The Nation Newspaper

Tag: visually impaired

  • MAPOLY promises free tuition for visually-impaired

    New Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta Mr Samson Odedina has pledged financial assistance to visually-impaired students.

    Odedina said this in a chat with CampusLife after he was given an award by the Students Union (SU) of the institution.

    The SU had earlier renovated the bus shed of the polytechnic and christened it ‘Samson Adeola Odedina Bus Shed’, in honour of Odedina who was appointed in January by the Ogun State government.

    Odedina was honoured by the students for his effort in resolving the crisis that had prevented them from writing the second semester examination, which began on Monday.

    At the inuaguration of the facility, some visually-impaired students had approached the Rector to seek financial and moral support.

    The leader of the group, Tobi Itomi, an HND student of Mass Communication, said they had potentials to unleash given a more conducive environment.

    Itomi, who was runner-up at the public speaking competition of his department, said his good academic performance is a testimony of his commitment to his studies.

    He said: “People with disabilities are often discriminated against in the society and even in the family,we are considered last in everything.

    Itomi continued: “In spite of my condition, I am the most read member of my family. I was the first runner-up at the last public speaking competition. This is to tell you sir, that I have passion for learning.

    “I am pleading with the management to render more assistance to us, especially in the payment of tuition. Some of us are sponsoring ourselves. Our family members do not expect anything positive from us, hence, they abandoned us’’.

    Odedina, who later spoke to CAMPUSLIFE in his office, said he would ensure that the request of the visually-impaired students is fulfilled.

    He said if SU could pay the fees of some less privileged students, he would do more for students with special aids.

    Odedina said: “I don’t need to be begged. Since I came on board, we have done greater things that we don’t want to make public in terms of welfare and support for special people.

    “As far as I am concerned, it (their request) is a done deal for them. I want to know if there are other groups like that so that they can get the support of the management and the Students Union.”

  • Visually-impaired cries for help

    Until 27 years ago, Idris Jimoh Ajibaye, 69, was independent. He could feed his family of five, pay school fees and even take his family out in his Peugeot 504 car.

    All these  stopped when he lost his sight in 1991.

    He said he became blind when he went to take his tipper out for work.

    As soon as I entered the tipper and switched on the engine , my sight left me. I was supposed to go and load sharp sand, I had not gotten to the place, but I just couldn’t see anymore.

    “I never had any problem with my sight until that fateful morning. After losing my sight , I started visiting  hospitals, herbalists, mosques and churches to see if I could get it back until the sight was restored again and I started  to  drive. But on  August 17, 1999,  I lost the right eye  again and I became completely blind till today.”

    Ajibaye said on the day he lost  his sight the  second time, he had delivered sand at the Teslim Balogun Stadium  three times and was preparing for his fourth trip when he noticed that he couldn’t see anymore.

    ”I used to have two tippers and a car. I bought my first tipper in 1986 and the second in 1993, but right now, I don’t have anything.

    Donations can be sent to his First Bank account 3061524502 with the name, Idris Jimoh Ajibaye.

  • ‘Donate canes for visually-impaired’

    Chairman White Cane Safety Day Committee 2018 of Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) Yinka Akande has called on government and other stakeholders to donate more white canes for the use of the visually impaired.

    This, he said, would aid their mobility and improve their standard of living.

    Akande made the appeal yesterday at the presentation of FNSB White Cane Agenda preparatory to the commemoration of the annual International White Cane safety day tomorrow.

    The event tagged Blind Yes we can will feature FNSB Walk and eye screening exercise on October 27

    He said challenges faced by individuals with social needs in terms of mobility and orientation due to visual impairment make it difficult for the individuals to move unaided from one place to another.

    He noted life becomes miserable for the affected persons, forcing many of them to become economically unproductive and dependent.

    Akande lamented standard white canes are not made in Nigeria and have to be imported.

    He highlighted white canes help to avoid double transportation, loss of manpower owing to economic redundancy of the guide, loss of self-esteem and right to privacy by the visually impaired because of the dependence on the sighted guide for mobility.

    Akande also appealed to lawmakers to enact appropriate laws guaranteeing the safety of white cane users.

    “FNSB shall explore the possibility of forwarding a bill to the National Assembly in this regard,” he said.

    He tasked visually impaired persons to embrace the use of white cane as a boost to independence and self -esteem like David Blunket, Steve Wonder and our own Cobhams Asuquo have done.

     

  • Buhari to fund treatment of visually- impaired corps member

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to fund the treatment of a 28-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Okenala Ahmed, who is visually-impaired.

    Ahmed, a graduate of Insurance from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, is serving in Daura, Katsina State.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Ahmed was among the corps members who visited President Buhari on Tuesday in Daura, as part of activities to mark Eid-el-Kabir.

    He said: “In the course of the President’s interaction with corps members, the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), Jibrin Ishak, appealed for assistance for the physically-challenged member.

    “According to the CLO, the indigent corps member, who is from Offa, Kwara State, had contemplated redeployment from Katsina State due to his health.

    “President Buhari will undertake the cost of treatment of Ahmed, who is an Economics teacher at Government Day Senior Secondary School, Daura.”

  • Free eye screening for 3,000 visually-impaired

    A non-government organisation (NGO), Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT), under the aegis of Clear Vision Project, in partnership with Vision Spring and Catholic Optical Outreach, has screened 3,000 visually-impaired persons.

    It distributed 581 eye glasses to indigent children and women in Ifesowapo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Imodi Imosan, Ogun State.

    The Chief Executive Officer, ACT, Ms Osaie Allele, said the programme was organised because of the importance of our eyes, adding that his organisation is passionate about helping visually-impaired women and children.

    She said: “The idea behind Vision 2020 is to avoid blindness. That informed our decision to come to Ifesowapo LCDA to offer free optical support to women and children.

    “A few months ago, we were in Lagos on World Sight Day on the same mission. The screening continues because our mission is to distribute 3,500 glasses to Ogun State people. So far, we have given out 581 glasses.”

    Allele urged people to take advantage of the programme to know their eye status.

    Executive Director, Catholic Opticals Outreach Rev. Christopher Ogunnupebi, said their mission was to reduce blindness among women and children.

    He said after Ifesowapo LCDA, they would head for Odogbolu Local Government, targeting women and children in rural areas, who might not be able to afford glasses.

    A representative of Vision Spring, Mrs. Tinuke Adeyinka, said everyone should know the importance of good sight, describing eyes as the gateway to the body.

    She said: “Vision Spring is an American social enterprise with a mission to ensure that everybody who needs pair of glasses has access to one. We also create awareness of avoidable blindness.”

    The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Ayinde Akobi and the Chairman, Ifesowapo LCDA, Obafemi Onakoya, noted that it will complement the ‘Efficient Health Care Delivery’ policy of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration.

     

  • Church celebrates visually-impaired law graduate

    Church celebrates visually-impaired law graduate

    Members of the Praise Arena-Kingdom Light Christian Centre Lekki, Lagos, last week held a thanksgiving service for the graduation of a virtually-impaired Attorney of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Barrister Adesola Ajayi.

    Ajayi, one of the five beneficiaries of the scholarship programme of the church for vulnerable and less-privileged people in the society, graduated from law school last December.

    The elated barrister, who was elated at the service, recalled how he lost his sights.

    He said: “When l left Lagos to my home town in Ijebu-Ife in 1996, I was sighted but l became blind within three days in Ijebu-Ife after experiencing pain in my eyes and that led to a dramatic change in my life.”

    He noted that life was unbearable as having to cope with his visual impairment was very difficult, but stating “I was very hopeful and optimistic about life in spite of the odds around me.”

    Narrating how he met Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, the senior pastor of the church, he said: “radio was my companion and I had him preach on his regular Kingdom Life Family programme on Eko FM and I called his number and narrated my story to him and he requested to see me and he came to my rescue at a crucial time in my life.”

    Continuing, he said: “Pastor paid my way through primary and secondary school and supported me greatly during my law school programme in a way that amazed me.

     

    “I was in primary six when my eyes went bad and it was very difficult for me to cope in school and I had to seek for help and help came. God gave me divine wisdom when, initially, reading with braille proved difficult, but today all is history.”

    On why he studied law, he said: “l want to be a voice for the voiceless, defenceless and the vulnerable people in the society.”

    Adetoyese-Olagunju, who was grateful to God for the successful completion of Ajayi’s programme, said: “We are only pencils in the hands of God. Our mission is to help the needy and provide safe haven to the less-privileged in the society.”

    He appealed to well-meaning organisations and government institutions to provide employment opportunities for physically challenged people like Ajayi.

  • Anambra community takes care of eye patients

    Anambra community takes care of eye patients

    There is some relief for the visually-impaired in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as Chief Amobi Nwaokafor, President-General of the Awka Development Union of Nigeria (ADUN) has presided over the distribution of free eyeglasses to them.

    The presentation of the glasses was bankrolled by ADUN.

    The exercise which lasted for  seven days had over 1,500 beneficiaries.

    The medical mission took the team to seven major quarters of Awka community which consists of Ezi-Awka, Amaenyi, Agulu, Amikwo, Ifite Awka and Umuokpu quarters.

    Speaking with reporters, Nwaokafor said the humanitarian service by the ADUN was in furtherance of the gesture by the Awka Union, USA and Canada, who he said, had a medical outreach in May this year for diabetic and other patients that were treatable without surgery in the community.

    He noted that the 2017 medical mission on free eye test, free eye glasses, free screening and treatment for hypertension and related illnesses was part of the union’s community service, aimed at assisting indigenes to care for their sights.

    Nwaokafor said, “Before now, we  waited for government to do anything for us; we believe we can do it ourselves. This aspect of community service which we tagged: ADUN Medical mission is targeted at conducting free eye test and distribution of free eye glasses to the indigenes of Awka.

    “This particular project targets 1,500 people within seven days but I can tell you that we attended to more than that and it is a programme that will continue from time to time until every other Awka indigene that has eye problem is diagnosed and treated free by the union,” he said.

    He accused previous governments in the state for the underdevelopment in the state capital while calling on the present administration to match action with words in providing dividends of democracy to the people.

    “The government, as a matter of fact, is supposed to be supporting this kind of health mission. Government is mandatorily supposed to take care of the entire welfare of the people; including good roads, good water, housing, health care, schools and so on”

    “In Awka for instance, no government can claim to have worked in Awka notwithstanding that Awka is the state capital.

    “No serious government presence in our community, Awka is one of the capital cities that has no portable water. We lack a lot of things but because we are very hard working, we provide for ourselves”

    “My worry is that no government has shown genuine interest by seeing Awka as a capital territory, define and design how the capital territory will look like beyond now”

    Some of Beneficiaries like Mrs. Helen Anago and Nweke Anthony, who spoke with The Nation, expressed gratitude for the gesture and prayed for its sustenance by the ADUN leadership.

     

  • Visually-impaired needs N500,000 for business

    Visually-impaired needs N500,000 for business

    A 29-year-old, Chijioke Onyenwe, has called on well-meaning Nigerians and government at all levels to come to his aid to raise N500, 000 to start a business.

    Onyenwe, who hails from Imo State, lost his sight at the age of 23. He was said to have returned from a trip to Togo when he suddenly became blind.

    Speaking with our reporter, Onyenwe said: “I want to raise funds to start a restaurant business in Idimu area of Lagos State. I have already paid for a shop at Idimu Pipeline but I need N500, 000 to get chairs, tables, fridge, fan; power generating set, gas cooker, drinks and food items, among other things”.

    Onyenwe assured Nigerians that he is ‘able and not disabled’, and would be productive in the business.

    “The only challenge I have is vision; other parts of my body, including my brain, are functional. My wife-to-be’, Blessing and my younger siblings would assist me.

    “I cannot go begging on the streets like most blind people do. This is why I am begging my fellow humankind to help me have a means of livelihood to enable me take care of myself and my family. I want to be a responsible man to my wife and children, irrespective of the fact that I am blind,” he said.

    Onyenwe said the rent which he paid for the shop is already running, pleading to Nigerians not to let the shop he had rent to be a waste.

    “I pray that God will strengthen you all as you make my life useful,” he said.

    Onyenwe, sixth of eight children, said his siblings are all struggling to survive, adding that his mother is down with stroke and his father is late.

    He said he spent N700, 000 for eye surgery two years ago, noting that the surgery was not successful as he was told that he would not see again.

    For donations, payments can be made to: Account Name: Chijioke Anthony Onyenwe: Account Number, 0051243707 Diamond Bank. He can be contacted on 08148318987 or 08126469111.

  • 321 visually impaired candidates to take 2017 UTME

    321 visually impaired candidates to take 2017 UTME

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has registered 321 visually impaired candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The Head, JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday  in Bwari.

    Benjamin said that the figure was higher than the 201 candidates registered for the examination in 2016.

    He said that adequate arrangement has been made for the visually impaired candidates to participate fully in the forthcoming UTME.

    According to him, the board used to  conduct the Computer Based Test (CBT) using Braille Apex Machine, but most of them complained about its usage.

    “They said they do not know how to use these machines: we are going to bring all visually impaired persons to come and write the exam in a particular location.

    “It could be Digital Bridge in Lagos or Digital Bridge in Abuja.

    “One of the things we have always done for them is to ensure that the few of them that meet the minimum requirement get it.

    “We encourage universities to admit them; we also give them courses that they want to read, so that we can give room for inclusiveness.

    “So that is our preparation as it relates to visually impaired candidates; they are 321 that is 18 per cent of the 1.7 million candidates that registered for this year’s UTME,” the JAMB’s spokesman said.

    The visually impaired candidates who sat for the 2015/2016 UTME practiced with the Braille Apex machine at their respective centres a day before the main examination.

    The practice was also done in the 2015 edition of the UTME through the use of CBT platform.

    He explained that the Board often encourage universities to offer admission to visually impaired candidates who met the basic requirement, saying that 2017 will not  be  an exception.

    Benjamin said  plans were underway to employ the services of experts in the field of education, to be able to achieve the desired goal.

    “We will get some of Nigeria’s best hands in some of those various subjects that they are going to write; these are professors, and people with integrity.

    “They will sit down together with the visually impaired candidates; ask the candidates questions, assess them and then rate them, so it is that rating that will be used for admission purposes.”

    On preparation to hold the UTME on May 13, he said all hands were on  deck to conduct a hitch free exercise.

    He noted that the Board did not receive any complaint about irregularity in the course of registration of candidates, as being alleged in certain quarters.

    “There is no complaint from anybody; we have passed the stage of registration, we registered 1.7 million candidates, so if there are issues, we will not have arrived at that number.

    “The hitches that we had were experienced at the initial stage of registration, which was basically as a result of non-compliance with our instruction.

    “We have made necessary effort to ensure that those instructions are adhered to, there is no complain as regards registration again across the country,” he added.

    He, however, said that the posting of candidates to their various examination centers would start from Tuesday May 9.

  •  I may join politics – Cobhams Asuquo

     I may join politics – Cobhams Asuquo

    Renowned visually impaired songwriter and producer, Cobhams Asuquo, has given a hint that he may delve into politics in the not too distant future.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos the multi-talented entrepreneur said that he intended to pursue other passion in his life of which politics is one.

    Cobhams spoke against the backdrop of the maiden Quantum Awards Ceremony, where he was conferred with an award for his dedication to excellence at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island in Lagos.

    The Quantum Awards was organised under the auspices Verdan Zeal.

    NAN reports that Cobhams’ first shot into fame was in 2004 after he teamed up with Bukola Elemide, popularly known as Asa, and he had since produced numerous award-winning songs.

    He had also produced for the likes of  Banky-W, Omawumi, Darey Art Alade, Timi Dakolo, Waje and others too numerous to mention.

    Cobhams also collaborated with Verdant Zeal on a number of iconic theme song project such as “Catch the Fever’’ which heralded the launch of DAARSAT.

    He was also responsible for the song “Rivers of Possibilities’’ theme song for the Rivers State Government.

    Cobhmas added that apart from his current calling as a musician, he would also focus on other ventures that would be worth his while.

    “There are other things I want to do which is government and politics or real estate. Hopefully, I will be a politician one day.

    “I want to join politics because I feel that people of integrity needs to step into the political arena and occupy the position of leadership and help to make intelligent decision.

    “We need to move this country forward and to do that successfully, we need men of honour to steer the political ship of the country.

    “We cannot afford to be laid back and watch things deteriorating without rising to the challenge,” he said.

    Asuquo said that he was well aware that music made him to be what he is today and that he had reaped bountifully from the proceeds.

    “I am happy that music is working for me and also opening doors for me.

    “I don’t have any favourite in my multi-tasking activities, I only express myself in various forms and I enjoy doing that.

    “Either I write music or being a producer or director, I have only one goal and that is good music. I just release an album now which I want everybody to enjoy.

    “I am also excited about my marriage, it teaches me a lot of things like love, goodness and patience,” he said.

    NAN reports that other awardees of the Quantum night includes Tade Ogidan, a television screenwriter, Kehinde Tijani, a printing and publishing mogul and Frank Oshodi, a fashion entrepreneur.