped break economic barriers and proved that, with the right support, persons with disabilities could become successful business owners and job creators.

3. Inclusive Education Campaign

DWF actively campaigned for the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. The Foundation:

• Donated assistive learning devices like Braille kits, hearing aids, and customized desks.
• Trained teachers on inclusive teaching practices and disability sensitivity.
• Advocated for inclusive infrastructure (e.g., ramps, accessible toilets) in public schools.
• Facilitated scholarship programs for underprivileged students with disabilities.

This program led to a measurable increase in school enrollment and retention of disabled learners in communities where VNF operated.

4. Advocacy, Rights, and Legal Aid

Through its Access to Justice for the Vulnerable Initiative, the foundation provided:

• Free legal representation for persons with disabilities facing discrimination, abuse, or neglect.
• Paralegal training to community volunteers who acted as first responders in human rights cases.

Regular community forums and radio programs were conducted to sensitize the public on disability rights and social inclusion.

5. Community Health and Wellness Outreach

Understanding that healthcare access remains a major challenge for people with disabilities, DWF organized regular health outreaches, which included:

• Free medical screenings and consultations.
• Provision of wheelchairs, crutches, and orthopedic aids.
• Distribution of hygiene kits and reproductive health materials.
• Health education seminars focused on disability-related care and prevention of common illnesses.

The Foundation also collaborated with local clinics to ensure that disabled persons received priority care during emergencies.

6. Disability-Inclusive Disaster Response and Relief

In areas affected by conflict or disaster (especially in Northern Nigeria), DWF ensured that people with disabilities were not forgotten during humanitarian crises. The Foundation:

• Provided food and non-food items to internally displaced persons (IDPs) with disabilities.
• Created accessible safe spaces for disabled women and children in displacement camps.
• Trained humanitarian actors on disability-inclusive response practices.

7. Annual Disability Leadership Summit

To encourage leadership among the disability community, DWF hosted the Disability Leadership Summit, an annual gathering of activists, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers. The event provided a platform for dialogue, networking, and celebration of achievements within the disability space.

Themes covered included inclusive governance, innovation, mental health, and youth engagement.

Impact

Over the years, the Disability Watch Foundation:

• Empowered over 3,000 individuals through direct intervention.
• Trained more than 500 people with disabilities in skills such as tailoring, computer literacy, and crafts.
• Distributed over 700 mobility aids to people in underserved communities.
• Reintegrated many disabled persons into educational institutions and workspaces.
• Collaborated with local government councils and private organizations for community-based rehabilitation efforts.

Transition to Disability Watch Foundation

In 2025, the organization officially rebranded to better reflect its expanded mission of monitoring, reporting, and influencing disability-related policies at national and continental levels.

The new identity also reflects a stronger commitment to:

• Acting as a watchdog against systemic abuse.
• Tracking the implementation of disability rights laws and UN conventions.
• Researching and publishing reports on the condition of persons with disabilities in Africa.

The foundation’s evolution marked a shift from primarily service-based support to national advocacy, policy influence, and accountability.

Future Goals (as Disability Watch Foundation)

As Disability Watch Foundation, the organization aims to:

• Expand into more African countries.
• Establish a regional Disability Rights Monitoring Hub.
• Train future leaders with disabilities.
• Influence African Union disability policies.
• Create inclusive tech hubs and innovation spaces for disabled youth.