The Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), with support from Disability Rights Fund (DRF), recently held a transformative retreat to inaugurate and train its newly elected Board of Trustees, marking a significant step in advancing disability advocacy across Nigeria.
The event ushered in the election of 12 board members who will steer the affairs of the organization in the coming years. These elected members are: Amina Rahma Audu, (Chairman), Oladimeji Sole (Vice Chairman), Chioma Maureen Egede (Secretary), AbdulWahab Matepo, Dr. Dahiru Faralu Ibrahim, Aliu Abdullah Biu, Effiong Affanga Okon, Dr Samson Adedeji, David Obinna Anyaele, Olamilekan Arogundade, Kyautar-Allah Yakubu Guwal, and Ejikeme Nwachimereze Fineglo.
The retreat drew representatives from various disability-focused organizations, who delivered goodwill messages and expressed optimism about SCIAN’s future under its new leadership.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal congratulated the board and urged them to work with unity and vision. “This is a fresh chapter for SCIAN, and I believe the new board will inspire more progress and inclusion,” she said.
Other dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages included Mr Theophilus Odaudu, Programme Manager for Africa, DRF; Mrs. Joko Omotola, National President of the National Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities of Nigeria; and Dr Bisi Bamishe, the National President of the Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN), who was represented by Mr. Tolani Ojuri, the Chairman of AAN Lagos State Chapter.
Also present was Mrs. Ada Duggan, President of the Cathedral Ladies Helpers Union, who extended her organization’s support for SCIAN’s mission.
The goodwill speakers commended SCIAN’s progress and encouraged the association to strengthen caregiver sensitization for those who look after persons with disabilities.
The board members, during the retreat, pledged to collaborate in creating more visibility, public sensitisation, and stronger partnerships with like-minded organisations during the new administration’s tenure.
Guest speaker and resource person, Mrs. Crystal Chigbu, the Executive Director of the Irede Foundation, delivered an extensive training session on governance and operational excellence. She spoke on the “do’s and don’ts” of board membership, project implementation, and the need for active participation in fundraising.
“As board members, it is your duty to take ownership of the organization’s growth, ensure compliance with the constitution, and lead by example in every office you hold,” she emphasized.
Mrs. Chigbu further trained members on strategic planning, project execution, and organisational accountability, stressing that effective leadership requires both vision and adherence to established rules. She urged the trustees to cultivate partnerships and explore innovative ways to sustain SCIAN’s initiatives.
The retreat concluded with renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a more impactful and inclusive future for persons with spinal cord injuries in Nigeria.
Mr Wahab Matepo, on behalf of SCIAN, specially thanked the Disability Rights Fund for its generous sponsorship and unwavering support for promoting disability inclusion in Nigeria and across the world.