Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)

28/05/2026

As we celebrate this season of sacrifice, faith, and compassion, we join Muslim faithfuls around the world in praying for peace, unity, and abundant blessings.

May this Eid bring joy to every home and inspire a more inclusive, caring, and equitable society for all, especially persons with disabilities.

Happy Eid Mubarak.

27/05/2026

Today, we celebrate the joy, strength, and limitless potential of every child, especially children with disabilities.

At the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting inclusion, equal opportunities, and a society where every child is valued, protected, and empowered to thrive.

Happy Children’s Day to all the amazing children out there; your dreams are valid, your voices matter, and your abilities shine beyond every barrier.

Happy Children’s Day

26/05/2026

26/05/2026

Pictures Speaks: At the just concluded CCD Capacity Strengthening on PIA and Advocacy tools in Rivers State.

participants during a role play on inclusive advocacy visit to their community leaders

25/05/2026

CCD Strengthens the Capacity of Persons with Disabilities in Rivers State for 2 Days on Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and Advocacy Tools.

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), with support from the Ford Foundation, continued its advocacy and capacity-building activities in Rivers State under the Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND) project.

The workshop brought together persons with disabilities (PWDs) from oil-producing communities, government representatives, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and media practitioners to strengthen advocacy skills and promote the inclusion of PWDs within the benefit structures of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

In his opening and welcome remarks, the Founding Executive Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and Chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, Hon. David Obinna Anyaele, emphasized the urgent need to dismantle barriers affecting persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta region. He noted that political instability and governance challenges in Rivers State have limited opportunities for PWDs to effectively engage government institutions and advocate for their rights, thereby increasing their vulnerability and exclusion.

Hon. Anyaele highlighted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) presents a strategic opportunity for inclusion through structures such as the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), Advisory Committees, Boards of Trustees, and community needs assessment processes. However, he observed that persons with disabilities remain largely excluded from these structures, making sustained advocacy and strategic engagement necessary.

He stressed that disability-inclusive needs assessments and development planning would create long-term benefits not only for PWDs but also for host communities. Sharing success stories from Akwa Ibom and Imo States, he explained how advocacy efforts supported by CCD led to the inclusion of PWDs in community structures, financial empowerment initiatives, business training opportunities, and increased government support for disability groups.

Hon. Anyaele further clarified that the purpose of the workshop was to strengthen participants’ knowledge, leadership capacity, and advocacy skills to enable them to effectively engage stakeholders and demand inclusion within PIA structures.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Collins Akpanah, appreciated CCD for organizing the programme and creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to gain knowledge on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and issues affecting the Niger Delta region. He noted that PWDs have often been excluded from opportunities and decision-making processes despite being directly affected by developments within oil-producing communities.

He commended CCD for its continuous commitment to supporting and empowering persons with disabilities in River State through advocacy, education, and capacity-building programmes that promote inclusion and active participation.

Day One of the workshop focused on understanding the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities within the Niger Delta environment, the impact of oil exploration on host communities, disability rights, and an overview of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Participants were introduced to the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) structures and the existing gaps that exclude persons with disabilities from governance and benefit-sharing processes. Discussions emphasized the importance of understanding legal rights, resisting discrimination, participating in community governance, and using advocacy as a tool for inclusion.
Participants actively shared experiences relating to environmental pollution, exclusion from community leadership structures, poor access to information, and communication barriers faced by PWDs. They also explored practical solutions such as media engagement, alliance building, stakeholder engagement, and community participation.

Day Two focused on advocacy strategies, inclusive governance, and practical entry points for disability inclusion within PIA structures. Sessions covered advocacy planning, stakeholder mapping, leadership development, inclusive budgeting, and strategies for integrating disability concerns into community development plans and budgets.

Through role-play exercises and practical discussions, participants learned how to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, government institutions, and oil companies to secure representation for PWDs within Host Community Development Trusts, Boards of Trustees, and Advisory Committees. Emphasis was placed on collective action, persistence, and evidence-based advocacy.

At the end of the workshop, participants expressed increased confidence and commitment to advancing disability inclusion within their communities. They pledged to step down the knowledge gained to other members of the disability community, strengthen advocacy networks, and engage stakeholders to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in decision-making and benefit-sharing structures under the PIA.

The workshop marked another significant step toward building an informed, empowered, and united disability community in Rivers State and across the Niger Delta region, while reinforcing the call for inclusive development that leaves no one behind.

20/05/2026

CCD Builds the Capacity of PWDs in Ondo State on PIA and Advocacy Tools

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), with support from the Ford Foundation-continued its advocacy and capacity-building activities under the Ending Barriers Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND)project in Ondo State.

The workshop brought together persons with disabilities (PWDs) from oil-producing communities, government representatives, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)and media practitioners to strengthen advocacy skills and promote the inclusion of PWDs in the benefit structures of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

Mrs. Florence Austin delivered the welcome remark on behalf of CCD’s Founding Executive Director, Hon. David Obinna Anyaele, and the Acting Director, Mr. Godwin Unumeri. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in the governance and benefit-sharing structures established under the PIA. She noted that despite the immense contribution of the Niger Delta region to Nigeria’s economy, PWDs remain largely excluded from development opportunities and decision-making processes within host communities.

Mrs. Austin stressed that disability inclusion is a human right and not charity, citing both the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as legal frameworks supporting inclusion.

Mrs. Florence Austin also provided an overview of CCD, tracing the organization’s history and mandate. She explained that CCD was established in 2002 following the experiences of its founder, Hon. David Obinna Anyaele, during the Sierra Leone civil war. Initially focused on supporting amputees through the Amputation Rehabilitation Centre, the organization later expanded to address the broader rights and inclusion of all persons with disabilities.

The Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Comrade Abiodun Samuel Olusegun, commended CCD for organizing the workshop and educating PWDs on their rights under the PIA. He observed that while the PIA governs oil-related matters in host communities, it currently lacks adequate provisions for persons with disabilities. He expressed hope that similar inclusive provisions contained in the Disability Act, including the 5% employment quota for PWDs, would eventually be incorporated into the PIA framework.

In her goodwill message, Princess Arise Folasade Comfort, Board Chairman of the Ondo State Disability Commission, described CCD as her “first home,” acknowledging the organization’s impact on her personal and professional growth. She appreciated Hon. David Obinna Anyaele for his contributions to disability advocacy and commended CCD for consistently bringing impactful and inclusive programmes to Ondo State.

Day One of the workshop focused on understanding the vulnerabilities of PWDs in the Niger Delta environment, the impact of oil exploration on host communities, disability rights, and an overview of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Participants were introduced to the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) structures and the gaps that currently exclude persons with disabilities from governance and benefit-sharing processes. Discussions emphasized the importance of understanding legal rights, resisting discrimination, participating in community governance, and using advocacy as a tool for inclusion.

Participants actively shared experiences relating to environmental pollution, exclusion from community leadership structures, poor access to information, and communication barriers faced by PWDs. They also explored solutions such as media engagement, alliance building, stakeholder engagement, and community participation.

Day Two focused on advocacy strategies, inclusive governance, and practical entry points for disability inclusion within PIA structures. Sessions covered advocacy planning, stakeholder mapping, leadership development, inclusive budgeting, and strategies for integrating disability concerns into community development plans and budgets.

Through role-play exercises and practical discussions, participants learned how to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, government institutions, and oil companies to secure representation for PWDs within Host Community Development Trusts, Boards of Trustees, and Advisory Committees. Emphasis was placed on collective action, persistence, and evidence-based advocacy.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants expressed increased confidence and commitment to advancing disability inclusion within their communities. They pledged to cascade the knowledge gained to other members of the disability community, strengthen advocacy networks, and engage stakeholders to ensure that PWDs are fully included in decision-making and benefit-sharing structures under the PIA.

The workshop marked another significant step toward building an informed, empowered, and united disability community in Ondo State and across the Niger Delta region, while reinforcing the call for inclusive development that leaves no one behind.

18/05/2026

CCD Build the Capacity of Persons with Disabilities in Edo State on Advocacy Training on PIA

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) successfully organized a 2-day capacity-building workshop on “Strengthening Capacity of Persons with Disabilities for Inclusive Participation in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Benefit Sharing” held on 14th–15th May 2026 at Rolarz Hotels and Resort, Benin City, Edo State.

The workshop brought together Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from oil-producing communities across Edo State to strengthen their knowledge on advocacy, disability rights, and inclusive participation in Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) structures under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

In his opening remarks, the Acting Director of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Mr. Godwin Unumeri, welcomed participants and appreciated the Ford Foundation for its continued support. He emphasized that persons with disabilities have long been excluded from decision-making processes, especially within oil-producing communities, and stressed that inclusion is a right, not a privilege. He encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and use the knowledge gained to advocate for their rights and inclusion in PIA benefit-sharing structures.

The Chairperson of JONAPWD Edo State, Madam Ann Ojugo, also commended CCD and its partners for promoting disability inclusion and urged participants to maximize the opportunity by becoming advocates within their communities.

Ms. Florence Attah, Senior Program Officer of CCD, provided participants with an overview of CCD’s work and commitment towards advancing disability rights and inclusion in Nigeria.

The training featured sessions on:
✅ PWDs and the Niger Delta Environment
✅ Vulnerability and Disability Inclusion
✅ Overview of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021
✅ Disability Rights and Models of Disability
✅ Strategic Planning for Effective Advocacy
✅ Inclusion of PWDs in HCDTs, BOTs, and Advisory Committees.

Participants engaged in interactive discussions, role plays, and practical exercises focused on advocacy strategies, stakeholder engagement, inclusive governance, and community participation. Discussions highlighted challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including stigmatization, inaccessible infrastructure, lack of access to information, environmental pollution, and exclusion from decision-making structures.

The workshop also emphasized the importance of advocacy, unity, leadership development, data gathering, and active participation of persons with disabilities in community governance and benefit-sharing structures established under the PIA.

At the end of the training, participants expressed increased confidence and commitment to step down the knowledge gained to other members of the disability community, strengthen collaboration across disability clusters, and advocate for the inclusion of PWDs in host community structures and development processes.

The workshop marks another significant step by CCD towards promoting inclusive development and ensuring that persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta are not left behind.