Invest in women: how the SABI-Woman project is changing lives

For Saudat, a young woman with a disability in Nigeria, the transition from education into the world of work came with particular challenges.

“My disability is albinism, which affects my skin,” she says. “I cannot go out or engage in activities when the sun is intense, because it will either burn my skin or cause other damage. I am also short-sighted, and I can only see large print or objects that are very close to me.”

Saudat had planned to start a business after graduating from school, but she faced additional disability-related costs compared to other entrepreneurs, and she was unable to raise the start-up capital for her company. This left her feeling dependent on her parents for support. “My parents were my primary caregivers. They were the ones who cared for me by providing money and all the other things I needed.”

Saudat is not alone in facing these challenges. Across Nigeria, many women with disabilities face significant barriers to education, employment and economic opportunity. Too often, stigma and discrimination prevent them from accessing the skills and resources they need to participate fully in society and build independent livelihoods.

The SABI-Woman project was supported by the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership, a collaboration between UK International Development and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund that aims to boost access to skills and economic opportunities for young women in Bangladesh and Nigeria.

“They gave us Royco beef seasoning powder, and Close-Up and Pepsodent toothpaste, both sachet and tube, when we started,” Saudat explains. “They advised me on how to portion the goods for sale and how to sell them online using social media. That was how I was able to sell all my goods.”

“In the past I was not doing anything, but I am now a businesswoman. I use my profit to take care of myself and my personal needs.”

This newfound independence has changed the way that others see her – and the way that she sees herself.

“At some point, I was stigmatised because of my condition,” says Saudat. The fact she had additional needs and wasn’t working made this stigma even worse. “But now I am able to mingle with others, do things for myself, and sell to my customers.”

Removing barriers across society

Saudat is one of more than 1,500 women in Nigeria who have been supported by the SABI-Woman project to gain employability and entrepreneurship skills – clearing a path to greater independence.

Sightsavers has also been tackling other entrenched barriers that hold women and girls back. We’ve been active in schools, providing life skills and career guidance to more than 1,300 adolescent girls. We’ve helped more than 1,000 employers and stakeholders to implement inclusive practices – creating more accessible routes into employment and enterprise.

Working with government institutions, employers and financial service providers, we’ve improved the systems that exclude women with disabilities from participating in Nigeria’s economy, so that we can continue to create opportunities long after the project’s conclusion.