By, Olawale Ogunbusola

 

A 20-year old Ward orderly of the Oyo State Maternity Hospital, Adeoyo, Saidat Olajumoke has described disability as a huge blessing to her family, rather than a curse.

The PWD icon said this during the Catch Them Young Initiative Campaign held at HLA Primary School, Gate in Ibadan on Thursday.

Saidat, fondly called ‘ Omo Chairman’ expressed her delight for being a person with disability, saying through her wasted years of her family have been restored.

She said though she was earlier considering suicide owing to abandonment, social neglect and difficult living condition of her female parent, Mrs. Sidikatu Sanusi, a level-4 staff of same Hospital.

“Omo Chairman” expressed her joy and appreciation to the chairman of Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi who considered her for a job with the recently employed medical workers in the state as a ward orderly.

The professional ward orderly said that the job offer has finally restored hope, joy and social relationship to her, saying those who had neglected her are returning for financial support.

She stressed on the need for Nigerians to give room for social equality for all round inclusivity and socio-economic friendliness.

” Nigerians should stop looking down on persons with disability. No one is totally made without a sort of disability. Social equality will greatly improve Nigeria all round. We have the strength, wisdom, talents, intuitions as the said free from disability. “, she said.

While commending the assent to the disability Law in Nigeria, Saidat called the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government for its true domestication as to fully enable persons with disabilities to compete in every sector of the country, including Finance, Security, Technology, Education, Science, Arts among others.

The most favoured of parent of four children who lauded the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde for giving hope to the disability community in kind, appointment and general employment, appealed for improved funding of the institutions of the Persons With Disabilities as this will enable sincere procurement of needed tools, equipment, and training for the special target population for due socio-economic competitive development.

” We will never fail to commend Governor Seyi Makinde by the disability community. We have an agency headed by Director general, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi, and senior special assistant, Hon. Femi Timothy, special assistants in the thirty- three(33) local government areas of the state, and as well employment of persons with disability in Teaching, and Health Sector; this is quite impressive. But the efforts must be improved at funding training and needed tools, or equipment for pupils and students for more dependence”, she said.

In a brief remark of her parent, Mrs. Sidikatu Sanusi said her daughter joined her family at the time there was a strong marital rivalry. She added that Saidat was artistic, and scientifically inclined but was limited by disability.

The level 4 Ward staff of State Maternity Hospital, Adeoyo appealed to Oyo State Government through the Oyo State Hospital Management Board under Akin Fagbemi to assist her three other children secure low cadred jobs for relief and average active socio-economic dependence before her due retirement in late 2027.

” As the government has promised to support Saidat Olajumoke’s other siblings due to her active social participation despite disability, including Rukayatu Muili, Ismail Muili and Sarafadeen Muili low cadred job. We seek their mercy as this will wipe my everlasting tears. ”

” All I do to assist myself after work is making ground wet corn and some other menial job engagement. Still, the economy is challenging. I believe when my children are formally informally engaged, there will be a sort of socio-economic relief. I kneel for help” , she lamented.

Speaking with newsmen, the Ibadan North East Local Government Education Secretary, represented by Head of General Administration and Services, Mr. Tunde Akinpelu commended the initiative, describing it a necessary light to better future in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

He stressed on the need for the government to empower all existing special schools, saying this will enable due encouragement for both the affected children and teachers.

Similarly, a socio-economic and education advocate, Mrs Mariam Ogundiran and a parent of HLA Primary School, Mr. Ajibola Azeez called parents of affected children to discourage mismanagement of their children’s posture and talents while the government should domesticate the disability law for life fulfilment for all the persons with disability.

Earlier, the Chief Co-ordinator of Catch Them Young Initiative and Bright Lens Media Networks, Mrs. Ayodeni Aluko called the Persons With Disability to remain confident in themselves, saying God has good future for them if they are resolute, decisive, focused and prayerful.

The HLA Primary School, Gate in Ibadan which has all categories of PWDs now has five educational clubs inaugurated with Mercy Osunnuwa ( Press); John Oladeji (Security); Yusroh Sodiq ( Health); Idera Adebowale (Environmental); Olayiwola Azeez ( Literary Debate Club) appointed co-ordinators.