Jacob BABALOLA (Staff Writer)

The Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, in conjunction with the Congregation of the Servants of Charity House of Providence Special School for Children with Intellectual Disability has slated Wednesday, 3rd of December, 2025 for the celebration of 2025 World Disability Day, with the theme: “Fostering Disability Inclusive Society for Advancing Social Progress.”

The event which is going to be hosted by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin is going to take place at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Basorun, Ibadan from 10:00am.

 

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:

Initially, some countries celebrate persons with disabilities on different dates. However, at a United Nations’ meeting in Stockholm in the year 1991, experts recommended establishing an annual day to raise awareness and to celebrate them. Consequently, in 1992, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 47/3, establishing 3 December as the official International Day of Disabled Persons (later renamed International Day of Persons with Disabilities).

Since 1992, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed every year on 3 December. According to the UN description, the day should serve three main goals:

To promote awareness of disability issues and the rights, dignity, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

To increase understanding of the gains to be derived from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

To mobilize support for practical action to remove barriers and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Today, according to the World Health Organization’s 2023 reports, an estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. IDPD has become a powerful tool in promoting inclusion, safeguard rights, and create opportunities for individuals with different disabilities. On this day, we emphasis the Persistent barriers; physical, attitudinal, digital and institutional, faced by persons with disabilities. We also underscore the need for inclusive policies, accessible technology, and universal designs that accommodate and promote diversity and progression.

Therefore, 3 December is not just a symbolic day, it has become a global call to action to build a more inclusive world where disability is recognized as part of human diversity.

For more information, kindly call 08134728936.