Abuja, Nigeria — In a historic move towards deepening democracy and fostering inclusion, Cedar Seed Foundation on Thursday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to create more political opportunities for women with disabilities in Nigeria.
The signing ceremony, held at IPAC’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together disability rights advocates, political leaders, and stakeholders who hailed the development as a major milestone in the fight for inclusive governance.
Leading the host delegation, IPAC National Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Dantalle, alongside members of his executive, committed to ensuring that political parties in Nigeria open their doors wider to women with disabilities. Through the MOU, IPAC pledged to support their active participation in political activities — from grassroots mobilization to elective positions and political appointments.
Delivering her remarks at the epoch-making event, Ms. Lois Auta, Founder and Executive Director of Cedar Seed Foundation, described the partnership as the fruit of consistent advocacy for the political empowerment of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls.
“For years, Cedar Seed Foundation has been advocating to see women and girls with disabilities join political parties and participate actively in political processes, not as observers, but as equal actors deserving recognition,” she said. “When you decide to contest, you will not be left alone. You will get the necessary support.”
Auta expressed her deep appreciation to IPAC leadership for its passion, commitment, and support, urging women with disabilities across Nigeria to seize the opportunity and present themselves to political parties for elective and appointive positions.
In his goodwill message, Hon. Yusuf Dantalle emphasized the critical role political parties play in shaping Nigeria’s democracy, describing them as “the only wheel through which one can stand for election.” He called on persons with disabilities to register with political parties en masse, stressing that the new partnership with Cedar Seed Foundation would guarantee that their voices and interests are captured in the manifestos and structures of all 19 registered political parties in Nigeria.
“This MOU is not a mere piece of paper; it is a social contract,” Dantalle said. “We are committing ourselves to ensure that women with disabilities are not sidelined, but fully integrated into Nigeria’s political journey.”
The event was marked by excitement and optimism, with participants hailing the agreement as a game-changer in bridging the gap between disability inclusion and political participation.
The partnership falls under the Disability Inclusive Governance (DIG) Project, an initiative of Cedar Seed Foundation supported by Luminate, which seeks to create a political environment where women with disabilities can thrive as decision-makers, candidates, and leaders.
Observers described the development as “historic” because it is the first time IPAC — the umbrella body of all political parties in Nigeria — is entering into a formal partnership aimed specifically at boosting the participation of women with disabilities in politics.
With the ink on the agreement now dry, advocates are hopeful that this will inspire a wave of disability-inclusive reforms in Nigeria’s political parties, ushering in a future where women with disabilities are not only voters but candidates, policymakers, and trailblazers.
The inclusive political future has begun — and it starts with this bold step by Cedar Seed Foundation and IPAC.
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