In cities such as Lagos and Osogbo, members of the Dwarfs Association of Nigeria (DAN) marked this year’s World Dwarfism Day on October 25 with rallies and education drives to raise awareness of dwarfism and push for greater inclusion in Nigerian society.
The event brought together people living with dwarfism, their families, supporters, and stakeholders in public and private life who joined hands to challenge stereotypes, discrimination and exclusion. The mood at gatherings was one of determination, celebration and demand for more visible recognition of their rights and potential.
At the heart of the observance was DAN’s message: disability is not inability. The association highlighted the many people with dwarfism who have succeeded in business, education, the arts or sport — underscoring that size does not determine value or capacity.
Yet participants were clear that success stories alone are not enough. Many still face name-calling, stigma and daily prejudice. The public marches and advocacy sessions held during the day aimed to shine a light on those injustices — and to call on society to change.
DAN used the occasion to ask traditional leaders, religious institutions, corporate entities and government agencies to step up. They asked that the provisions of the Nigeria Disability Act of 2018 be fully realised — legislation which aims to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Such a call reflects a longer-standing concern. People with dwarfism in Nigeria have reported exclusion from employment, sport, social life and public space. For example, a national sportsman with dwarfism spoke about being ignored in team selection for football due to his size, even though he had achieved national acclaim in athletics.
In parts of Nigeria, scholarly research has shown that dwarfism is often misunderstood or stigmatised — sometimes regarded through cultural or superstitious lenses as a misfortune or social stigma. These attitudes mean many persons with dwarfism struggle for recognition, access to jobs, suitable infrastructure and the respect afforded to others.
The 2018 law was hailed as a step forward because it makes discrimination on the basis of physical disability illegal, and mandates inclusion in education, employment and public infrastructure. Its full implementation however has been slow, with advocates pointing to lapses in enforcement and awareness.
In Lagos and Osogbo the day’s events included public processions through city streets, sensitisation workshops, and advocacy campaigns aimed at media to re-check how people with dwarfism are portrayed. DAN emphasised that the way media and popular culture show persons with dwarfism affects how society treats them: objectification, amusement, or pity all carry harmful consequences.
In one awareness piece it was noted that the disorder most commonly causing dwarfism — achondroplasia — affects roughly one in every 15,000 to 40,000 live births. This underscores that dwarfism is a medical reality, not a social choice, and thus calls for respect and inclusion, not mockery or exclusion.
Speakers at the events reminded attendees, and the wider society, of those everyday realities: people living with dwarfism who are parents, employees, business people, students. One commentator noted that despite winning medals and representing the country internationally, persons with dwarfism still often feel excluded or ignored by officials and society.
DAN’s representative stressed that inclusion is not just about charity but about rights — equal chance at education, employment, sport and community life. They called for workplaces to open recruitment fairly, schools to accommodate them, and communities to invite their participation rather than treat them as spectacle.
For Nigeria, the observance is timely. As the country continues to seek more inclusive growth and human-rights standards, the voices of persons with disabilities matter deeply. Achieving the vision of the 2018 Act will require not only laws but budget, oversight, design of public spaces, sensitised media, and societal attitude shifts.
The awareness drive by DAN helps in two ways: it puts persons with dwarfism visibly in the conversation, and it invites allies — government, religion, business and civil society — to step forward. It also frames dwarfism not as a niche issue, but as part of the broader story of inclusion and citizenship in Nigeria.
DAN pledged to follow up the day’s activities with ongoing campaigns, outreach in schools and workplaces, and training for media practitioners on respectful coverage. They hope that one day, persons with dwarfism will be measured not by their height, but by their ability, character and contribution.
They also reiterated their request for government to allocate resources — for accessible infrastructure, employment quotas, and public awareness programmes — so that the promises of law and policy translate into real change for individuals in communities across Nigeria.
As one rally participant put it: “We are here. We work. We live. We love. The only difference is our height — not our worth.” And as the country watches, the hope is that such voices will no longer only be heard on one day — but every day.
