"Commonly, academics in their research projects provide theories to explicate major issues in society. Accordingly, these distinguished veteran scholars, professors Philip C. Aka and Joseph Abiodun Balogun, provide theories aimed at guaranteeing equal advantage of all human rights to persons with disabilities as contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, signed by Nigeria in 2007. They urge Nigeria to enshrine the preceding rights instrument in its constitution and ratify the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on this matter. In doing so, Nigeria would integrate these often-marginalized citizens with disabilities into its development agenda. Overall, this is an invaluable book on human rights discourse in Nigeria and the Global South.”

E. Ike Udogu, Appalachian State University

In a country beset by political, economic, religious, and socio-cultural challenges, laws and policies addressing the difficulties faced by various individuals who live with disabilities rarely capture the attention of decision-makers or even the general public. Yet, guided by international institutions and insights from religious texts and practices, persons living with different forms of disabilities are first and foremost human beings. And the role of a government is to protect each person based on their essential equality with other human beings, without regard to physical, mental, or economic conditions. Aka and Balogun should be commended for providing nuanced explanations for the different sources of disabilities and articulating the government’s role in legally equalizing opportunities for persons living with disabilities in Nigeria. Thus, as part of their preparations for assuming offices, elected officials in local, state, and national governments in Nigeria would benefit from reading this book. This book is also a welcome addition to assigned readings in courses on law, sociology, and politics in Nigeria.

Kelechi A. Kalu, University of California Riverside