WE WALK 6: Inclusion and Advocacy Summit and a Walk for Inclusion

August marked a significant milestone for Ray's Haven for Special Needs Children and Adults as we successfully hosted WE WALK 6, our Charity and Advocacy Walk and Inclusion Summit, organised in collaboration with the Department of Physiotherapy, Kaduna State University (KASU).

Held on Saturday, 29 August 2026 at Kaduna State University, Kaduna, the maiden edition of the summit was themed "Inclusion is Not a Charity, It's a Fundamental Human Right." It brought together persons with disabilities, families, advocates, organisations, students, academics, government representatives, partners, volunteers and members of the wider community, creating a platform for connection, advocacy, awareness and collective action.

MOVING BEYOND AWARENESS

In his welcome address, the Project Head of Ray's Haven, Mr. Sadiq Abdullateef, described the summit as the first of its kind and emphasised the need to move disability advocacy beyond awareness creation towards concrete and sustainable action. He called on persons with disabilities, parents, professionals, organisations and other stakeholders to work collectively towards identifying and eliminating the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating fully in society.

KEYNOTE: FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Dean, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, KASU, Prof. Adamu Ahmad Rufai, the Head of the Department of Physiotherapy, Dr. Edward Bahago, said the inclusion of persons with disabilities was essential to building an equitable and just society. Genuine inclusion, he explained, ensures that persons with disabilities feel valued and carried along, while helping to address the physical and attitudinal barriers they face.

According to the address, physical barriers include inaccessible lecture theatres, toilets and other public facilities, while attitudinal barriers manifest through discrimination, stigmatisation and exclusion. It further stressed the importance of rehabilitation in addressing the specific needs of persons with disabilities and enhancing their ability to participate actively in society, cautioning that discrimination and negative societal attitudes can adversely affect mental and emotional well being.

The Dean urged stakeholders to move "from awareness to action", called on parents to reject the isolation of children with disabilities, and encouraged professionals to continue providing advocacy and support. Persons living with disabilities were reminded to recognise their value and contributions, and never to see themselves as a burden.

"Every child is important." A call for society to recognise, nurture and support the potential of every individual, irrespective of disability.

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY

Representing the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Persons with Disabilities Affairs Board, Hajiya Rakiya A. Umar, Mr. Habila Bakut said the Kaduna State Government was taking steps to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities across the state. He noted that government is working towards ensuring that public facilities, including schools, hospitals and markets, provide accessible pathways and facilities, and highlighted initiatives aimed at empowering persons with disabilities through skills acquisition and other programmes designed to promote self reliance and economic independence.

COMMUNICATION AS A TOOL FOR INCLUSION

Speaking on Information and Communication as Tools for Disability Inclusion, Dr. Bulus Joel Daniel stressed the important role of effective communication in shaping public attitudes and perceptions about persons with disabilities. Inclusion, he explained, involves providing equal rights and opportunities as well as appropriate communication support, particularly within educational institutions, where students with disabilities may require interpretation and other forms of support to participate fully in classroom activities.

He therefore called on governments, philanthropists and other stakeholders to increase their support for persons with disabilities pursuing education, noting that learning materials and other educational resources can be financially challenging for many students.

FROM THE HALL TO THE STREETS

Immediately after the panel session, the conversation moved from the lecture hall to the streets. Participants gathered at the gates of Kaduna State University and set off on the WE WALK 6 Advocacy Walk, led by drummers and a brass band, with banners and placards carrying the messages of the day: Inclusion is not a charity, it is a fundamental human right. Nothing about us without us. Access for all, opportunity for all. Accessibility is a right, not a favour.

Persons with disabilities, students, families, volunteers and partners walked side by side, turning the resolutions reached in the hall into a public, visible statement that inclusion belongs on the streets, in the classrooms, in the clinics and in every space where people live and work.

SIX VALUES, ONE MOVEMENT

The walk and summit were guided by our six core values:

• We Rehabilitate All
• We Champion Inclusion
• We Are Advocacy Based
• We Value Individuals
• We Work in Partnership
• We Uphold Principles

The organisers reiterated that inclusion should not be treated as an act of charity or sympathy, but as a fundamental human right requiring collective commitment, practical action and sustainable policies that remove barriers and ensure persons with disabilities can participate fully and meaningfully in society.

THANK YOU

We are deeply grateful to everyone who walked with us, supported the initiative, volunteered, partnered with us, or contributed in any way to making WE WALK 6 a success. Our special appreciation goes to the Department of Physiotherapy, Kaduna State University, our speakers and panellists, the Kaduna State Persons with Disabilities Affairs Board, and every participant who showed up for inclusion.

"Below are moments captured from the summit and the advocacy walk, including highlight recordings from Ray's Haven TV. View the full galleries: Summit and Panel Session and The Advocacy Walk."

Summit proceedings reported by the Kaduna State University Public Relations Unit. Read the university's report here.