Grace Jerry is a disability rights advocate, Peace promoter and music artiste working to create an inclusive world where everyone counts. Within the last few years Grace has brought freshness to advocacy efforts in Nigeria through her unique blend of passion and music bringing prominence to the important roles Persons with disabilities can play in National development.
In 2010 she emerged the first ever Miss Wheel Chair National Queen on African soil and has remained consistent in her passion to mainstream disability in key development ever since. Grace Jerry is the co-founder of the Inclusive Friends Association, an organization that works to bring disability issues at the heart of development efforts in Nigeria through advocacy, training and action.
With support from the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Program(NSRP), Inclusive Friends undertook a groundbreaking study on documenting the experiences of Women with Disabilities in the face of violence conflicts in Plateau State with findings from study already shaping policy processes, actions and programming at state levels in Nigeria.
Even in Water and Sanitation, Grace speaks up against violence as demonstrated by her commitment at reducing risks of violence of vulnerable groups such as girls and women with disabilities as a result of inadequate access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in Nigeria through her role as Water Aid Nigeria official Spokesperson on Disability in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). In 2012 she spearheaded a benefit concert tagged “Music for Toilets” and proceeds from her music album used to provide 20 Toilets for School for the Blind Children Gindiri, Plateau State
Grace Jerry is a recipient of numerous awards and sits on diverse committees Including the Sustainable Total Sanitation National Advisory Committee and Observatory steering committee on Violence Against Women and Girls respectively.
Early this year, Grace Jerry participated in the Young African Leadership forum at Washington DC where she joined other 500 young Africans to undergo 6 weeks leadership exchange program. Highlight of the event was production of YALI tribute song by Grace jerry and having the honour of introducing President Obama on stage during the townhall meeting organized by the American president.