{{Short description|Nigerian CEO}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Lois Auta | image = Lois Auta, Disability Rights Activist & Founder, Cedar Seed Foundation.jpg | alt = | caption = Lois Auta | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|04|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Jos, Nigeria | spouse = Mr Innocent | children = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Nbwuat'ayan | occupation = activist | known_for = Rights of persons living with disabilities | title = Chief executive officer | website = {{URL|cedarseedfoundation.org}}{{dead link|date=March 2019}} }}
'''Lois Auta''' ({{Pronunciation|Ig-Lois Auta.ogg |help=no}}) (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.<ref>{{cite web|title=President Buhari to host tech's brightest minds at Aso Rock|url=http://www.nigeriannewspapers.today/2016/08/04/president-buhari-to-host-techs-brightest-minds-at-aso-rock/|publisher=Nigerian Newspaper Toda|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref>
In 2019, Auta ran for the Federal Capital Territory's AMAC (Abuja Municipal Area Council)/Bwari National Assembly seat, in 2022 <ref>{{Cite news |last=Rapheal |date=2022-07-04 |title=Road to 2023: Why APC'll win 2023 poll –Lois Auta, founder of Cedar Seed Foundation |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/road-to-2023-why-apcll-win-2023-poll-lois-auta-founder-of-cedar-seed-foundation/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2023-02-16 |newspaper=The Sun|language=en-us}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ukwu|first=Jerrywright|date=2019-02-10|title=Meet Lois Auta, a physically-challenged woman running for office in Abuja|url=https://www.legit.ng/1220931-election-2019-my-major-agenda-inclusive-legislation-lois-auta.html|access-date=2021-03-13|newspaper=Legit.ng|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=From where I stand: "Disability will not stop me from achieving my dreams."|url=https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/2/from-where-i-stand-lois-auta|access-date=2021-03-13|website=UN Women|date=6 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life== Auta was born in Jos Plateau, Plateau State, Nigeria, on 29 April 1980 into the Auta Akok family of Kukum Gida Kagoro,<ref name=ore>{{cite news |last1=Ore |first1=Dorcas Omolade |title=Auta: Disability is blessing in disguise |url=https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/auta-disability-is-blessing-in-disguise/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|accessdate=11 March 2019 |agency=Guardian Newspapers |date=14 August 2016|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
==Education == As a child, Auta contracted polio and began using a wheelchair. She holds a diploma and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. She studied global business administration at Nexford University, based in Washington, DC.
In 2014, she participated in the Young African Leaders Initiative and was selected as a Mandela Washington fellow <ref>{{cite web|title=Biographies-of-the-2014-mandela-washington-fellows|url=http://opportunitiesforafricans.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Biographies-of-the-2014-mandela-washington-fellows/|publisher=YALI |accessdate=13 September 2022}}</ref>
== Positions== *Auta is the founder and executive director of Cedar Seed Foundation.<ref name=shef>{{cite news|url=https://sheforumafrica.com/speakers/lois-auta/|accessdate=16 October 2016|publisher=SHE Forum Africa|title=Lois AUTA|date=16 October 2016}}</ref> * 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== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://cedarseedfoundation.org/ Cedar Seed Foundation website] {{Commons category}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auta, Lois}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian disability rights activists Category:Nigerian people with disabilities Category:Nigerian wheelchair users Category:Atyap people Category:Atyap women Category:People from Southern Kaduna Category:Women from Southern Kaduna Category:People from Kaduna State