Nigeria Fights Down's Syndrome Stigma

In Nigeria, children born with Down's syndrome often face severe superstition and societal ostracism, with some mothers even being pressured to abandon their infants. Fatima Muhammad shares her experience of enduring stares and insults when in public with her son, Alameen, who was born in 2015.

The country's first national assessment of disability inclusion in 2024 highlighted systemic barriers faced by persons with disabilities, limiting their participation in national life. Down's syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 865 live births in Nigeria.

Safiya Atta Mansoor, 60, founded the GlowingStar Empowerment Initiative in March 2025 to support children with Down's syndrome and other neurodevelopmental conditions. This initiative provides peer networks through a WhatsApp community and advocates for inclusion.

Mansoor partners with donors to fund rehabilitation plans, including physiotherapy and speech therapy, noting that funding for neurodevelopmental disabilities is harder to secure compared to physical ones. She aims to challenge the perception of these disabilities as curses or results of witchcraft.

Halima Ovosi, mother of Naseerah, echoes the struggles, facing jabs and accusations when out with her daughter. While southern Nigeria, particularly Lagos, offers more resources, other regions lack specialized schools and advocacy groups. Ovosi advocates for government policies including school inclusion, subsidized healthcare, and caregiver counseling.

Her ultimate goal is for individuals with disabilities to achieve self-sufficiency. Mansoor believes that by raising their voices and changing the narrative, they can eradicate the stigma and myths surrounding disabilities.