TQM report,

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arraigned the national coordinator of the Federal Civil Service Staff with Disabilities Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alhaji. Illiasu Olanrewaju Abdulrauf, for alleged fraud to the tune of N359,710,000.

Abdulrauf was brought before Justice O.A. Musa, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Bwari, on a 17-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and other related offences which contravene Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2010 punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The charge in part reads, “That you Illiasu Olanrewaju Abdulrauf (M) between May, 2014 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being National Coordinator, Federal Civil Service Staff with Disabilities Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Abuja, with the intent to defraud, did obtain by false pretence, from Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation by awarding non existing contracts to them for construction of Rehabilitation Centers for persons with disabilities”.

It was alleged that the sum of N359,710,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira) was collected by the accused at different times between 2013 and 2017 from various companies as either inducement or awarding non existing contracts.

Counsel to ICPC, Sulaiman H. Abdulkareem, asked the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the next adjourned date but the lawyer to the accused, B. J. Komolafe, revealed to the court that his client has been on bail on the same matter. He therefore prayed the court to recognize and uphold the existing bail.

The trial Judge after careful consideration, said that since the accused was already on bail, he should continue to comply with the existing bail conditions. He was earlier granted bail in the sum of N20 million and also deposit his international passport with 2 sureties in like sum. One of the sureties shall be a public servant not below the rank of Grade Level 13 in the public service of the Federation and shall produce evidence of landed property within the FCT worth N20 million.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to 17th May, 2021 for commencement of hearing.

By Victor Madu, Owerri..

The rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri Dr. Michael Chidiebere Arimanwa on Thursday bagged a honorary award of Life Grand Patron conferred to him by the commission of those with disabilities.

The federally established commission which constitutes of both federal and states members of disability persons was led by the special adviser to Imo State Governor on disabilities Hon. Samuelson Emehibe and Hon. Jaja Onyejelam Oparaku to the event which took place at the institution’s 1,000 capacity hall.

Receiving the award, the rector expressed total happiness and astute delight,stating categorically that among all awards he has received since becoming the institution rector, none could be compared to that from the disabled persons.

He added that the institution has always been friendly with the commission and her members as their constitutional right to employment as enshrined by law have never been overlooked.

Furthermore, Arimanwa hinted that four persons were given instant employment in the institution yesterday outside the 6% that was formally employed statutorily l, adding that the institution will never cease to partner with the commission under his watch.

Similarly, the special adviser to the governor of Imo State on Disability Hon Samuelson Emehibe JP in an interview lauded the rector for his giant strides cum humanitarian services to mankind, stressing that the award conferred on him was merited and not a fluke.

Emehibe added that the institution rector stands best among his peers in South East and beyond following his unbeatable track records over the years in human capacity development as well as academic growth, further positing that his emergence as the rector is a blessing not only to the institution but Imo state at large.

He however thanked the Federal government for founding the incumbent rector worthy among many others, however warning detractors to sheath their swords in order to enable Engr. Michael Arimanwa administer the affairs of the school to a better position.

Sati Simon is person with physical disability from Kanke local government of Plateau State. He became a person with disability in 2011 as a result of motorcycle accident which affected his left leg and left hand. Now, he walks with the aid of crutches.

He had a chat with our correspondents Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle where he told them about his life, what is doing and his challenges.

 TQM. What work were you doing before the accident?

I was working as a civilian tailor on contract with the Nigerian Army.

TQM. What work are you doing now, after you became a person with disability?

I am still doing the tailoring but this time not with the Army, I have opened my own private tailoring shop.

Why did you go back to Tailoring?

I love Tailoring so much to the extent that if I have any of my limbs working, I will use it to sew. Disability can’t stand on the way of my passion.

TQM. The shop you are running your business in, is it a rented property?

It is a family property, which I don’t pay rent.

TQM. What happened between you and the Nigerian Army with regards to your contract work with them, after you became a person with disability?

I did not go back to them.

TQM. Were you privileged as a child to have formal education?

I schooled up secondary school level, I did my primary and secondary school at Army day primary and secondary school at Sobi barrack Ilorin in kwara state. While I was schooling, I was also engaged in learning the art of fashion designing.

TQM. Are you married?

Yes, I am married to a wife and we are blessed with a daughter.

TQM. Is your daughter schooling?

She is in school; she is now in Junior Secondary School class one.

TQM. Who is paying for her school fee?

1 and my wife are paying for her education.

TQM. As a person with disability, what are your experience in regards to abuse of your rights and discrimination?

People do discriminate against me, but that is an aspect of life that, I have for long adjusted to.

TQM. How do you respond to discrimination and abuse of your rights?

I put such matters in the hands of God.

TQM. Governments in various levels, have established bodies that are to help in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Are you aware of these bodies?

Yes.

TQM. Have you ever received any assistance from anywhere to increase or run your business?

No.

TQM. Have you applied for such assistances?

Yes, but I was not successful.

TQM. Do you need assistance from government and members of the public in any way?

I am seeking for financial or material assistances, like sewing machine to better my business.

TQM. Thank you for sharing your time and story with us.

You are welcome.

By Chris Agbo,

On Saturday 27^th February 2021 in Abuja Nigeria, Step To the Top Leadership Centre recorded another landmark achievement by organizing a close out ceremony for the successful execution of Project Thinkable 2, where 30 women with disabilities participated and they did amazingly well in their community service projects.

Project Thinkable is a leadership capacity building programme designed by STLC to build the capacity of women with disabilities to lead and take charge of their lives. The project is being supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria.

The project is divided into two parts, the training workshop where the participants were trained for some days using leadership and life changing modules and the community service where the participants were attached to mentors to carry out community service project using the leadership skills they have acquired from the training. .

The 30 women with disabilities were amazing and they successfully carried out their various community service projects where they engaged in different projects such as reaching out to the indigent people in the society, cleaning of their environments to teach others how to keep their environment clean among other activities they carried out which the society benefited a lot from.

STLC having monitored and satisfied by the performance of these women rewarded them with Community Service Award alongside their mentors who dedicated their time and resources to ensure that the community service projects were successfully.

The Chief Executive Officer of STLC, Dr. Theresa Nwachukwu in her welcome address said that the women are energetic, smart, and intelligent and they have done very well in their respective projects in the last one year so, they deserve to be rewarded alongside their mentors. She said that STLC is grateful to the mentees for stepping out to carry out the community service projects in spite all the challenges they have. It is an indication that women with disabilities are strong people and they can do and achieve anything and what this project is meant to achieve was realized. She thanked all the friends and partners who supported the project in one way or the other.

Dr, Benjamine Wayo, in his keynote address urged the mentees not to lay emphasis on their disadvantages but they should focus on what they have and what they have is the secret of what they can become. He also told them that their disability can be an advantage, it is depends on how they work to change the presumed negativity to become an advantage. He reminded them that the world needs their help therefore; they should do what is right to add value to the society.

The Chairman of the event, Engr Adeolu Odusote while conducting the award presentation told the mentees and the mentors to see the award as a motivation to do more.

The awards were presented to mentees and their mentors including a special award to the project sponsor Oxfam Voice Nigeria.

The Special Guests in their goodwill messages after watching a documentary of Project Thinkable appreciated STLC for a wonderful project. They unanimously encouraged the organization to do more and urged other organizations and individuals to emulate what STLC is doing because there are millions of women with disabilities out there who deserve this kind of life coaching. It is a fact the women with disabilities face double challenges, going through discrimination as women and also as persons with disabilities. They urged the women not to relent because they have the world to conquer and they should be an example to many other women with disabilities out there.   

The chairman, Board of Trustees, STLC, Mr. Ike Nwachukwu told TQM that The Chief Executive Officer, STLC, Dr. Theresa Nwachukwu is passionate about assisting women and seeing how disadvantaged women with disabilities are, she decided to be assisting them as well. She did it on her own for years with my support as the husband, we have Rotary Club background and you know what they are known for.  It is not easy to reach out to many on your own, so, the idea of STLC came. Then, it became possible to get others on board to assist and also sponsors to help actualize the dream.

The MC of the event, Mr. Joseph Oformmadu who is also a person with disability in a chat with TQM said that it is amazing seeing an organization who can put together a project with far-reaching effect like this one in Nigeria because it is unfortunate, we do hear about people who will get grant, use the money for marriage ceremony or build a new house or buy a new car but, STLC got the money and utilized it judiciously. Seeing these women gathered is a thing of Joy. He expressed his respect for the organization and said that he is so proud associating with them.

Speaking further, he said that he is very happy that there is an organization like STLC who dedicated their resources towards giving hope to women with disabilities, we all know that the vulnerability of women with disabilities is double, they are persons with disabilities and they are women. With more groups like this, more women with disabilities will be empowered and their lives changed.

Blessing Ini, one of the awardees as a mentor, a sign language interpreter by profession told TQM that she is very excited and impressed because before now women with disabilities didn’t know that they can make any impact in the society but with the help of project thinkable 1 and 2, they are making impact and adding value to the society.  She expressed joy that their potentials have been brought out and she is hopeful they can do more. Blessing also said that as a mentor, her mentee is a deaf woman, she encouraged her to always express herself, and stop being shy and her self-esteem was built. Now, she has a group of women she is building their capacity on self-esteem and economic empowerment. So Project thinkable 2 have help to embolden her confidence.

The event witnessed the presence of men and women from all works of life and they all left the venue with the mindset that nothing can stop one from achieving great things.

TQM report,

Some pictures of his meetings

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commenced registration and profiling of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in the South-East for a 5-Day training on Information Technology and Entrepreneurship.

The training is taking place at Enugu State Technology Hub and Youth Innovation Centre from 1st – 5th March, 2021.

The training is an initiative of Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy being implemented by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to empower PWDs through IT entrepreneurship, policies, and solutions to enable them live productively with a healthy sense of inclusion in the IT ecosystem, immediate society, and the country at large.

TQM report,

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NCPWD PARTICIPATE AT THE ZONAL CONSULTATION ON THE REVIEW OF NATIONAL SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY FOR NORTH- EAST AND NORTH-WEST HOLDING TODAY MONDAY 1st MARCH 2021 IN KANO KANO STATE NIGERIA

SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT

By Awobona Ayodele

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, it is a wheeled mobility device in which the user sits, wheelchair are propelled either manually (by turning the wheels with the use of hand) or via various automated systems.

Wheelchair is used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, problems related to old age, or disability. Many types of orthopedic or neuromuscular impairments can impact mobility. These can include but not limited to spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, hemiplegia, and quadriplegia), muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, brain injury, osteogenesis imperfecta, motor neurone disease, polio, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, amputation, arthritis and so on.

There are a wide variety of types of wheelchair, differing by propulsion method, mechanisms of control, and technology used. Some wheelchairs are designed for general everyday use, others for single activities, or to address specific access needs. Innovation within the wheelchair industry is relatively common, but many innovations ultimately fall by the wayside owing to failing to come to market at an accessible price-point. 

The International Wheelchair Day was first launched in 2008 and it is a day set aside to be celebrated on March 1^st of every year which is aimed to celebrate the positive impact wheelchairs have for people with disabilities and its users. The determination, efforts and achievement of people who either provide accessibility to wheelchairs or for those who support and care for all wheelchair users has made the world a better and more accessible place for people with mobility issues.

International Wheelchair Day is also an opportunity to give appreciation to the caregivers and loved ones who support wheelchair users in so many ways. The day is also used to acknowledge the incredible things wheelchairs users accomplish every day and it further aimed to raise awareness and lend in helping hands to tens of millions of people who are in need of a wheelchair, but are unable to acquire one.

Members of Rebuilding Hope on Wheels Initiatives (RHOWI) while sharing their wheelchair experience were all happy for the invention of wheelchair because they saw it as a great relief that ease their ambulation after the pronouncement of living with spinal cord injury, they believe their wheelchair is their new legs and means of mobility.

However, there is complain of lack of quality wheelchairs in the market, most available wheelchairs are not user friendly which eventually contribute to bad posture of its users which bring back pains to the user. It is hoped that all stakeholders will put all hands on deck in recommending appropriate wheelchair for its users and government should also step up in regulating importation of quality wheelchairs and probably go ahead to subsidized its purchase for its users because quality wheelchair could be expensive.

Another shortcoming members of RHOWI like other wheelchair users highlighted is lack of accessibility in almost all public places which is therefore affecting the confidence level of the user in moving around. The attitude of majority of the populace towards wheelchair users is another thing most people who shared their experience detest because they can’t explain why people used to stare at them while in their wheelchair.

Another thing of worry to wheelchair user in Nigeria is how transporters normally do treat them, once they flag a taxi they see it as an opportunity to charge triple if not more because they know the person have no option.

Rebuilding Hope on Wheels Initiatives (RHOWI) a non-governmental and no for profit organization that had been championing the cause of persons with spinal cord injury is using the significance of this day to plead with the government to create a more accessible society to wheelchairs users in the society.

We are also reaching out to the generality of the society to have a positive perspective and outlook of wheelchair users, think it out that it could have been you before you treat them in an unpleasant way, before you render help ask them how they will want you to help with their wheelchair or wheeling them.

We are also pleading with the transporters in the society to always have empathy before charging a wheelchair user arbitrarily and outrageously, just treat them as you would have love to be treated if it had been you.

Wheelchairs provide people with disabilities more than mobility and independence. They allow people to accomplish amazing things!

The article was endorsed by Amina Audu, the Founder and Executive Director, RHOWI