It was all celebration in the Federal Capital Territory at the Prestigious Shehu Yar’adua Centre as Inclusive Friends Association IFA marked their 10 years Anniversary on Monday 30th October, 2023.
In an event, IFA organized in collaboration with Shehu Yar’adua Foundation with support from Macarthur Foundation, dignitaries such as Senator Ireti Kingibe, Former Minister Of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, John Palfrey, President of MacArthur Foundation, Batholomen Suwa, Board, Amara Nwankpa, Director Public Policy Initiatives Shehu Yar’adua Foundation, Dr. Kola Shettima, Africa Director, MacArthur Foundation, Ekaete Umoh, Country Director, Dr Otive Igbuzor and others were present.
Grace Jerry, Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association IFA in a video documentary titled “A Decade Of Inclusion”, said that IFA came into being as a result of her personal experience.
She informed that her disability is as a result of car crash which ended her ability to use her both legs.
She also said that the opportunity to become a voice for millions of PWDs in Nigeria came when she won the first ever Miss Wheelchair Nigeria which gave her a platform to speak for PWDs and after her reign, she knew that she needed to do more and that how she birthed Inclusive Friends Association (IFA).
She enumerated some of the programmes that IFA have carried out over the years to enhance inclusion of persons with disabilities.
As the theme of the 10th anniversary “A decade of inclusion”, IFA have recorded landmark achievements in several areas of disability inclusion, in School For The Blind, Gidiri, Plateau State, IFA through their WASH project, provided sanitary facilities in the school, they also embarked on a project known as Amplifying Voices which provided opportunity for capacity building of many young persons with disabilities mostly women with disabilities.
IFA also recorded some great achievements on governance and elections. They embarked on a project where they enhance the capacity of persons with disabilities to engage stakeholders to enhance their political involvement. IFA is the leading Organizations Of Persons With Disabilities when it comes to enhancing access to elections, they collaborated with INEC to develop the braille ballot guide which enhances independency of blind persons while voting.
They also facilitated the Involvement of PWDs during CVR executive and also as INEC adhoc staff during elections. They trained PWDs as enumerators gathering data of Persons With Disabilities which was helpful to INEC in area of deployment during the off cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun.
IFA has also worked in the area of education, health, social justice and so on.
IFA has become a leader in the disability community, impacting lives through their relentless advocacy, research, capacity building and empowerment.
The event also witnessed video Presentation on the deplorable state of Disabled Settlement in Karmajiji.
It was a sight to behold when Grace Jerry featuring E-Daniels entertained the guests with musical live performances.
The highlight of the event was the review and presentation of research finding conducted by IFA and their Strategic Plan. Ekaete Umoh, Country Director, CBM Global, did just justice to the review the research findings and thereafter, there was a presentation of research and the strategy plan. The Research topic is Beyond Legislation: A Comprehensive Study On Nigeria’s Compliance With The Disability Act.
At the gala night which followed the event, IFA honoured some individuals who contributed immensely to the promotion of disability inclusion with Meritorious Awards.
Some notable individuals who received these meritorious awards includes Mr. James David Lalu, Executive Secretary, National Commission For Persons With Disabilities, Senator Osita Izunaso, former Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, Mr, Batholomew Suwa, Board Chairman, IFA, Madam Ekaete Umoh, the Country Director, CBM Global, Mr. Jide Ojo, Member, IFA’s Board of Directors, Mr. Rasak Odukoya, and numerous others.
