In Nigeria, a country pulsing with entrepreneurial energy, women and girls with disabilities are forging their own paths in business despite overwhelming barriers. As of 2023, an estimated 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, according to the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD). Within this population, women with disabilities face unique challenges, compounded by gender, disability, and socio-economic marginalization. Despite these difficulties, many women with disabilities in Nigeria have shown remarkable resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, making significant contributions to their communities. Their stories highlight an often overlooked yet critical aspect of Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape, demonstrating their determination to thrive against the odds.
Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is renowned for its vibrancy, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contributing approximately 48% to the national GDP, according to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). However, women with disabilities remain largely excluded from this economic engine. A 2019 labor market study conducted by Inclusion Works revealed that data on people with disabilities in Nigeria’s economy is often “contradictory and lacks credibility,” failing to accurately capture their participation in entrepreneurial activities.
This gap in reliable data points to a larger issue: the invisibility of women with disabilities in Nigeria’s economic policy frameworks. Without sufficient data, it becomes difficult to craft policies that address their specific needs and contributions to the nation’s economy.
The World Bank’s 2020 report estimates that 29 million Nigerians, or about 12.4% of the population, live with disabilities. However, this figure is likely an underestimation due to challenges in data collection, which may obscure the true prevalence of disabilities across the country. Women and girls with disabilities face compounded challenges due to both gender-based discrimination and disability-related biases, often leading to increased vulnerability to violence, social exclusion, and limited access to opportunities.
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCDN) notes that women with disabilities are particularly prone to discrimination, which exacerbates their vulnerability. These women face not only the barriers related to their disability but also those tied to their gender, creating a unique set of hardships that limit their social and economic participation. A report from the Mastercard Foundation highlights that women with disabilities experience multifaceted marginalization, with stigma and limited access to education, economic opportunities, and decision-making processes further reinforcing their exclusiion.
To support the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in Nigerian society, it is crucial to implement targeted interventions that address these overlapping forms of discrimination. Empowering these women with skills, economic opportunities, and societal support is key to ensuring their active participation in the economy.
Women with disabilities in Nigeria often turn to entrepreneurship not only as a survival strategy but also as a means of achieving “dignity, self-sufficiency, and social inclusion.” A 2023 study by the African Studies Centre Leiden explores this transition, highlighting that despite systemic barriers such as financial exclusion, mobility limitations, and cultural biases, women with disabilities are increasingly using entrepreneurship to overcome these challenges and build a better.
In line with these findings, the International Labour Organization (ILO) published a 2024 report emphasizing that gender bias and discrimination remain significant hurdles for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The ILO report advocates for removing these barriers, believing that eliminating gender-based discrimination could unlock substantial opportunities for wealth creation and employment.
Voices of Resilience:
Interviews with women entrepreneurs with disabilities shed light on both the depth of their challenges and the strength of their resolve.
Kabiru Kehinde, a hearing-impaired entrepreneur, shared her story: “Being a deaf woman in business has shaped me in ways I never expected. Some people refuse to buy from me, but others still do, and that gives me hope.” Her experience is not unique. Stigma often deters customers, shrinking market opportunities for women with disabilities.
Similarly, a visually impaired entrepreneur who sells sobo tea recounted her struggles: “As a person with visual impairment, it’s not easy for me to go out and market my products. I rely on ride-hailing services, and when people ask me if I made the product, they often say, ‘But you cannot see.’ I tell them that I mixed everything, that I am a businesswoman. I registered my business, and I focus on my abilities, not my disability.” Her determination to focus on her capabilities underscores a powerful narrative of self-reliance.
Yetunde, a nurse and CEO of R&D Wellness Mart, who lives with albinism, also shared her experience: “I am a nurse, I don’t let my disability define me. But it hasn’t been easy. When we started R&D, I faced discrimination. People would say, ‘How can that white girl treat me? I don’t want her to add to my problems.'” This reflects how cultural stereotypes, like associating albinism with mysticism, exacerbate exclusion.
Women with disabilities in Nigeria face a multitude of challenges, as highlighted in the 2024 CDIA report. These challenges are compounded by cultural, traditional, and religious stereotypes, significantly contributing to gender-based abuse and discrimination. According to the report, women with disabilities are often socially and economically excluded, particularly in rural areas. Ogunkuade, a hearing-impaired leader of a women’s disabilities group in Ekiti State, shared: “Without the right skills and economic empowerment, many Nigerian women with disabilities suffer untold discrimination and abuse. We need empowerment”.
The report calls for societal change and better economic opportunities for women with disabilities. Enhanced access to education, skills training, and social support systems is vital to improving their situation and helping them overcome the barriers they face.
The Roadblocks:
Women with disabilities in Nigeria face several systemic barriers when it comes to entrepreneurship:
- Financial Exclusion:
Access to financial resources is one of the most significant barriers for women with disabilities looking to start and grow their businesses. According to a 2023 study in the African Journal of Management and Business Research, female entrepreneurs with disabilities often struggle to access loans, as banks view them as high-risk borrowers (African Journal of Management and Business Research, 2023). However, initiatives like the Strengthening Access to Business Education and Inclusion (SABI) Women project, launched in 2024 by Sightsavers, Unilever Nigeria, and the Growing Businesses Foundation, are working to break this cycle. These efforts, though promising, remain limited in scale. - Lack of Skills and Education:
Entrepreneurship education is critical for success, but many women with disabilities face barriers in accessing education that would equip them with the necessary skills. The Academia.edu 2023 study on entrepreneurship education highlights that persons with disabilities, especially women, encounter systemic barriers that limit their access to entrepreneurship education (Academia.edu, 2023). Programs like those offered by the Centre for Disability and Inclusion Africa (CDIA) are helping to fill this gap by providing training and job preparedness initiatives. - Mobility and Accessibility Constraints:
Physical and logistical barriers significantly limit women’s ability to access markets. A 2025 seminar by the African Studies Centre Leiden noted that women with disabilities often rely on ride-hailing services and face difficulties navigating inaccessible public spaces (African Studies Centre Leiden, 2025). These mobility challenges further complicate the already difficult task of doing business in an inaccessible environment. - Cultural and Social Stigma:
Cultural stigma and deep-rooted biases continue to play a significant role in limiting the success of women with disabilities in entrepreneurship. The Inclusive Skills Development Initiative (ISDI) emphasizes the need to address these systemic issues, which deter customers and undermine the confidence of women with disabilities (ISDI, 2024). - Policy Gaps:
While the Nigerian government enacted the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act in 2018, its implementation remains weak. According to the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), although over 75% of state governments have adopted the Act, enforcement remains inconsistent, leaving women with disabilities vulnerable to exclusion from economic opportunities (AWWDI, 2024). AWWDI advocates for stronger policy enforcement to ensure economic empowerment for women with disabilities.
Towards an Inclusive Future:
Despite these challenges, organizations such as Sightsavers, CDIA, ISDI, and AWWDI are helping create more inclusive spaces for women with disabilities in entrepreneurship. The SABI Women project, for example, has empowered 100 women with disabilities in Lagos by providing resources, mentorship, and training.
Women with disabilities are also leveraging digital tools to overcome barriers. The 2023 Leiden study noted that many women use digital business models and informal support networks to navigate inaccessible environments. Kadija Kehinde, for example, uses online platforms to reach customers, mitigating the impact of face-to-face discrimination.
To create a more equitable entrepreneurial landscape, we must address the systemic barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities. These barriers arise from intersecting gender and disability-based discrimination, which hinder their access to capital, skill development, and societal support. Research shows that approximately 75% of women with disabilities are unemployed, compared to 6% of their male counterparts. This stark contrast highlights the compounded challenges faced by women with disabilities, who often find themselves relegated to part-time or lower-wage jobs.
Key Strategies for Change:
- Enhanced Data Collection:
Accurate, disaggregated statistics on women with disabilities in entrepreneurship must be gathered. This data will enable stakeholders to design targeted policies and programs that address the specific needs of this group. - Accessible Financing Options:
Financial institutions must offer accessible financing options, such as disability-inclusive loans with flexible terms and lower collateral requirements. These efforts have been shown to improve entrepreneurial success for people with disabilities. - Stronger Policy Enforcement:
Stronger enforcement of laws like the 2018 Disabilities Act is essential to ensure that women with disabilities are protected and supported in their entrepreneurial endeavors. - Skill Development Programs:
Expanding vocational and digital training programs will equip women with disabilities with the necessary tools to succeed in entrepreneurship. Initiatives like SABI and CDIA have already demonstrated success in empowering this group. - Cultural Sensitization Campaigns:
Public campaigns that challenge stereotypes and reduce stigma related to disability will help foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment.
By addressing these barriers through targeted interventions, we can unlock the full economic potential of women and girls with disabilities, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and equitable society.
