Nigerian Woman with Disabilities Leads Push for Dignity

Women on tricycles make their way through a camp for displaced people in Nigeria.

A woman living with disabilities in a camp for displaced people in Nigeria is showing why it is essential to include people like her in society and how dignity can be protected even in the harshest environments.

“Sometimes, it feels like the world isn’t made for people like me,” said Shiminenge, her voice steady despite the weight of the words. In Gbajimba, north-central Nigeria, the 32-year-old navigates daily life in a camp for displaced persons that offers little space, safety, or accessibility for people living with disabilities.

Around her, tents stretch across dry, uneven ground. Paths turn muddy and difficult when it rains. Toilets and water points are often too far to reach without assistance. Yet every morning, she pushes through these obstacles, determined not to disappear in a place never designed for her.

Shiminenge is one of more than 480,000 people displaced by intercommunal conflict in Benue State. She fled her village in Guma in 2018 and has since lived in the camp in Gbajimba, carrying little more than the hope of finding safety.

Her journey began long before displacement. At just nine months old, her parents were told she would never walk after a diagnosis that shaped her life. Growing up with a mobility impairment meant constant adjustments and an early understanding of navigating a world without accessible support.

Life in the camp adds another layer of daily challenges: poor shelter conditions, inaccessible sanitation, and a terrain nearly impossible to traverse. Speaking ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, she said:

“In the camp, every step outside my tent was a struggle. It’s not just the physical obstacles; it’s the feeling of being invisible, of being forgotten in a place where survival is already so hard.”

Barriers to services and dignity

Shiminenge’s sense of invisibility is shared by many people with disabilities in displacement settings. They are often among the most marginalized within internally displaced populations, facing barriers to shelter, healthcare, sanitation, and essential services. Inaccessible infrastructure and limited targeted support increase the risks of neglect, exclusion, and abuse, further threatening their rights and dignity.

Despite these challenges, Shiminenge refused to give up. Resourceful and determined, she began selling mosquito repellent in the camp, earning a small income while protecting other residents from malaria. Her resilience soon grew into advocacy. She helped form a disability association in Gbajimba, bringing together 18 other people with disabilities to push for mobility aids, fair access to resources, and more inclusive facilities.

Camp upgrade

In August 2024, a team from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) visited the camp to assess living conditions. “For the first time here, I felt someone was listening,” she said.

Responding to the association’s requests, IOM, with support from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, led a camp redesign to address the specific needs of people with disabilities with dignity and respect.

Nearly 4,000 upgraded emergency shelters were constructed, designed to withstand seasonal rains and offer safer living conditions. A dedicated section for people with disabilities was added, including disability-friendly toilets, accessible water points, and kitchens, along with gently sloped ramps and communal spaces to enable independent movement and full participation in camp life.

“These changes mean more than convenience; they give us a sense of dignity and belonging,” she said.