Strengthening Institutional Capacity: NNAD Convenes Two -Day Capacity Building Workshop for National Excos, BoTs (KEY TAKEAWAYS)

by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe

20th February, 2026

Abuja, FCT -Nigeria. The National Headquarters of Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) has, as part of its ongoing effort to enhencing administrative performance and Strengthening governance for effective service delivery  within its ranks, convened a state-of-the-art capacity building training for the National Executives members, National Board of Trustees (BoTs) and secretarial staff in FCT, Abuja. 

The high level intensive capacity building training engagement was conducted inside the Class Suites Hotel premise, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Jabi, Abuja from 16th to 17th February, 2026  This training is designed to equip executives with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively drive positive change in their communities.

The training according to the Project  Director, Mal. Aliyu Mai, focuses on seven  key areas:, including governance versus management roles, financial oversight in underfunded projects, accountability and transparency standards, safeguarding obligations, and compliance expectations for internationally funded NGOs, which are a driving forces for achieving  uptimum service delivery by means of developing strategic approaches to advocacy, improving work and relationship ethics among Excos and members alike, as well as  strengthening Institutional grant accessibility, decision making process, among other important benefits. The  participants were  empowered to make a greater impact in their work as respectable leaders of NNAD in line with international best practices.

This training, Ability News Network understands,  is a vital investment in the capacity of NNAD leaders in Nigeria and is expected to have a lasting and positive impact on the thriving Deaf communities they serve.

Speaking during the event, the lead facilitator Dr. ThankGod Okosun emphasized the urgent need for NNAD to develop a Board manual to guide tenure, accountability, and operational procedures in line with international standards, warning that the absence of such vital policies could create governance challenges within the NNAD. 

He also drew the attention of the NNAD leaders on the importance of  accountability in archiving organizational and institutional goal.

Earlier in his remarks, the immediate past  Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. James Lalu called for the complete overhauling of the NNAD's constitution to create room for assemilating new strategic ideas, urging that a formal  review to various aspects of the NNAD's Constitution is sacrosanctly necessary in order to recognize the grant-sourcing efforts of Secretarial staff. 

In their separate speeches, the National President of NNAD, Malam Haruna Muhammad Tsafe, expressed immense gratitude to the training facilitators for their concerns and impactful efforts towards the development of NNAD, he encouraged the trainees  to fully utilize the knowledge garnered thereof and strive to ensure full scale implementation of  the training is fully realised.  Mr. Uche Andrew, a representive of the  JONAPWD, further urged the participants to embrace learning, using the analogy of an egg to illustrate the nurturing of knowledge.

Also speaking, Mr. Theophilus,,,,a Representative of the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) Africa, emphasized the DRF’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) across Africa.

MAJOR TAKEAWAYS:

 The training pave way for the following major decisions to be extensively deliberated: 

LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE: The capacity of the participants were built on the undaniable notion that the President serves as the head of the NNAD's Secretariat, while the management team (Secretariat staff) functions as the technocrates and permanent arm of the organization. The Programme Director was identified as the operational head responsible for managing budgets and financial resources, while the President remains accountable to the Board.

A BIG MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB: The attention of the trainees were duly drawn on the  common denominator which constitute a big mountain to climb on NNAD's journey to accessing projects funding. The lack of audit reports has been identified as a major huddle in the process to access conventional project funding within and outside the nation. Poor transparency, including selective reporting, resistance to audits, undocumented decisions, and concentration of financial information in a single individual has also been identified as the red flag militating against the progress of NNAD in the financial aspect. 

A CRISIS OF INSTITUTIONAL INDISCIPLINE: 

 The trainees were further equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge required to address the challenges of institutional corruption, nepotism, gross indiscipline etc through the instrumentality of developing stronger organizational safeguarding and unbiased zero tolerance for unacceptable conducts and behavior on the side of those entrusted with leadership roles within the NNAD.

The facilitator also used the occasion to share  that internal systems alone are insufficient without a strong organizational culture, adding that leadership must set the tone through zero tolerance for corruption, clear reporting lines, protection for whistleblowers, and performance systems tied to compliance. He concluded that zero tolerance for misconduct must be operationalized and that safeguarding should remain a standing agenda item for leadership, emphasizing that safeguarding is about protection rather than merely avoiding scandal.

THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE: 

At the concluded section of the two-day capacity building  programme, the trainees collectively took a safeguarding oath as a demonstration of their total commitment towards upholding ethical standards, a promise to protect vulnerable members of the association, and refrain from any form of exploitative behavior or abuse of power. 

HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE DEAF:

The outcome of the all-important programme, according to NNAD leadership, is expected to equip the organization with essential skills and structures needed to strengthen governance, enhance accountability, and promote sustainable development. It is hoped that the knowledge garnered by the National Excos and National BoTs would be utilized judiciously in the day to day running of the affairs of Deaf community in Nigeria and serve as a guiding light and principles for upcoming generation to emulate and upheld for the overall development and progress of NNAD.

The training was graced by the top heirachy of NNAD including the Chairman of the NNAD Board of Trustees, Chief Zubairu Mamman Isah Dugu, Board members Alhaji Usman Nahuche and Mr. Laurence Idemodia, NNAD National Excos lead by the National president Mal. Haruna Muahammad Tsafe, Project Director, Mal. Aliyu Mai, JONAPWD representative, Mr. Uche Andrew, DRF Africa representative, Mr. Theophilus,, former Executive Secretary NCPWD, Dr. James Lalu, among others

RAMADAN: X-Future Music Group Distributes Food Items to Gombe PWDs Community, Pledge to Allocate Special Budget for PWDs in Gombe

 

By Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe

20th February, 2026

In a groundbreaking push towards championing inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and ensuring their overall progress and development in the wider society, the management of the X-Future Music Group, a committed and dedicated music company in Nigeria has come up with a specially disigned, PWDs-focused empowerment initiative - which is essentially geared towards putting smiles on the faces of PWDs by providing them with assorted relief items to cushion the effect of the lingering economic challenge facing them as one of the most vulnerable group in the society especially during this holy month of Ramadan. 

The empowerment according to the Ability News Network (ANN) reporter was borne out of the group undying resolve to give back to society and support the most neglected and vulnerable segment of the society.

In a conversation with the ANN, the Team Manager of the company, Mr. Omuofa Ejiro Blessing, emphasized the objective of his organization and what the company aim to achieve as one of the vibrant and major employer of labour in Nigeria. 

He stated, “‎X Future Music Group (XM) is a globally renowned music company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Los Angeles, USA. Its core businesses encompass music production, artist development, music promotion, and other music-related industries”

‎‎”Our goal in Nigeria is very clear: we want every employee to earn a stable, genuine, and sustainable income through XM's music business. At the same time, we can grow together with the company and become part of the world-class music industry. Please rest assured that XM is a multinational company with a 20-year history of development and holding legal qualifications worldwide”

‎”It is crucial to remember: XM is a job, and all income is earned through labor and work performance. It is not an investment platform”

‎

Cross section of the beneficiaries awaiting to receive their share of the food items packages

On shifting the focus to PWDs, Mr. Omuola expressed delight and gratitude to his staff for supporting the initiative, saying “I'm really happy that my organization have it in mind to touch these set of people and hope to do more in the future. These are set of people that need the help of every individual in the country,and our main aim is to assist them in our little way”

He added, “this is the first time of holding such events with this set of people. My organization will do everything possible to make sure we  include them in our budget so as to ensure we always reach out to them. We will enlighten the person that the disabled people are part of us and must handle them with care and love by doing so they will feel love”

Reacting to the persistent challenge anyone desiring to handle the affairs of persons  with disablities could face especially the hearing and speech impaired among them, Mr. Omuofa lamented that “It may be very difficult to really communicate with them but it is better if one can look for an interpreter that will go a long way”

“I have not been really updated about their story but I try as much as possible to put more attention to their matter.  I'm happy right now for my organization to approve this charity welfare so as touch their lives. We hope to keep touch people with disabilities in the city of Gombe” he concluded.

The food items distribution programme underscores the X-Future Music Group's commitment to alleviating the suffering of the poor and needy especially PWDs who have been at the receiving end of gross societal neglect. The event was attended by various leaders and members of disability community of Gombe state cutting across different clusters of PWDs who thronged in front of Joy Academy, Buba shongo street to witness the distribution of assorted food items including the packages of spaghetti, bags of rice, cartoons of Maggi cube, detergents and cooking oils to over 50 benefiaries.

Sub-section of PWDs listening with raft attention during the engagement 

Promoting Inclusivity for PWDs in Film Industry; DADI Began Hunt for Deaf Actress

 

By Yusuf Mohammed Lawan,  Gombe

1st. February, 2026

In a bid to promote the full  inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream film industry, the Discovering Ability in Disabilities (DADI) is seeking for a talented Deaf (female) actress to play a Deaf role in an upcoming sign language laden film titled “Inclusivity.” which is expected to make round  soon.

This was announced by the immediate past National Youth Leader (NYL) of Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) Comrade Ebuka Okeke in a statement he signed and shared on his social media (Facebook) page seeing by the Ability News Network (ANN) correspondent on Sunday. 

In a statement Ebuka emphasized that the upcoming film seeks to enlighten the audience on what the disablity law ratified by the Nigerian state entails, educate the society on the terrible plights faced by persons with disabilities wherever they are, provide discerning understanding of disabilities.

 His words “the film focuses on promoting practical inclusion and raising awareness about the Discrimination (Prohibition) Act 2018. It will feature top Nollywood stars and aims to advocate for disability rights through media and entertainment”

“If you are a Deaf actress ready to be part of this impactful project, we would love to hear from you” he added.

To be eligible for the juicy role of Deaf actress in the impending film, Okeke noted that any interested Deaf lady who considers herself as an experienced Deaf actress, or an amateur one who seeks to develop her skills in the movie genre, should without any hastitation send her details comrising short introduction and expressions of interest to  +234 806 900 3837 (Whatsapp) before 2nd February 2026.