The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Disability

  • ‘How l’ve lived with disability for 40 years’

    ‘How l’ve lived with disability for 40 years’

    Patience Taiye Dickson has been living with disability for about 40 years. Instead of looking at the limitations the graduate of Accounting from Edo State University prefers to be a source of motivation for other woman living with disabilities across the country. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about the major challenges, what keeps her going and the gains from mentoring.

    WHAT is the focus of your organisation? It is about working with women with disabilities .We create an enabling environment for women with disabilities in the communities where they live. We are in 19 states of the federation, to be precise and we are in over 50 groups. We do it in form of self help groups where we just stay together and we discuss challenges facing us and try to proffer solution.

    What are the major challenges that you are faced with?

    One major challenge that we have is charity. Getting into the development world is difficult for now, because of our history and our background as people living with disability, where we are confined to the walls of our homes. It is difficult for us to change our mentality, they way we are thinking to the way the world is thinking.

    That is one big challenge and another big one is exposure and low self esteem and it also has to do with our history, the way we think in a different direction. To bring about the needed change we have had some training. They are changing their self confidence and they are changing. We have over 800 women in this conglomeration.

    We started in February 2009 in Abuja, and work in six different categories: the blind, deaf, physically challenged women, women with HIV AIDs, women with leprosy and those with Obstetric Fistula (OF). We set up the groups  to help women have better access, manage and meet the various needs .As the founder who is physically challenged I started by identifying women with disability who are educated within Abuja to create a forum where they can discuss like problems and suggest ways of solving these problems.

    The SHG in Zing Taraba State was the first group to emerge in the year 2009. The vision is to empower women with disabilities to be self-sustaining and become ADVOCATES for others. Our focus is to build the capacity of Women with disabilities with leadership skills and self-confidence to participate in the society We have organized a number of training of trainers in the area of vocational, entrepreneurial, motivational, computer skills.

    The focus of this group is to make a change in the society, starting by developing themselves. One way of achieving this is for them to come together in the form of self help groups in the areas where they live. This is a positive step towards self-development. Majority of the women we have helped to transform their lives are illiterate and have no means of livelihood. They need a change in their mind-set to make them believe that they can actually live like every other person despite their disability

    What keeps you going?

    God keeps me going. Living with disability for so many years has not been easy; I have been living with it for over forty years. I wasn’t born with the disability but two years after I was born, I had polio trigger and I was paralysed from the waist. It has not been easy but I thank God for the strength from above and also my family.  My family has been very supportive, I am from Edo state. My mum, dad and my immediate family have all stood by me.

    When a child with disability is in a family, everyone is affected. It affects the other children; they have to change school and lifestyle to incorporate the child with disability. They had to make a few changes and rescheduled their way of life and my immediate family has been greatly supportive

    How have you been coping? What keeps you going?

    Passion. I have always had this passion and I have been passionate to have acquired education. I studied at the Edo State University, Ekpoma where I studied Accounting. It wasn’t easy coming from a poor background with so many children. My father had so many children and I am the only one with disability.

    Education is the key, without education it is almost not easy for a girl child with disability to forge ahead. In my case, I was very fortunate and that has been my passion to help others. I have been using my experience to mentor other women living with disabilities.

    Talking about mentorship, what are some the projects that you run?

    It is not just magic but things you can see. We do empowerment in form of skills acquisition and empowerment. We teach them how to make Beads, craft, bags, shoe making, sewing and more.

    Not only doing that because we have been doing skills for so many years and a number of gains have been recorded. But along the line, we realsied that there are business skills which they also need to know about after the skills. We found out that it is not enough to learn the skill but we also need to know and understand what happens after that. We found out that there are some business skills that are missing and we looked into this and are making the necessary changes. These women interestingly are doing very well in this area.

    What are some of the personal achievements that you have gained from all of this?

    I have a number of women whose lives I have touched and that for me is a big development. I am happy each time I look back to assess the changes recorded. We are trying to build the capacity of a new set of women with disabilities and it is a kind of movement for the future. Creating voices here and there alongside with the bigger voices from other women in different spheres of life.

    What do you consider the turning point in your life?

    The turning point in my life was when my mentality changed. In the past, I used to think that this and that was not for a girl or woman with disability. Instead of looking for prospects at that point, I always saw the constraints and it was a great limitation. But when I started working with an organisation called Chisto Faith Blind Mission, an international organisation, they made me to realise that disability was not a barrier. That I was actually like every other person and I could even do more than others once I put my mind at it. Then I started to think in a different way.

    I have been doing a lot of mentorship, counseling and structuring. I have not traveled far and wide but everywhere I go, I try to leave my foot prints. The award that I am receiving today is the third recognition given to me and this motivates and inspires me to do more.

    Let’s talk about your relationship and how you met the man in your life?

    My husband is a pillar of support and someone who believes strongly in me. He has been very supportive and words alone cannot describe what he means to me. He has been my father, lover and a great partner. As a man he is a bold man. This is not the first relationship I had but he decided to stand by me in spite of the odds. For other women out there, the advice is to do whatever you can.

  • LG empowerment scheme lifts persons with disability

    LG empowerment scheme lifts persons with disability

    In its quest to provide the good life for the less privileged in the society, LG Electronics, has initiated an empowerment programme which has so far benefited persons with disability, including 15 deaf and dumb persons who have been offered employment at the company’s facility in Apapa axis of Lagos.

    The LG empowerment initiative was put together in response to the large-scale call for the engagement of people with disabilities, as public institutions as well as corporate organisations, in recent times, have been urged not to discriminate against persons with disabilities either in terms of employment or access to public buildings.

    Speaking on the initiative, General Manager, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Deog Jun Kim said: “over the years, society has relegated to the background the physically challenged; they are most times regarded as second class citizens. This is why we have taken it upon ourselves at LG to give this people a new lease of life and thereby contribute to the development of the communities we do business in.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, the Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani said: “LG Electronics is committed to support the reintegration of disabled persons into the workforce and society. In recent times we have offered employment opportunities to them.

    “The LG Electronics Empowerment initiative is a pragmatic approach towards the betterment of the lives of the citizenry irrespective of their status.

    “In Nigeria, the community of persons with disability is growing at a geometric rate. Going by the fact that these groups of people are often viewed from the prism of invalids and dependants, they have been increasingly marginalised and vulnerable,” he stressed.

    Reacting to the gesture, Mrs. Egegbara, a relative of one of the beneficiaries said: “I have never at any time viewed my son as a person with disability; He has always been outstanding in all he does. So, when I heard that a company of this magnitude offered my son employment giving him an opportunity to showcase his skills and talents despite his limitations.

    “At the first instance, I did not believe it because I am yet to hear of a major company like this going all out to put smiles on the faces of people with disability, giving them the avenue to improve themselves and be useful to themselves and the society at large. I want to say a big thank you to LG for putting together this initiative.”

    LG Electronics through this initiative, the management stressed, has demonstrated that corporate organisations can be more responsive and join hands with government in the quest to actively engage and empower the physically challenged, giving them a voice in the society so that they can contribute their quota to nation-building.

  • ‘No regret for my disability’

    ‘No regret for my disability’

    When he was two years old, Stephan Abge lost his legs to polio. But he did not allow his disability to prevent him from getting a degree. Stephan bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH). He is one of the youths who participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation in Cross River State. He relived his experience in the camp to JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (his mate).

    How did you become physically-challenged?

    I was not born disabled. My birth was normal, just like every other person’s. My mother told me I had normal, legs until about two years, when I was attacked by polio. This has kept me in the wheel chair.

    You acquired higher education, despite your challenge. How did you cope?

    It is the will of God that I will be educated. I had my primary education in a special school for the physically- challenged. While in school, I had a bad experience; I was discriminated against. I paid the fees myself, so it was not so easy for me. At the university, I had friends who carried me and helped me in getting certain things done. At a point, when I was not financially capable of continuing with my study, I got a scholarship from the management, which saw me through until I graduated. This really helped me because I could not have been able to see myself through school.

    How did you cope with the stress of the orientation?

    For me, it was fun and I tried my best to enjoy myself. I did not encounter many problems. Although it was always difficult for me to make my way to the bathroom or to the toilet, I made sure I was comfortable and behaved like everybody else. I got all the kits I needed. But I could not participate in activities, such as morning parade, sports and Man ‘O’ War drills. However, I did not miss out on lectures and social activities.

    Did you receive a warm welcome from your colleagues?

    Yes. In fact, I made as many friends as possible. I befriended male and female and our relationship is cordial because they were always there for me. I tried as much as possible to be useful to them, too. We interacted and helped one another when the need arose.

    What would you have loved to be if you were not disabled?

    I would have loved to be a doctor. Nevertheless, I am not regretting this because I am already a graduate of Computer Science and I believe I still have the chance to go further in my education.

    How do you think the quality of education can be improved on?

    The system is not 100 per cent excellent, I think the government and the private sector can do more to make education attractive to the youths. Government must solve the issue of strike in public schools by increasing funding and provide infrastructure. There should also be a regulation of private universities, where students pay exorbitant fees. When building schools, government or private owners should consider disabled people by providing special tools to aid their learning. I must add that people with disability should also be given equal opportunity on employment issues.

    What is the advice you have for people in such situation like you?

    I want to let them see themselves as normal human being. They should not see their disability as a barrier to their destiny or happiness. Most disabled people have low self-esteem and present themselves as an object of pity. To such people, I think they should have a change of mindset because there is a reason why we find ourselves in every situation. Above all, every human being on earth has one challenge or the other but we have to forge ahead, struggle and look beyond our limitation. People should not do things for us out of pity, rather they should give a helping hand when they notice we need help.

  • Experts stress empowerment of persons with disability

    Experts stress empowerment of persons with disability

    PERSONS with disability have a lot to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. As such, they need to be empowered in order to be able to harness their potentials.

    This was the submissions made by a cross-section of experts who took part in a breakfast forum hosted by Theseabilities Foundation in Lagos recently.

    Tagged: ‘Employability: Creating a win-win situation for the Disability and The Business’, the forum drew participants from the organised private sector including banks, telecoms sector, civil society, multilateral agencies, media, among others.

    Justifying the need for the forum, in his welcome address, Mr. Boye Abioye, Executive Director, Theseabilities Foundation, said the breakfast session was part of activities of the Foundation to galvanise the interest of stakeholders towards addressing the plights of persons with disabilities, in terms of integrating them properly into the society.

    According to him, “Experience has shown that persons with disabilities can contribute substantially to the socio-economic growth of the country in different spheres of the economy. But due to social stereotypes, many persons with disabilities are not able to clearly contribute their quota to the system. This forum is therefore aimed at bridging the gap.”

    Speaking earlier, Pastor Peter Ighodalo, chairman, Theseabilities Foundation, said, “There is definitely a need for better quality of life for people with disabilities because they are people faced with all sorts of stigmas in society already.”

    Continuing, he said: “Such effort must be driven by a group of people with passion and empathy for persons with disabilities working along with persons with disabilities. Because you need to work with them so that you can also understand how they think, what their issues are and what needs to be solved. And that’s what we’re trying to do with Theseabilities Foundation.”

    In a keynote address delivered by Ms. Sina Chuma-Mkandawire, Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, she stressed the need for collective support for persons with disability at the workplace.

    According to Chuma-Mkandawire, who was represented by Pius Udoh, she observed that “Around the world, approximately one billion people or 15 per cent of the population has a disability. Estimates indicate that disabled persons experience unemployment rates as high as 90 per cent in some low-income countries. Despite social stigma and exclusionary practices, people with disabilities have become increasingly proactive in asserting strength and confidence in their own abilities to lead self-reliant and independent lives. One area where equal opportunity is important to enable this self-determination is the world of work.”

    In its quest to ensure a even workplace, the ILO boss said, “the ILO has established the ILO Global Business and Disability Network which is comprised of representatives from multinational enterprises, employers’ organisations and business networks, and selected non-governmental and disabled peoples’ organisations to assist companies include people with disabilities in the workforce from the perspective of business and human rights cases. The ambition of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network is to foster the development of a workforce culture that is respectful and inclusive; promoting the hiring, retention and professional development of people with disabilities. It has a vision of being recognised by international organisations, multinational enterprises and employers’ organisations as the global reference network to address disability in the workplace by 2015.”

    Also at the forum was Mr. Aruosa Osemwegie, Enable Africa, Dr. Gabriel Soje of the Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C, among others.

  • True heroes

    True heroes

    •Nigerian athletes show the ability of disability

    The old saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” was spectacularly demonstrated in the feats of the Nigerian Paralympics team to the London 2012 Paralympics Games. Having battled a lifetime of hostility, disdain and prejudice, these remarkable men and women went into the competition with little more than an abiding faith in their own abilities. Their determination to bring honour to their nation was richly rewarded: Nigeria won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals at the Games, and set two world records. Overall, the country placed 22nd out of the 164 participating countries.
    This achievement stands in stark contrast to the below-par performances of the athletes Nigeria sent to the 2012 London Olympics. That woeful outing was characterised by unjustified expectations, preposterous over-optimism, and a plethora of excuses as to why the billions expended failed to yield any appreciable results.
    What makes Nigeria’s Paralympics feat all the more remarkable is the fact that it has been so consistent. In a succession of Paralympics Games, Nigeria’s physically-challenged athletes have shown, time and again, that they could be counted upon to uphold the country’s honour, compared to their able-bodied counterparts, who have often disappointed the high hopes placed in them. Paralympians representing the country won gold medals in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
    Such a tradition of reliable feat is yet another pointer to the durability of the Nigerian spirit: the fierce determination to rise above the many peculiar challenges of the local environment. The country is replete with entrepreneurs, professionals, creative artists and other individuals who have refused to let administrative incompetence and political betrayal prevent them from attaining the formidable heights they have set for themselves. The Paralympics team conquered the world at multiple levels – they simultaneously triumphed over physical disability, fellow-competitors from other countries and an obstructive social system.
    The unambiguous nature of their achievement makes the low-key nature of their reception at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos all the more inexplicable. While there was a band, a few banners, and a Liaison Officer from the Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC) to receive them, their reception was devoid of the pomp and pageantry that should have attended the return of conquering heroes. The vehicles in which they were conveyed were a far cry from the luxury transport the senior men’s football team, the Super Eagles, routinely receives. To make matters even worse, the Paralympic team was allegedly sent to dilapidated quarters at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), where they have had to struggle with the usual problems of lack of disability access facilities, power outages and the scarcity of water.
    Fortunately, the Federal Government has moved quickly to rectify this outrage. President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday ordered that the team be taken immediately to Abuja and given VIP treatment prior to his formal reception of them on Saturday. Such speed and decisiveness is heart-warming, but what is strange is that this situation should have ever arisen in the first place.
    Beyond the bestowal of national honours, houses, vehicles and cash, the Federal Government must ensure that official and social attitudes to Nigeria’s disabled citizens change for the better. For instance, how do they fair in employment or in the architecture of public buildings like wheel-chair-compliant elevators and steps? It is not enough to mouth clichés about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to attain their full potential. There must be a deliberate policy of legislative action and social programmes designed to ensure that physically and mentally-challenged people are given the chance to live meaningful lives. As the Paralympians have shown, they are capable of achieving much more than their so-called “normal” compatriots.

  • ‘People with disability should be included in governance’

    There are great leaders among them

    President Goodluck Jonathan and the 36 state governors have been asked to involve people with disability in the running of the country. This is because, in spite of their challenges, they can make a difference in governance.

    The appeal was made in Jos, Plateau State capital, by the Administrative Officer on Disability Matters at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Omotunde Ellen Thompson, during a stakeholder’s meeting on community-based rehabilitation organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    Mrs Thompson urged the federal and state governments to pay particular attention to people living with physical disability when making political appointments or recruiting for jobs.

    Speaking at the event, she said that if people with disability are in strategic political or other leadership positions, they will make a difference and help to transform the country.

    The appeal was timely. The Nigerian team to the Paralympic games in London lifted the profile of the country, returning with a good haul of medals and placing third in Africa. Their able-bodied counterparts came back home earlier empty-handed.
    Mrs. Thompson, who also lives with physical disability, maintained that if people with disability are empowered people with disability will quit the streets for better things that will aid in Nation building.

    The Plateau State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development Olivia Dazyem, a lawyer, said the stakeholder’s meeting on people living with disability was borne out of the desire of the state governor, Jonah David Jang, to better the lot of people with the challenges.

    She urged stakeholders at the meeting to do away with all barriers that will put the disabled at a disadvantage by modifying all buildings to enable them free access to all structures.

    She said: “Improving the quality of life of people with disabilities entails the removal of all these barriers by way of modifying our buildings, access doors to our banking halls, adopting inclusive road and building designs and constructions, changing our negative perception that people with disability are useless and appreciating their innate potentialities in employment and services.

    “In the law and human rights perspective, the human rights of people, including those with disabilities, are not negotiable; in the short journey into my present position as Commissioner in charge of disability issues, I have realised with a heavy heart that a class of people are denied their fundamental human rights even with the international proclamation of their inalienable rights to legal protection, education, housing, equal opportunities, employment and better health”.

    She disclosed that Plateau State is the first state in the federation to organise a stakeholders’ meeting to marshal out plans on how to better the lives of people living with challenges, maintaining that the administration of Governor Jonah Jang has approved the establishment of a desk for people with disability in all ministries and government agencies in the state.