By Elizabeth Wanjiku

On December 1-3, the Disability Inclusion Services (DIS) Department, in collaboration with students with disabilities and the Persons with Disabilities Club, hosted a three-day commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD). The event showcased the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence, environmental stewardship, and the amplification of lived experiences within its learning community.

The celebration was the culmination of a series of engagements designed to deepen empathy and strengthen institutional culture. On day one, faculty welcomed short sessions where students with disabilities shared first-hand experiences of navigating academic life. These conversations fostered peer understanding and grounded inclusion within the academic environment. On the second day, students participated in blind football and goalball, with many experiencing the games blindfolded for the first time. This immersive activity offered a practical understanding of life with visual impairment and strengthened solidarity across the student body.
On the final day, a tree-planting exercise at the football pitch was carried out, where 50 seedlings were planted in partnership with student volunteers, InAble, and EEPD Africa. Participants made a collective commitment to nurture the seedlings, recognizing environmental sustainability as part of a broader vision for inclusive and resilient communities.

This three-day celebration also brought together leaders, partners, and students at the auditorium to celebrate achievements and reaffirm shared commitments. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Victor Boiyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Student Life, reaffirmed that disability inclusion remains a priority within the university’s strategic plan, a long-term commitment to accessibility, culture transformation, and institutional capacity strengthening. “Leadership for inclusion requires universities to intentionally shape futures where accessibility, dignity, and opportunity are guaranteed for all,” he stated.

Remarks from Dudi Luat, the President Students’ Association Cabinet, highlighted the progress USIU-Africa has made in embedding inclusion across academic, administrative, and social spaces, with students playing a central role in shaping the culture.

The celebration also featured a guest session by INHive Global, which addressed inclusive youth and alumni engagement across Africa, reinforcing the power of cross-generational collaboration. Additionally, there was a panel discussion spotlighting entrepreneurs with disabilities, emphasizing innovation, resilience, and the rising influence of inclusive business within the region.

The 2025 IDPWD celebration reflected USIU-Africa’s evolution into a regional leader in disability inclusion. By integrating lived experiences, environmental responsibility, adaptive sport, and cross-sector partnerships, the university continues to build a learning environment where every student can thrive and where inclusion is embedded not as an act, but as a culture.