:-)
Since my last Visit to Nigeria in 2009, it has been in my heart to go back there to increase the awareness to people who are "disabled". This was my first time in Nigeria after I had the tragic car accident in March 2008 which left me with practically no other choice than to make use of a wheelchair in order to gain independence and be mobile. I was a little skeptical on going to Nigeria at first, not because of how I would be perceived as a person on a wheelchair, but because let’s face it, roads in Nigeria aren’t the best, and almost every building is NOT wheelchair accessible. As some people already know, I don’t let this physical disability stop me from living my life and doing that which I want to do. I have been able, by the grace of God to go back to school, travel everywhere I want to go to (well, everywhere I can afford to, oh wait, I mean, everywhere my father buys me ticket to go to, lol), and do the things I want to do, because I now have a deeper understanding of the phrase “Life is short”. I stay smiling because I genuinely know joy that is beyond comprehension. I am thankful for being alive and well, and one thing stays constant in my life, My Faith in God. I believe that I will walk again, but until that time, I will continue to conquer and live this life. Do I have rough days? *Uses British accent* Oh No dear! Rough days?! Whatever does that mean? LOL, Okay, okay… Jokes aside. Well of course I have rough days, we all have rough days. But I always try to remember on those rough days: “This too shall pass”. I have been blessed with AMAZING people in my life, and I just can’t say much other than: GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD!
Now that I have given you a brief history of myself, let’s go back to what I was saying about wanting to increase the awareness to people who are physically disabled in Nigeria. Physical disability does not mean mental disability, and this is something that I really think a lot of people don't get yet.
Most Nigerians see a person on the street using a wheelchair, begging for money, food or basic everyday needs and they just snob them and immediately think "haa, another one trying to get MY money"! It is one thing to be poor and “able bodied”, and it’s another thing entirely to be poor and “disabled”.
My reason for wanting to go back to Nigeria is not because I was treated wrong when I was there, and thus I long for something better. No, not at all, I dare say I was treated like royalty! Independent as I am, I had cousins, aunties, friends, neighbors, strangers, and just about everybody, offering to help me. I could go on living my life thinking this is the life every “disabled” person in Nigeria lives, but the truth remains: this is not the treatment the everyday person on a wheelchair or with any form of disability in Nigeria gets.
Roads in Nigeria are NOT wheelchair accessible. Offices, buildings, shopping stores, markets, even schools are not accessible. I understand the aesthetics of stairs in a building, but SERIOUSLY? Does every building have to have stairs? On my visit, I wanted to go into a bank with my friend and her mother, but come to find out, the bank had about 4 steps of stairs, and if by some way or manner I was able to get past the stairs, the doors to the bank are so small that a wheelchair would not fit into it. So where does this leave a person on a wheelchair? No access to banks? Schools? Businesses? Companies? Without education, we know it’s hard to get a good well paying job, and without access to most business places, a disabled individual is more susceptible to being poor, and having to beg for money and basic every day necessities.
Nigerians living in Nigeria, I’m sure you’re not blind, you see these people on the streets, in the market, and everywhere. You know that they are living very poor lives and most of them, though they are mentally capable would not be given the time of the day at a work place or taken seriously in the business world. They deserve much more than being treated as incapable just because of their physical deformities. This might be some sort of a stretch, because I know some of the “able bodied” in Nigeria have not secured a good job talk more the physically disabled, but these people are human and they need to have equal rights as well.
As I stated earlier, ever since 2009, it has been in my heart to do something about this, get some sort of awareness thing started out there, to just do something! But until now, I was thinking I had to be IN Nigeria to start doing something, I was thinking I had to be seen and be heard audibly! I forgot that I can start by talking to the few people I am able to reach by typing.
So what is my point today? Where exactly am I trying to reach with this?
Well thanks for asking. I plead with everyone of you, when you go out today and you see a person who is not able bodied, or someone who is not standing up as tall as you are, because of a birth defect, an accident, abuse, neglect, or a disease, Please lend a helping hand to them. It doesn’t matter what you give, nothing is too little. It doesn’t have to be cash or food, it could be a smile, a handshake, a lift, clearing out the path they’re moving along, or just plainly asking them “how are you doing”. If you are an architect, a construction worker, remember to make the buildings you’re making accessible to those with physical disability. If you’re a citizen, trying to get on a bus, watch carefully, look at that guy who can’t run to the bus as fast as you can, and give him the chance to get inside the bus. If you’re a teacher, remember that, the boy on a wheelchair who can’t participate in sports could be the best on the debate team. Everybody has a part to play here.
Although this note focuses more on disability awareness in Nigeria, I urge everyone everywhere to look around you, and help those who are less privileged whichever way you can.
P.S: I am NOT stating that everyone who has a disability brought on by an accident, a disease, abuse, neglect or on a wheelchair in Nigeria are poor, lacking or wanting! When you want to give, give to those who are needy. If you see a person on a chair and you go give them 200 naira, and you get a dirty slap, Biko, No call my name o, lol. Jor o, I no send you! Ensure that they are in the position of need, and remember Nothing is too small to give.
After all this is the season to be Jolly, Give a gift today.
Be Part of the Change in Someone’s life
God Bless you.
Signed: Elizabeth Oke.
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P.P.S: Remember there's nothing God cannot do.My life is my testimony and I am very glad and thankful!
As you give a gift to the less privileged, remember to most importantly Give a Gift of thanks to God for your life and the lives of your friends and family. :-)
Happy Holidays! Remember The Reason for The Season: JESUS!
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