Photo of the Day: Obama embraces Nigeria’s disability rights activist Grace Alache Jerry

U.S. President Barack Obama embraces Nigerian disability-rights activist and musician Grace Alache Jerry after she introduced him during the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel August 3, 2015 in Washington, DC.

Identified as Sub-Saharan Africa’s ‘most promising young leaders,’ 

500 people were invited by the U.S. State Department for the three-day summit where they interact with representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. AFP

And this from AP:

President Barack Obama thanks human rights advocate, African singer Grace Alache Jerry of Nigeria after she introduced him at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellowship Presidential Summit in Washington, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Gracie is a music artist, disability rights advocate, and peace promoter in Nigeria. She brought freshness to advocacy efforts through her unique blend of passion and music, bringing prominence to the important roles of persons with disabilities in development. Since emerging Miss Wheelchair National queen she has remained consistent in her passion to mainstream disability in development issues, through her work at Inclusive Friends where she works as director, providing direction and inspiration for change. 

As WaterAid Nigeria’s official spokesperson on disability in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Gracie works to ensure inclusive access for persons with disabilities and to end violence through benefit concerts, the proceeds of which have provided toilets for schools serving children with disabilities. Gracie plans to use the knowledge and experience she gains from the Fellowship in deepening her advocacy efforts to end discrimination and violence against women with disabilities in Nigeria.