Effective and efficient project management is set to take the centre stage as Disability Not A Barrier Initiative DINABI trained staff and volunteers on effective financial, project management and safeguarding during their 2-day capacity strengthening workshop held in the NUJ Mini Hall in Ado-Ekiti on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th September.
The workshop with funding support from Disability Rights Fund (DRF) had staff, volunteers and representative of the Board of Trustee of DINABI Nigeria in attendance.
The Executive Director of DINABI, Mr Olajide Funso while giving his welcome remarks urged the participants to make the best use of the opportunity afforded them to strengthen their capacity in order to deliver on its mandate of ensuring inclusion, equity and justice for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
He specially appreciated Disability Rights Fund for the confidence repose in the organization to deliver and to also strengthen the capacity of the organization in project management, Financial management and Safeguarding.
He said the outcome of the training will further position DINABI Nigeria to secure more support, collaborations, partnerships and trust to deliver on their objectives.
In his own words, the secretary to DINABI Board of Trustees, Mr Ayodimeji Oni appreciated God for His grace over DINABI and the entire team members.
He said that DINABI has come a long way in fighting for inclusion and justice for persons with disabilities. He encouraged the entire team to take advantage of the training to develop themselves towards effective and efficient project management. He told the staff and volunteers present that the added that the door to board is wide open to their suggestions and ideas that will benefit the organization and all persons with disabilities.
The first day of the training had Mrs Florence Chima Austin, a Senior Account Officer from Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) as facilitator. Florence taught the participants on Statutory Regulations Compliance, Internal Control and Basic Accounting System, Procurement Processes, Filling & Documentation, Backup System, Budget Preparation, Grant/Financial Management, Financial Reporting, Supporting Documents and Value for Money, Communication and Time Management.
The team from DINABI also used the opportunity to present a birthday gift to one of the foremost Disability Rights activist in Africa, Mr David Anyaele of CCD whom Florence received the gift on his behalf.
It was the turn of Mr Nelson Akerele of Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) on the second day of the capacity strengthening workshop to train the participants on Program planning and Workplan development, Project implementation and Advocacy, Risk Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Report Writing, Resource Mobilization and Safeguarding.
Mr Nelson during the training emphasized the importance of planning in project implementation, stating that whoever fails to plan is planning to fail. The team then embarked on Stakeholder mapping, Power Mapping and development of advocacy ask.
In his closing remarks, Program Officer with DINABI Nigeria, Michael Ogunduyile said the team is now poised to deliver and make facilities and services accessible in Ekiti state. The workshop had various clusters of disability represented among staff and volunteers as well as persons without disabilities.
