Nigerians living with albinism have renewed calls for inclusion, equal treatment and respect, saying their greatest challenge is not health-related conditions but persistent discrimination and social exclusion.
The demand was made at an empowerment and listening session organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in partnership with the Albino Empowerment Foundation, where participants urged government, institutions and the public to move beyond sympathy and address structural barriers facing persons living with albinism.
Speaking at the event, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, CADEF’s executive director, stressed that real progress only becomes possible when people are respected and included, not pitied.
While relief items such as food, protective clothing and materials to address skin and eye care were shared, Ndukwe-Okafor noted that the most powerful moments came when participants spoke for themselves.
“They reminded us that dignity begins when people are seen fully and treated equally,” she said, adding that self-awareness and knowledge of fundamental human rights are essential tools for self-advocacy.
According to her, understanding one’s rights equips people to demand fairness, inclusion and accountability, a principle CADEF holds firmly in its belief that an informed consumer is an empowered one.
Speaking on the broader meaning of inclusion, Ifeoma Ngesina, founder of the Albino Empowerment Foundation, said inclusion for persons with albinism is fundamentally about dignity and equal rights.
“It is about being seen, being heard and being part of decisions that affect our lives, not being reduced to stereotypes or treated as weak simply because of our skin,” she said.
Ngesina noted that much of the discrimination faced by persons with albinism is driven by myths and rumours, compounded by insufficient public enlightenment. “But when persons with albinism are included in schools, workplaces, leadership spaces and the media, those harmful beliefs begin to fade,” she added.
According to her, inclusion goes beyond access to opportunities; it builds confidence, nurtures leadership and reinforces the truth that every person, regardless of appearance, has value and potential.
Ms. Kobi Ikpo, an advisory board member of CADEF, challenged participants to take ownership of how society relates with them. “If you do not tell people how to treat you, they will not know how to address you,” she said.
In her view, the time for endless complaints has passed; what is needed now is experience-sharing, education and confident self-presentation. “Once you accept yourself as a complete human being deserving of respect, it reflects in how you carry yourself — and that confidence commands respect.”
For Afolake Odudinu, the conversation turned to the harsh realities many families still face. She highlighted how lack of parental enlightenment continues to shape the future of children with albinism.
Some struggle in school not because they lack intelligence, but because poor eyesight is misunderstood as dullness. Too often, such children are withdrawn from school and pushed into lifelong disadvantage.
She recalled a painful encounter with an albino woman selling bottled water under the scorching sun, her skin badly damaged. “Sometimes all you can do is pray,” she said, noting that skin cancer treatment in Nigeria remains out of reach for many.
Beyond education and health, Odudinu also spoke about social and marital challenges, where stigma still shadows many albinos seeking companionship and family life.
Another strong intervention came from Efosa Peter, who warned that empowerment without sincerity is dangerous. He shared how he once joined an organisation claiming to empower albinos, only to discover it had become political, with resources never reaching those who needed them most. “I hate pity. I don’t want to be pitied, I want empowerment,” he said firmly.
Peter described persons with albinism as uniquely gifted with creativity and deep thinking, urging leaders to ensure empowerment initiatives are driven by genuine motives. As a father of three and an associate pastor, he recounted moments of raw ignorance, including people insisting on checking his newborn child for albinism, and stressed that confidence built through self-development is key to overcoming such encounters. “Empowerment must include self-esteem and self-motivation. Many people withdraw because of past experiences. When you see yourself as whole, others will follow,” he said.
Other speakers at the session highlighted challenges ranging from limited access to quality education and healthcare to workplace discrimination and social rejection. Participants warned that many children with albinism are wrongly labelled as dull due to visual impairment, leading to school dropouts and long-term disadvantage.
The organisers said the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote rights-based advocacy for persons with disabilities, noting that the empowerment session will be institutionalised as an annual programme. They called on policymakers and stakeholders to prioritise inclusive policies that guarantee equal access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities for Nigerians living with albinism.
By Royal Ibeh,
Business Day
