The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has been re-elected into the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room representing persons with disabilities.
The Executive Director, David Obinna Anyaele defeated Mr. Jake Ekpelle of the Albino Foundation 47 – 6 votes at the Situation Room general meeting / retreat which took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja last week.
In a press statement signed by CCD’s program assistant, Ms. Florence Attah and made available to Inclusive News Network. She said “What we witnessed at the general meeting / retreat was a clear statement by civil society organisations from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria that CCD has done well for PWDs. It was an appreciation of the efforts by CCD in promoting inclusive society that is free from discrimination on the grounds of disability.”
“You need to hear what Mr. Samson Ezenwa of Partners for Electoral reform said about CCD and its leadership during his nomination of CCD to serve as a Steering Committee member of this coalition. He was full of praise for CCD and its efforts that led to the passage of the National Disability Act. It means that Nigerians know who is doing what.”
In his response, Anyaele stated that “The re-election of CCD into the Steering Committee of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is a re-validation of CCD’s credibility, integrity and capability to represent Nigerians with disabilities and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the highly sought-after coalition “
“It is also an authentication that CCD has really made impact on elections and persons with disabilities in Nigeria through its campaign on equal voting access for persons with disabilities, a campaign we started since 2006 to ensure no one is left behind in the electoral processes by reason of disability”
David Anyaele was first elected into the steering committee in Apri, 2018.
Others elected as members of the Steering Committee include: the Executive Director, Proactive Gender Ms. Esther Uzoma as the New Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Abuja – Secretariat; Young Innovators and Vocational Training Initiative (YIVTI); Mac-Jim Foundation; NISD, African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development, ROLAAC, Kimpact Youth Initiative; EDOSCSO; Grassroot Mobilization – DAC; Women Rights and Environment Program – WREP; Action Aid Nigeria; CDD, Abuja and CLEEN Foundation among others.