The founder and CEO of Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International (ERPDI), Eric Ufom, has decried the waste and misuse of funds meant for advocacy, and negotiation of disability and inclusive related matters, INN reports
Ufom shared his thoughts on the sad development on his facebook page. While sharing his views, he rhetorically asked,
“Is Forty Million Naira (N40, 000,000 only), which represents a small fraction of Millions of Dollars, from the USAID’s and U.S. Mission to Nigeria’s, America Taxpayers Money, grant/donation, to 25.5 Million Nigerians with Disabilities, a waste of the American Taxpayers money because of lack of Disability-Inclusive, Nigerian National Annual Budgets, for its continuity and Sustainability? He asked if it was right for a few Leaders of the World’s most populous educated/lawyers black nation of persons with disabilities, NIGERIA, knowingly or deliberately and intelligently conspired with each other, to refuse true implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), especially its article 4, just because they did not directly or indirectly,  participate during its advocacy and negotiation with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to sign and ratify this UN human rights treaty of the 21st Century?
Ufom pointed out that Nigerian-Americans with Disabilities living in the United States, led by his very self, yearly travels to Washington, DC, United States of America, to advocate, negotiate and lobby with the United States Government, United States Congress, Department of States and USAID-Headquarters, to help address serious constitutional issues of concerns for over 25.5 million Nigerians with Disabilities through the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, USAID-Nigeria and others.
He however  thank the USAID headquarters for trusting him and others and granting their requests.
INN learnt that still lament, together with his group, why the leaders of the World’s most populous Educated/Lawyers, black nation of Persons with disabilities (Nigeria), were not able to successfully, advocate or negotiate with the Federal Republic of Nigeria for support funds or Disability-Inclusive, national annual budgets, which would guaranteed continuity and sustainability of  the United States Government’s American Taxpayers money.
Ufom complained that every single program/projects financed with the American Taxpayers money has failed, due to lack of Continuity and Sustainability and Nigeria’s Disability-Inclusive, national Annual Budgets.  Same also happened to every Federal and States programs, projects and services for 25.5 million Nigerians with Disabilities throughout Nigeria.
He however  thanked Senator Izunaso among some other notable person who fought greatly for the disability community. He says, “we thank our God’s called MOSES, the Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso, his Kpakpando Foundation and Mrs. Patricia Ovuoke John-Oseh, for answering to their God’s calling jobs, to help us, Nigerian-Americans with Disabilities and our Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPOs), Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc finish up excellent jobs we started by directly, intervening, to advocate and negotiate, in collaboration with us, to find the missing Nigerians with Disabilities Rights Bill for signing into law with an essential, independent Implication Commission.
“When the Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso, Mrs. Patricia Ovuoke Oseh and their Kpakpando Foundation’s God’s calling jobs for 25.5 million Nigerians with Disabilities are completed, they will guarantee, Disability-Inclusive national Annual Budgets and save the United States Government’s American Taxpayers Money, Ufom said. Â
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