Monday, August 24, 2020 will forever be indelible in the hearts of people living with disabilities and the entire disability community at large.
Indeed, it is a watershed moment in our struggle, constant advocacy, brainstorming and dialogues spanning over 20 years.
I feel very proud to be part and parcel of this ground breaking and historic achievement happening in my own live time.
Be that as it may, I also pay glowing tributes to some of our great members who have gone to the great beyond.
Though they are no longer with us today, they are heroes of this epoch making achievement and we remain ever grateful for their struggle in years past to see that today is a reality.
Lois Auta receiving presidential handshake from president Buhari for the second time
Let me seize this opportunity to thank the Federal Government under the able leadership of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
Thank you sir for taking the time to ameliorate the challenges PWDs are facing, thank you for having persons with disabilities at heart, thank you for empathizing with us, thank you for making huge contributions in the lives of persons with disabilities, thank you for touching our lives positively.
Thank you for making me shed tears of joy on Monday, August 24 after hearing the good news on the establishment of the National Disability Commission and the appointment of my colleagues to run and manage the commission.
Because of your magnanimity, we have the first SSA on Disability Matters; we have National Coordinators in the ruling political party from the Federal level to the ward level.
Your exemplary leadership has ensured we now have special advisers and technical assistants on disability issues to some high level members in Nigeria. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria.
We saw the positive signs when you signed the long forgotten Disability Bill into Law in January 2019 and over a year after a National Disability Commission is today in existence.
We cannot quantify our happiness. This is the progress we have always yearned for; to be part of a historic moment and to see records broken for the good of the disability community.
What we could not achieve in 20 years, with all the struggles, today, you made it happen.
Her Excellency, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs with Lois Auta at the Flag-off ceremony of palliatives for persons with disabilities in Karmajiji on May 09, 2020
We cannot thank you enough, President Muhammadu Buhari. To the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Services, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, a mother figure, a lover of the disability community, thank you for having an inclusive mindsets, thank you for being compassionate and thank you for keeping your promise.
To my colleagues in the governing council of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Dr Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa, Oparaku Onyejelam Jaja, Philomena Isioma Konwea, Omopariola Busuyi Oluwasola, Amina Rahma Audu, Mrs Esther Andrew Awu, Abba Audu Ibrahim, James David Lalu, I say congratulations. You are all worthy ambassadors and I have no doubt that you will live up to expectations. I am confident that you will leave lasting legacies that won’t be forgotten for decades.
Finally, to my constituency, the ball is now in our court. I urge all organisations of persons with disabilities to work with the commission and achieve our dream of getting to the promise land. It is time for collaboration and partnership. Congratulations to us.
With a grateful heart
Lois Auta
Founder and CEO
CedarSeed Foundation
Chair and CEO
Network of Disabled Women
2017 Dangote Fellow
2017 Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum
2014 Mandela Washington Fellow