Nigerian lawyer, Daniel Onwe, has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 Global Accessibility Leadership Award in the United States, in honour of his significant efforts to promote accessibility in public spaces across Nigeria.
According to The PUNCH, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals presented the award to Onwe during the closing ceremony of its summit in Washington DC on Thursday.
According to a statement, Onwe has been a driving force behind the advocacy for disability rights in Nigeria.
His instrumental role in the passage of the ‘Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018’ and similar legislation at the state level ensures that public buildings in the country are required to accommodate persons with disabilities.
The statement emphasized that this legislation marked a turning point in the nation’s accessibility landscape.
Onwe’s contributions extend beyond legislation. A Chevening Scholar, awarded the British Government’s prestigious scholarship in 2023, he has used his expertise to champion the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s legal and justice sectors.
Despite his own physical challenges, Onwe has been a tireless advocate, co-founding the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria and serving as its inaugural president.
During his tenure at ALDIN, Onwe made significant strides in ensuring that the Nigerian Bar Association became more inclusive.
His leadership led to accessible facilities at NBA events, including the installation of a ramp at the NBA National Secretariat under then-President Paul Usoro.
Furthermore, Onwe’s efforts ensured that lawyers with disabilities were represented in every NBA committee and received conditional fee waivers for the NBA Annual General Conference, particularly under the leadership of Yakubu Maikyau.
The IAAP, which awarded Onwe, is a branch of the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict), an organization established in 2006 by the United Nations Global Alliance to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.
Onwe’s relentless commitment to advancing disability rights has set a new standard for accessibility in Nigeria and earned him a well-deserved international platform.
