Racheal Inegbedion

Racheal Inegbedion, with a decade of expertise in Disability Advocacy, Policy, and Youth Development, serves as the Founding Executive Director of the Special Needs Initiative for Growth (SNIG), an NGO dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through impactful programs and resources aimed at fostering a meaningful life. At the helm, she orchestrates demand-driven ICT tools, fostering inclusive education and employment avenues.

Acknowledged as an Ashoka young changemaker and a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow Alumna, Racheal received recognition from the UN Secretary-General Envoy on Youth for her inspirational efforts during the COVID-19 crisis. SNIG earned acclaim for the best innovative practice in employment and ICT for persons with disabilities from the Zero Project.

Racheal holds the esteemed title of Global Exchange on Religion in Society Fellow by the European Union External Action. She's been featured by the Voice of America and honoured as a Google Chrome “Google Leaptaker” for leveraging STEM and Robotics to empower youths with disabilities in Africa.

Dedicating her efforts beyond SNIG, Racheal serves on the board of directors for the World Institute on Disability, actively contributing to the organization's mission of advocating for the inclusion, rights, and justice of individuals with disabilities. Notably, the organization was co-founded by the late Judith Heumann, a revered disability activist from the United States.

Racheal earned her MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Global Inclusion and Social Development at the University of Massachusetts. Looking ahead, her primary aspiration is to ascend to the role of a global policymaker, championing the rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly in the realms of environmental justice and accessibility, towards a more sustainable future.