The Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nigerian Public Universities: Accessibility and Inclusion

This study investigates the rights of persons with disabilities in selected Nigerian public universities, examining whether institutional policies and physical infrastructure comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Nigeria in 2010, and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018. Higher education institutions have a legal and ethical obligation to provide accessible learning environments, yet students with physical, visual, hearing, and cognitive disabilities continue to face significant barriers in Nigerian universities. The research adopts an empirical approach, conducting surveys and interviews with students with disabilities, administrative staff, and disability support units at three public universities spanning the South East, South West, and North Central geopolitical zones. Physical accessibility audits of campus facilities including classrooms, libraries, dormitories, and examination halls are also conducted. Findings reveal widespread non-compliance with accessibility standards, inadequate assistive technologies, a lack of trained disability support staff, and insufficient anti-discrimination enforcement. The study notes the near-total absence of disability-inclusive institutional policies in most surveyed institutions. Recommendations include mandatory institutional disability action plans, dedicated accessibility budgets, and independent monitoring by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. This research enriches undergraduate scholarship on disability rights and higher education policy in Nigeria. Keywords: disability rights, accessibility, CRPD, Nigerian universities, inclusion.