The Africa Union (AU) Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), an organ of the African Union has appointed a person living with disability (PWD) into one of it’s four sub – committees as part of its Nigeria COVID -19 Response Team.
The inauguration is in line with the AU declaration on COVID -19 which charged all its organs and agencies to support government at all levels in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Lois Auta, a physically challenged person and a frontline PWD representative, was appointed into the AU Resources and Contacts Mobilization Committee (RCMC).
The RCMC Committee, which has Mr Samuel Babatunde and Engr. Chris Anonre as Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively is expected to explore all avenue to mobilize financial, material, technical and human resources.
Other members of the Committee include Mrs Lois Auta-Udonkanta. Secretary, Mrs Susan Lokpobiri and Hon. Moses O.T.
Inaugurating the committees during the week at the AU – ECOSOCC Conference Room, WAEC Building, Maitama, Abuja, the Country Representative, Dr. Tunji Asaolu said the committees is expected to design the organ’s efforts to support government at all levels in Nigeria in the fight against COVID -19.
He said the AU-ECOSOCC was pleased with the declaration made by AU as it was in line with its Statutes in Article 3 section 1 which “requests ECOSOCC to promote continuous dialogue between all segments of the Africa people on issues concern the continent and its future”
Speaking on the inauguration of the Committees, Asaolu said, “what we are doing today is to put our weight and do the talk and of course, the way to implement the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak in Africa.
“To achieve these, we must climax on our strategic agenda by engaging a pool of experts from various professions in their chosen fields to drive the AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria Response to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The Country Representative promised that AU – ECOSOCC is ready “to assist and complements government’s efforts to further curtail COVID-19 pandemic as well to come out with suitable policy or frameworks that will further help the government to revive its economy”
The organ, he said, will also look into a strategy and best approach that will lead to a permanent solution to COVID-19.
“The Committees will be responsible to mobilize resources (Cash and Kind) from philanthropist, relevant stakeholders, local and international organizations to support the activities of Federal Government of Nigeria on COVID-19 as well as objective of AU-ECOSOCC”, he said.
Under the AU-ECOSOCC COVID-19 Response Team members were group into four (4) Sub-Committees, each committee is headed by a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
The four Sub-Committees include the Resources and Contacts Mobilization Committee; Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, Data Gathering & Mobilization Committee and Advocacy & Campaign Committee.
