The Leprosy Mission Nigeria has been appointed as the Strategic Partner Organization (SPO) by the Liliane Foundation, an international donor organization that provides support for children and young persons with disabilities in developing countries. In its first engagement since its appointment as the SPO to the foundation in Nigeria, the Leprosy Mission Nigeria recently hosted its first Inception Meeting with other Partner Organizations(PO) in Nigeria.
The “Inclusion First” two-day event on the 18th – 19th March 2021, at Jades Hotel, Abuja, featured in-depth discussions about the strategic framework, annual plans, and training of the 22 Partner Organizations from 15 states, who will be working together in 2021 to improve the quality of life of children with disabilities, in line with the Liliane Foundation’s thematic areas.
As the lead partner in this project, the Leprosy Mission Nigeria in collaboration with the POs will be working in 19 out of Nigeria’s 36 states. These are Abia, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers States, and FCT. The total grant of 470,000 Euros from the Liliane Foundation, is to be channeled towards the interventions of the Inclusion First initiative for the promotion of Inclusive Development for children and young persons with disabilities in Nigeria through the following thematic areas: healthcare, education; livelihood; social Inclusion; and, empowerment.
The beneficiaries of this grant come from low socio-economic backgrounds and live predominately in rural areas. The target is for the SPO and POs to reach at least 1,200 children and young persons with disabilities — including their estimated 5,000 family members annually in all 19 beneficiary states of Nigeria.
“I am looking forward to this journey and I encourage everyone to do their best to positively impact those whom we have been called to serve,” said Dr. Sunday Udo, National Director, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria.