The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities’ (CCD) is set to hold its annual Disability Awareness Week (DAW) on September 14th – 17 with the theme “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Citizens with Disabilities: The Nigeria We Desire”.
The aim is to sensitize the citizens on the need to remove barriers against citizens with disabilities’ participation in socio-economic activities in Nigeria as the World adopts the SDGs this month. The opening ceremony for the event is slated to hold on Sept. 15, 2015 at Chevron Recreation Centre, Adekunle Osumo Street off General Hospital Gbagada/Church Bus-stop Gbagada in Lagos by 11am.
The DAW holds annually since 2009 and has attracted more than 2, 300 participants from different parts of the country. These participants are made-up of persons with disabilities, family members and caregivers, senior government officials from Federal, States and Local Government Areas in Nigeria coming together in an informal setting to explore challenges of living with disabilities and discuss way forward.
According to the Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David O. Anyaele, “This year’s event will not be an exception as we expect members of the diplomatic community to join us”. In addition, Mr. Anyaele said that the event will include Media Briefing on the DAW 2015, Presentation of Survey Report on Access to Public Toilets and Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State; Interactive Forum with media organizations and legal practitioners on implementing SDGs and Lagos State Special Peoples 2010; Sensitization of Justice Service Providers on access to justice and persons with disabilities among other activities.
The DAW 2015 will have the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Special Guest of Honour while the Guest Speaker for the event is the convener, Campaign 2015+ International, Dr. David T. Winjobi. Other dignitaries expected at the event include: the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Abuja, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi; Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos Amb. Frank Sellin; Head of Netherlands Representation in Lagos, Amb. Michel Deelen; and Deputy Head of Mission Abuja, Mr. Enrique Delamonica; Chief of Social Policy and Gender Equality, UNICEF, Nigeria, DfID Regional Coordinator, Dr. Adesina Fagbenro; Human Rights Activist NPC 2015 Governorship Candidate, Lagos State Comrade Ayodele Akele; and the Executive Director, GADA, Ms. Ada Agina-Ude, amongst others.
The NGO, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a foremost human rights organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to educate, support and empower persons with disabilities and their families to maximize their potentials. It also works to promote independent living, human rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in development efforts. It was established in 2002 in Lagos and incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja as a charity organization.
