Theophilus Michael Odaudu
A peach gradient background with navy text has “The D-30 Disability Impact List” at the top centered above “2022 Honoree” which is in between two laurels. The words “Theophilus Michael Odaudu he/him/his Nigeria” is to the left of a picture of Theophilus, which fills the right. Theophilus A black man in a multicolored shirt wearing sunglasses. At the bottom, “Diversability, #D30DisList.” fills the left corner.
Theophilus Michael Odaudu (He/him/his)
Disability advocate and Grantmaker
Nigeria
Theophilus is passionate about disability rights and inclusion. He works with a grant-making organization (Disability Rights Fund) and uses his position to revolutionize the disability movement in Nigeria. He ensures the diversity of the portfolio by being intentional in his outreach to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Theophilus ensures that marginalized groups have needed support and access to funding. Through his work, more women with disabilities led, and grassroots organizations as well as groups like the deafblind, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and LGBTIQ persons with disabilities have access to grants for their rights advocacy work. This has resulted in a more comprehensive approach to disability issues in the country and the diversity of the movement.
From a grant portfolio of 6 OPDs in 2018, through Theophilus’s outreach and support, he increased the number to 16 in 2021, bringing over USD 1,000,000 of grant funds to the community from USD 150,000 in 2018.
We asked Theophilus if he would like to add anything else to his accomplishments, he stated: “I am a disability rights advocate who works to provide guidance and technical assistance (TA) to OPDs to access funding to advance rights. Through my work, the disability movement in Nigeria is stronger, and marginalized groups like women, the Deafblind, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and LBQ persons with disabilities are more visible with access to funding and TA. I grew the funding portfolio in Nigeria from 6 to 16 in 3 years, and over US$ 1,000,000 in funding from US$ 150,000.”