The Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI) has formally inaugurated its eleven-member Coordination Group, marking a major milestone in the organization’s institutional growth and commitment to inclusive development.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the AHBN Conference Hall in Kano State, included the presentation of letters of engagement and the unveiling of V-PeSDI’s strategic agenda for 2026.
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The event also served as a platform to review V-PeSDI’s key achievements in 2025, which include:
Active participation in the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDHL) on Immunization Budget Tracking, Accountability, and Advocacy under the AHBN.
Conducting accessibility checklist audits to assess the availability of disability-friendly spaces and support services across 76 public institutions, NGOs, and civil society organizations.
Convening multi-stakeholder engagements focused on strengthening inclusive support systems for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.
Delivering the keynote address, Acting Coordinator Aftahana Dahiru Sarina outlined the organization’s strategic “Way Forward for 2026,” anchored on three priority objectives:
Strengthen collaboration with the Kano State Headquarters of INEC to enhance voter education and electoral participation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Champion the establishment of a Kano State Accountability Forum on Disability to promote, track, and monitor the implementation of inclusive policies.
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As well as Intensifying partnerships with the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled to design and develop a comprehensive framework for a population census of Persons with Disabilities in Kano State.
Sarina expressed profound appreciation to V-PeSDI’s development partners for their sustained support, highlighting contributions from the AMG Foundation, Africa Health Budget Network, Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR), Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS), White Heart Development Initiative, PACE, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Sani Muhammad Fagge, described the inauguration as a strategic step toward strengthening governance, accountability, and operational excellence within the organization.
“This inauguration aligns our collective efforts toward delivering sustainable and measurable impact for vulnerable people,”
He emphasized that the Coordination Group will operate with transparency, evidence-based decision-making, collaboration, and shared ownership of V-PeSDI’s mission.
The newly inaugurated Coordination Group comprises distinguished professionals with diverse expertise dedicated to advancing disability inclusion and social development.
Notable members include Mal. Salisu Yusuf (AMMKaS), Dr. Binta Bala (Director, Department of Persons with Disabilities, Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disabled), Dr. Hadiza Shettima (Technical Adviser, REMASAB), Mustapha Usman Jibril (physically impaired person), and Juwairiyya Dahiru Muaz, among others.
Board Member Hajiya Nafisa Murtala highlighted the importance of teamwork, professionalism, and institutional integrity as pillars of V-PeSDI’s effectiveness and credibility.
In his closing remarks, the Director Operations, AMG Foundation Malam Suleiman Umar Jalo reflected on V-PeSDI’s evolution, citing landmark interventions such as the provision of tricycles for students with disabilities at Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, and the establishment of accessible toilets at Tudun Maliki Special Education School.
He also noted the formal leadership transition in 2025, aimed at strengthening the organization’s capacity to promote equity, inclusion, and an improved quality of life for vulnerable populations.
Other dignitaries at the event included Mal. Ibrahim (Kano State Programme Coordinator, RoLAC II), Zainab Nasir Ahmad (Executive Director, YOSPIS), Khadija Aliyu Ammani (Executive Director, White Heart Development Initiative), and Nafisa Ibrahim Shehu (Executive Administrator, CHR).