Disability rights advocates on Sunday renewed calls for greater societal acceptance and inclusion of children with developmental disabilities.
The call came at the Fourth Inclusive African Children’s Runway (IACR) in Abuja, where children with disabilities and their neurotypical peers walked the runway together.
Organised by The Engraced Ones Prayer Support and Advocacy Initiative, the event attracted caregivers, partners, and advocacy organisations. It celebrated inclusion while challenging stereotypes about appearance, ability, and the worth of every child.
Convener Mrs. Biboara Yinkere said the initiative aims to raise future leaders who naturally embrace inclusion.
“We are grooming a future generation of leaders who will value inclusion. Those children you saw today, when they become decision-makers, nobody will have to preach inclusion to them because they have seen it,” she said.
Chairman AVM Lanre Oluwatoyin described inclusion as a fundamental human right, not charity, urging society to give children with disabilities opportunities to thrive.
“The event is a movement declaring that inclusion is a right, and physical or mental disability should not limit a child’s growth,” he added.
Mrs. Loveth Ebiowe, National Provost of the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association, highlighted the unique abilities of children with developmental challenges.
“Each child has special abilities and should not be written off or hidden,” she said.
A highlight of the event was the unveiling of In My Mind: Mother-Daughter Resilience Through Down Syndrome, co-authored by 15-year-old Miracle Yinkere and her mother.
The runway uses African fashion and culture to promote inclusion among children from diverse and marginalised backgrounds. Advocates emphasised that beyond events, society must embrace acceptance, support, and equal opportunities for every child.
