Abuja, Nigeria – Mediaage NG News – Disability rights organisation, Cedar Seeds Foundation has revealed some of the impacts it has had on the Nigerian society. They include the disablity inclusion policies and legislations aimed at national development and advocating for inclusion of persons with disablity in governance through advocacy and promoting democratic inclusion and economic empowerment, quality education and health care services.
Senior Programs Officer of the foundation said the organisation played a leading role in ensuring the passage of the Electoral Act 2022, the Disability Right 2018 bill through its advocacy and strategic partnership with key stakeholders.
“We have trained men and women with disablity to actively participate in politics and governance, Shederack Danladi said while speaking with Mediaage NG in Abuja.
“In 2022, UNDP funded us in an initiative to equip citizens with civic education and knowledge in preparation to the 2023 General Elections.
“We did it in November 2022 when we were able to train and empowe 20,000 citizens in the FCT and Kaduna State”, he said.
He also stated that the foundation whose support comes through donors and partnership with local and international organisations, government and individuals, advocated for the full implementation of the Electoral Act 2022 which makes special provision for an inclusive electoral process.
One of the impacts it had on a community in Kaura local government area of Kaduna State was knowledge gained from a civic education training it did on residents of the area.
“They were able to vote for someone into the Federal House of Representatives, an Okada man (motorcyclist) to be precise, irrespective of his economic capacity or political class”, he disclosed.
“His political party is not as huge as the big wings in the country. So, because of the knowledge we gave them, they voted him. That’s some of the impacts we have had on the society”, Mr. Danladi said.
The foundation has partnered with organisations like McAtor Foundation, Leap Africa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USAID, amongst others
According to Danladi, the foundation aims to be a leading disablity right organisation on the African continent that will pilot full inclusion of persons with disablity in all aspacts of life.
“We hope Cedar Seeds takes a role in ensuring the United Nations Convention on the right of persons with disablity, legislation being fully in place here in Nigeria and other African nations. We see us making more impacts, reaching more people and contributing greatly to the growth of Nigeria and the African continent”, the graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said.