Category: Sunday magazine

What does it feel like to have your two windows to the physical world perpetually shut? How do blind people feel and how do they cope with the trauma, frustrations and challenges that come with their situation, especially in a world so fast-paced, even the sighted are left panting? Gboyega Alaka journeys into their ‘dark’ world.

TO many, a peep into the world of the visually-impaired or blind people might simply mean to close their eyes tight for a couple of minutes and probably try to move around, groping. That, to them, is being visually-impaired or blind, since literally, they, too, for those chosen moments cannot see anything. But is it really that simple? Have they bothered to stop and think about the fact that whilst they have the option and are, indeed, assured of an ability to once again open their eyes whenever they choose and behold the beautiful light spectrum and spectacle of this world, the same cannot be said of people really suffering from visual impairment or blindness? Theirs is a window perpetually closed. And even though some of them have their physical eyes wide open, they see practically nothing in the physical world, be it colour or shape; except from that generated through their individual ‘mind’s eye,’ or as communicated to them by borrowed eyes.

This much was revealed by Ladipo Tade, President, Society for the Welfare of the Blind in Nigeria (SWBN), who’s been blind for over 23 years.

Most interesting and heart-warming, however, is Tade’s disclosure that the visually-impaired or blind “are not in perpetual darkness,” as most sighted people are wont to believe, because as he put it, “we have our mind’s eye.”

According to Tade, there are two classes of blindness: “Those who were born blind; who have never seen anything physical in their whole lives, and those of us who became blind along the line.” And the major difference between both classes, he volunteered further, is that “What I can see in my mind’s eye, such as colour red, blue, different shape, a person who was born visually-impaired would not be able to imagine, let alone see in his mind.”

Having said that, he added that a typical blind man is literally “staring at darkness; and I mean 4-gig darkness. My blindness, by the way, is as a result of an eye ailment I had; glaucoma.”

He became blind as a result of an accident in 1989, which sent him into a coma for a whole week. By the time he regained consciousness, Tade discovered he couldn’t see with his right eye. Thereafter, doctors diagnosed glaucoma, and thence began a ‘situation rescue journey’ that saw him visiting notable eye specialist centres and specialists across the country, including the most popular miracle churches of the time. He recalled that he even spent one whole year in a Lagos church, hoping for a miracle. And that is in addition to earlier visits to traditionalists, spiritualists and all sorts. As a ‘happening guy’ in Surulere, Lagos in those days, Tade said that it was difficult to accept the reality of his new situation, and recalled a night when he came back home with a pack of valium, to swallow and slip into perpetual oblivion.

He took that decision as a result of the ensuing trauma, which he said could make a person in his situation do anything. Luckily, a friend of his came visiting on the night and insisted they went out together.

Tade, who is today a proud father of five boys, was thus saved from what he now sees as a foolish decision. That incident also kind of gave him the idea that God was preserving him for a purpose. He is a qualified pilot with his PPL (Private Pilot License) and awaiting his CPL (Commercial Pilot License) when the tragedy struck, and had altogether seemed condemned, since there was no way he could have continued pursuing that line of aspiration.

 

Living in a flux

What about the frustration of not being able to see and appreciate a beautiful woman, a beautiful house etc?

“No, I don’t feel any frustration,” he replied.

At first, he did, mainly because of the initial trauma. But after a while, he got rehabilitated and got over it. So, right now, he declared: “I don’t feel any frustration; and that is where contentment comes in. I go abroad a lot; the US and other countries we are registered in the US as a non-profit organisation. And going there, I admire things in my own way. But sometimes, we also use other people’s eyes as ours. But you know that one person’s opinion might not always be correct; so we sometimes ask for a third opinion. And that is why people say that blind people don’t trust.”

 

“I once played football with Stephen Keshi.”

However, if there is anytime Tade ever feels low and really frustrated, he revealed that it is when a football match is being played. “I didn’t just love football; I played football with some of the biggest stars of those days, including the present chief coach of the national team, Stephen Keshi. We went to St. Finbar’s College together and there were also Samson Siasia, Wakilu Oyenuga, Olumide Banjo, Taiwo Afinni; and so many others. Then we all used to play at the former UAC football ground, now the Teslim Balogun Stadium. So if there really is anytime I feel a little bit down, it’s when a football match is being played.”

Finding his purpose

Somehow, his popularity, outward nature and charisma came in handy; when he helped a fellow visually impaired friend and student raise N20,000 to offset his training bills. The young man had been sent packing from the Vocational Training Centre of the Nigerian Society for the Blind in Oshodi, and was even finding it hard to raise transport fare to go back home to Ogbomoso. The sudden discovery that he (Tade) could easily raise money spurred him on and soon, he founded the Society for the Welfare of the Blind in Nigeria (SWBN), an organisation that has for about two decades pursued the overall development needs of the blind in Nigeria. It was founded in 1995.

But Tade is just one out of several other visually-impaired Nigerians who have weathered the challenges of their situation, and found their space and purpose in life.

THE BLIND PUBLISHER/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sulaiman Salam Bamidele, popularly known as SSB amongst his friends, is another visually-impaired gentleman who is soldiering on self-assuredly. Bamidele is a trained broadcast journalist with exploits in radio and TV. He also publishes T’atiwere (The Alert), a bi-lingual (Yoruba and English) community-based magazine that chronicles local events and happenings in its locality. Bamidele is also a final year Mass Communications student of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode.

Like Tade, he was also born with functional eyes until an unfortunate accident in his secondary school days robbed him of his sight. He said, “It was in my JSS 2. I was crouching under a mango tree, scribbling on the ground as most students would want to do; but unknown to me, a fellow student was swinging right above me. It happened that I got up at the same time his feet swung towards me and they hit me directly in the eyes. Immediately, blood started gushing out of my eye sockets. My parents and everybody rallied round me, but to no avail.”

As soon as he found himself in this ‘entirely different world,’ Bamidele disclosed that he quickly came to terms with his situation. “Besides, I hate to be pitied; I hate pity-patty; so I refused to give room for it in any way.”

Interestingly, he also said that he does not feel bad that he is blind. “I feel good, so long as I am contending favourably with my sighted counterparts. Besides, I pride myself as someone who is able to do things even sighted men cannot do.”

Bamidele also revealed that he feels no frustration whatsoever, saying that he wished his friends were present during the interview with this reporter.

“They would be in the best position to tell you the kind of person I am. I am a very happy person and I love being around happy people. I also play and joke a lot, to the extent that some of my friends even see me as unserious.”

He’d seen enough sadness in life, not to opt for the brighter side of it, he said.

Are there occasions when he feels frustrated, out of wanting desperately to see something?

“No. What is it that I want to see?” he asked sharply.

He’d seen things before the accident, and he still has the images of his parents ingrained in his mind. He also does not need to see a person’s face to be able to relate with them. “All I need is your IQ, because I like intelligent people around me. Otherwise, I try to raise your IQ to the level where I can relate with you I do that to the youths around me a lot. But if you’re not trainable, then we can’t be friends because you must be able to challenge me. You can only become a champion from being challenged.”

On a more serious note, he revealed that he made up his mind from the onset never to take advantage of his situation to eke out a living, adding that those who do “are a shame to this world.”

His message, therefore, is for such people to discover themselves, as there is no life without challenges.

Asked how he performs his editor’s duties, when he cannot even read, he retorted: “I can read.

“I am the editor, so I write the stories once the reporters come with the news and reports and I even edit the ones they write. And then I also translate. Don’t forget it is a bi-lingual magazine.”

He is able to do this once the system is equipped with a Screen Reader Software. The software ensures that any key you punch on the system is automatically read out in a speaker or ear-piece.

Oluwakayode Akano, a 200-level Sociology student of the University of Lagos who became visually impaired in his teenage years, however, declared that “not being able to see is a devastating condition.”

Now in his twenties, he revealed that his condition is a result of cataract, which unfortunately defied all efforts deployed to stem it. He recalled that it was a sorrowful condition for him at the initial stage, adding that he “almost lost hope of ever being useful in life.” He also became an introvert and stayed home for 10 years, employing all tricks possible to avoid his peers.

Akano disclosed that he also visited several churches, seeking miracles that refused to come. Fortunately, people rallied round him and encouraged him that all hope was not lost, and that he could still go back to school.

 

Challenges as a student

He noted that his disability is affecting him adversely in his academic quest. “Those of us who were born blind or who got blind at tender ages adapt more quickly to the visually-impaired learning facilities, as against someone like me who became blind as a teenager.”

Akano also doubles as a gospel singer and is already garnering popularity performing in churches. He, however, has another ambition, which is to become an activist right after school.

“I want to be an activist, especially for the physically-challenged and even normal people facing life’s challenges, so as to make them know that in all situations, there is hope.”

Adewole Oriyomi, a 100 level student, also of the University of Lagos, used to see until 1997 when a yellow fever attack robbed him of his prized possession. Not even a visit to the University College Hospital, Ibadan could help him recover his eyesight.

He, however, revealed that he has refused to be depressed despite the loss, as he remains convinced that “there is hope.”

He does almost everything by himself; and the only time he gets a bit sad is whenever there is an urgent need for him to do something swiftly, and he is not able to because of his situation.

 

Dealing with the visually-impaired

Ladipo Tade commended members of the public for always wanting to help. He, however, issued a note of caution and a couple of tips.

“Whilst trying to be of help, especially in crossing the road, they end up dragging us in a most uncomfortable manner.”

Aside that, Tade said the approach is always wrong, saying the right manner of approach should be: “Young man, good afternoon. My name is James; I see you standing here, do you need assistance? What do you want?”

That way, they would tell you if they want to cross the road or not.

Again, there are mobility tips. If a blind man is standing by the side of the road and tapping his white cane on the ground, know that he needs assistance and you could then walk up to him and make your introduction.

He revealed that there is also a tendency for the public to assume that all blind people are pretenders and tricksters.

He recalled how an Okada (bike) rider once accused him of pretending simply because he (Tade) recognised virtually every location they got to on the ride between Iyana-Isolo and Oke-Afa.

“Of course I asked him if I had begged him for money or if I didn’t pay him his correct fare? There is also the case of a rude elderly woman, who asked if I was blind, apparently because I almost bumped into her. Again, I answered her in the affirmative and continued my journey, only for her to run up to me and start apologising because people around had told her that I was indeed blind.

“Do you know that someone once asked me if I was truly the father of my five boys? He simply could not understand how I mate with my wife – as if most mating by sighted people were not done in the dark.

“People also seem baffled at how I seem to find my way around sometimes almost unaided. They do not understand that I have simply learned to master my immediate environment.”

On how the Society raises it funds, he said: “Exxon-Mobil is one multi-national that stands out when it comes to funds and support for our programmes. Their CSR is superb. They have been our sponsors since 2001, to about two or three years ago, because if we don’t have a strong project, we don’t go to them. There are also well-meaning individuals, like Dr. Dade Shadare, he heads the Chapel of the Healing Cross, Idi-Araba; we have Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the first civilian governor of Osun State; his brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke; we have the MD of VT Leasing, Mr. Akin Opeodu (Mr. Opeodu has for years paid my children’s school fees); there is also Chief Babatunde Afolabi, the MD/CEO AMNI International Petroleum. These are people who have assisted us one way or the other and they are countless.”

The organisation has also undertaken some very laudable programmes, such as transcribing from print into Braille for secondary schools. Schools that have benefitted include Queen’s College, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, St. Jude’s Grammar School, Yenagoa, St. Joseph’s School of the Visually Handicapped in Cross Rivers; with all being sponsored by Exxon-Mobil. The organisation also gives blind appliances, like Braille wristwatch; its talking version; the Perkins Braille Machine and writing tools. It also takes it upon itself to conduct free eye clinic for the public anytime it is holding a programme.