Lois Auta () (born 29 April 1980) is the founder and chief executive officer at the
Cedar Seed Foundation, an organization that promotes the participation of women with disabilities into human rights based development in Nigeria. She focuses on inclusive legislation for people with disabilities.
In 2019, Auta ran for the
Federal Capital Territory
A capital district, capital region, or capital territory is normally a specially designated administrative division where a country's seat of government is located. As such, in a federal model of government, no state or territory has any politic ...
's AMAC (Abuja Municipal Area Council)/Bwari National Assembly seat, in 2022 she vied for the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat to represent Kaura constituency under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) but lost at the primary to Nehemiah Sunday. She faced discrimination as a female physically challenged politician."
Early life
Auta was born in
Jos Plateau
The Jos Plateau is a plateau located near the centre of Nigeria. The plateau has given its name to the Plateau State in which it is found and is named for the state's capital, Jos. The plateau is home to people of diverse cultures and languages ...
,
Plateau State
Plateau is a northern states of Nigeria, Nigerian state. It is located in the north-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria and includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and Tourism". Th ...
, Nigeria, on 29 April 1980 into the Auta Akok family of Kukum Gida
Kagoro
Gworok, (also ; ), is a large town in Southern Kaduna, southern Kaduna State, Middle Belt Nigeria. It is located in the Kaura, Nigeria, Kaura Local Government Area of Nigeria, Local Government Area. Gworok is a Christian-dominated town. It is h ...
,
Education
As a child, Auta contracted
polio
Poliomyelitis ( ), commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 75% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe ...
and was confined to a wheelchair. She holds a diploma and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the
University of Abuja
The University of Abuja or Yakubu Gowon University is a federal university located in Abuja, Nigeria. It was established in January 1988 (under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended) as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and ...
, Nigeria. She studied global business administration at
Nexford University, based in
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
.
In 2014, she participated in the
Young African Leaders Initiative
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is an initiative of the United States Department of State. It was started by President Barack Obama in 2010. YALI is a programme aimed at educating and networking young African leaders with activities i ...
and was selected as a Mandela Washington fellow
Positions
*Auta is the founder and executive director of Cedar Seed Foundation.
* President of FCT Disabled Sports Club, Abuja
* Board Member of Federation of Civil Servants Staff with Disabilities Multipurpose Cooperative Society
* Assistant National Coordinator of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative
* Board Member of Potters Gallery Initiative
* Member of Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities
* Founder of Ability Africa
* President of Women on Wheels Multipurpose Cooperative Society
* Vice president of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association, Nigeria
References
External links
Cedar Seed Foundation website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auta, Lois
1980 births
Living people
Nigerian disability rights activists
Nigerian people with disabilities
Atyap people
Atyap women
People from Kaduna State
People from Southern Kaduna
Women from Southern Kaduna