By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and Discovering Ability in Disability Initiative (DADI) have expressed readiness to jointly host a reality TV show for Persons With Disabilities in the country.
This was announced at a news conference and inauguration of the Committee and Subcommittees on Thursday in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Mr Ayuba Gufwan, in his remarks said the idea was conceived to change the narrative from sympathy to ability and charity to talent and empowerment.
“That idea has today become PWDs Got Talent Reality TV Show 2026.
“Our theme is Discovering Abilities in Disabilities. Our goal is to launch a world-class platform that discovers, develops, and projects PWDs as stars.
“This show will host 14 Finalists; two from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country and two from the Federal Capital Territory.
“They will live together in a house for 30 days, compete, learn, and inspire the nation under our one billion naira Ability Talent Fund.
“This vision is big; big vision requires solid structures; that is why we have assembled you and to inaugurate six Sub-Committees to ensure effective and seamless delivery,” Gufwan said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committees are , Contact and Mobilisation, Proposal and Partnership and Media and Publicity
Others are Branding and Marketing.
Logistics, Protocol and Entertainment, and Inclusion and Compliance.
“Let me leave you with this charge; This assignment is not just about a reality show.
“It is about creating role models, changing mindsets, and giving over 35 million Nigerians with disabilities a platform to show the world that there is ability in disability.
“I trust in your capacity, passion, and commitment to deliver. I hereby inaugurate the Sub-Committees for the PWDs Got Talent Reality TV Show 2026. Let’s go and make history together,” Gufwan said.
Also speaking, the Founder and National Coordinator of DADI, Mr Steve Ezeh, said he was propelled to come up with such Initiative when he did a talent hunt in Ebonyi.
According to him, during one of his talent hunt shows, he discovered that a particular boy with disability that possessed extraordinary talents.
“I now decided that if one person with disability could have such talent, it means, out of over 34 millions of PWDs in Nigeria, millions of them could also have talents.
“And I have this ideology that talents are like mineral resources that when they are discovered, and developed, they will be useful to the society.
“So, I believe that ‘PWDs Got Talents’ will help talented PWD discover and explore their talents to become self reliant,” Ezeh said.
On the build up to the reality TV Show, Ezeh said there would audition in the six geopolitical zones of the country, where two participants each would be selected to enter the house and two from FCT.
He further explained that in the house, various professionals would be brought to give them mentorship and shape their talents and qualities to become super stars and good ambassadors for disability community.
“This is also an empowerment programme; whoever goes into the house will be rewarded, because, after 30 days, three winners will emerge and others will get consultation prizes.
“The unveiling will be done on Oct.18, audition will be done in November, and by December, the selected participants will enter the house for the proper show,” Ezeh said.
“The show will educate and equip participants to propagate the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, signed into law by then President Muhammad Buhari,” Ezeh said. NAN reports that high point of the event was the inauguration conducted by Gufwan and taking of oath by the members of the various committees. (NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza