Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation in partnership with Cedar Seed foundation with the support from MacArthur Foundation on Tuesday 28th March, 2023 organized a One Day conversation around corruption and how it is affecting persons with disabilites.
Amara Nwankpa, Director, Public Policy Initiative, Yar’adua Foundation in his opening remark said that essence of the event is bring to the front burner anti-corruption effort focused on self enforcement and public engagement. What the citizens can do better when they have power and how they hold themselves accountable. It is one way the citizens can begin to fight corruption in Nigeria.
For instance, in 2018, Disability Act was signed into law, there are certain ethics and behaviours that individuals needs to channel towards ensuring that the Act is fully implemented.
The founder and Executive Director, Cedar Seed foundation, Lois Auta while appreciating Yar’adua Foundation and MacArthur Foundation for their focus on disability, expressed dismay over unemployment of PWDs in Nigeria despite the existence of both local and international laws on disability(Article 27 of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (UNCRPD) stipulated employment opportunity for PWDs and Section 29 of Discrimination against Persons With Disabilites (Prohibition) Act 2018 also gives right for employment for PWDs).
She regreted that corruption has adversely affected PWDs because funds meant to empower or employ PWDs are mismanaged and many PWDs are suffering which has lead to death in some cases. She cited example with a lady on wheelchair who died in Jos during COVID-19 lockdown 2020 because she couldn’t afford her hospital bill.
The event tagged Social Inclusion: Nigerian Accountability Conversation was a full packed with other speakers such as Patience Dickson from National Commission For Persons With Disabilites (NCPWD), Donald Unaka from Potters Gallery Initiative and among others.
There was panel session with panelists like Comrade Chris Agbo from The Qualitative Magazine and JOMIDA Foundation, Apolmida Haruna Tsammani from Ministry of Justice and HalyHope Foundation, Pascal Chigozie Onyeocha from I Smile Because You Smile, Cynthia Ukachi from Network for Women With Disabilites and it was moderated by Edwin Iguodala from Irede Foundation.
Other speakers were Crystal Chigbu, Executive Director of Irede Foundation, a representative of Joe Ajaero of Nigerian Labour Congress, a representative of Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Ella Onyebe who exhibited some of her beautiful artworks.
Other participants at the event are NYSC members, youth groups and persons with disabilites.
