Fourteen persons with disabilities, PWDs, from across Nigeria are set to compete in a 30-day reality TV show designed to discover, develop and showcase their talents.
The PWDs Got Talent Reality TV Show 2026, organized by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, NCPWD, and the Discovering Ability in Disability Initiative, DADI, is themed “Discovering Abilities in Disabilities.”
The Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Ayuba Gufwan, announced the initiative at a news conference and the inauguration of the show’s committees and subcommittees in Abuja.
Gufwan said the idea was conceived to shift the narrative surrounding disability from sympathy and charity to ability, 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,” he said.
According to him, the 14 finalists will comprise two participants from each of the six geopolitical zones and two from the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the participants would live together in a house for 30 days, where they would compete, learn and inspire the nation under the planned N1 billion Ability Talent Fund.
“This vision is big; big vision requires solid structures. That is why we have assembled you and inaugurated six subcommittees to ensure effective and seamless delivery,” Gufwan said.
The six subcommittees are Contact and Mobilization; Proposal and Partnership; Media and Publicity; Branding and Marketing; Logistics, Protocol and Entertainment; and Inclusion and Compliance.
Gufwan said the initiative was not merely about organizing a reality show but also about creating role models, changing perceptions and providing a platform for Nigerians with disabilities to showcase their abilities.
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“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,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the committees’ capacity and commitment to deliver the programme before inaugurating the subcommittees.
The Founder and National Coordinator of DADI, Steve Rodstick Ezeh, said he was inspired to develop the initiative after discovering a young person with an extraordinary talent during a talent hunt in Ebonyi State.
Ezeh said the experience convinced him that many other persons with disabilities across Nigeria could possess talents that could be discovered and developed.
“I now decided that if one person with disability could have such talent, it means, out of over 34 million PWDs in Nigeria, millions of them could also have talents.
“I have this ideology that talents are like mineral resources that, when discovered and developed, will be useful to society,” he said.
He said auditions would be held across the six geopolitical zones, with two participants selected from each zone and two others from the FCT.
Ezeh added that professionals would be brought into the house to mentor the participants and help them develop their talents and qualities to become stars and ambassadors for the 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 consolation prizes,” he said.
Ezeh said the programme would be unveiled on October 18, with auditions scheduled for November and the selected participants expected to enter the house in December for the main show.
He added that the programme would also educate and equip participants to promote awareness of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
NAN
