‘A Bridge, Not a Barricade’: Lois Auta’s MBNCWD Appointment Signifies New Dawn For PWDs
Emmanuel Onuh
In what has been described as a major shift from political rhetoric to systemic inclusion, the disability community in Nigeria has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Lois Auta a seasoned advocate for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to the reconstituted Governing Council of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD).
The appointment is being hailed as a strategic move to address the intersectionality of gender and disability, breaking away from the historical tokenism often associated with such selections.
Lois Auta expressed profound appreciation to the President, stating that the development signals a new dawn for millions of women and girls with disabilities across the country.
Speaking on the appointment, the new council member noted that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has demonstrated a practical commitment to gender mainstreaming.
“By ensuring our voice is heard within the MBNCWD, the President has guaranteed that gender mainstreaming in Nigeria will no longer look past the millions of women and girls with disabilities who deserve reproductive healthcare, education, economic empowerment, and safety from gender-based violence,” she said.
Recounting her personal journey, she shared how contracting polio at a young age shaped her philosophy of viewing disability as “a bridge, and not a barricade.”
Through her work with the Cedar Seed Foundation, the Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), and global platforms like the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she has consistently advocated for the dignity of PWDs. She described the presidential appointment as a validation of a lifelong struggle and an acknowledgment of the intellectual capacities of PWDs.
The immediate focus of the new board members includes ensuring that the Center’s research, programs, and skills-acquisition initiatives become fully accessible and tailored to empower vulnerable women, particularly persons with disabilities
The appointee extended gratitude to President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and other key stakeholders for facilitating a transparent process.
“Thank you for listening to the yearnings of the disability community and for expanding the frontiers of democratic governance in Nigeria,” she stated, pledging her unalloyed dedication, integrity, and passion to the role.
Stakeholders believe this development will provide a massive boost to the journey toward a completely inclusive Nigeria, ensuring the MBNCWD achieves its mandate of leaving no Nigerian woman behind.
