Serving the fatherland with abilities

A physically-challenged young graduate, who found a friend in the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Kano State, tells the story of how he determinedly refused to lead a life of begging to survive and get himself education to KOLA OYELERE.

GETTING educated in Nigeria and achieving success is no joke, even for the able-bodied, not to talk of the physically-challenged who already have to endure some difficulties in addition to battling some of the discouraging components of Nigeria›s education. In the architecture of public buildings, including institutions of higher learning across the country, the physically-challenged are not taken into consideration. Therefore their having easy or quick access to certain public facilities, particularly in high-rise or multi-level buildings is often a nightmare.

However, 25-year-old Olajide Mayowa Kehinde, a Computer Science graduate of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, weathered the storms and overcame the obstacles. Today he is a corps member serving in Kano State. Despite being physically-challenged, he has not allowed his physical state to affect him. This strength of character has seen him through his educational career to the present day.

Being a twin, his sibling (Taiwo) according to Sunday Tribune investigation, died years back. His mother is thankful to God that Kehinde survived, and against all odds, he is now a graduate.

Sunday Tribune encountered Kehinde, who was among the 1,669 member Batch “C” stream II undergoing three weeks orientation at the NYSC camp in Kusala, a distance of about 100 kilometres from Kano city and he shared the story of how he decidedly vowed to himself to turn his physical limitations to strengths.

Narrating his story, Kehinde told Sunday Tribune that he told by his mother that he was not born with physical disability. According to him, his mother said he was a very healthy baby but that the problem started when he was about five years old.

“My mother told me that on that fateful day, after coming back from the market she found me sprawled on the bed and in a bad state. And that since that very day, I have not been able to use my legs [even after they had tried all they could to restore me back to good health]. But thank God I’m still alive today and still hopeful of achieving great things in life,” Kehinde enthused with optimism.

Though things were tough and stressful while in school, his friends, he narrated, made things easier for him, especially by helping him to move around the campus. “It was stressful most times. My colleagues rendered assistance to me either in carrying me or wheeling me about. Due to my passion and determination to be educated, I did not allow my condition to discourage me from achieving my goal,” he stated.

At the NYSC orientation camp, Kehinde said he did not have to miss his home or friends at school that much as he had made new friends, who had taken it upon themselves to make life at the camp veru comfortable for him.  One of these new friends is Mr.Nwagbaoso Dennis from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, and a graduate of Public Administration at Chuwuemeka Odumegwu University, Uli, Anambra State. Dennis personally took it upon himself to wheel his new friend about the camp and take care of his other personal needs.

Though Kehinde cannot take part in most of the activities going on in the camp, he is  optimistic that he would serve his country in the best way possible for him.

“My mission, (despite my situation) is to serve Nigeria and contribute positively to nation- building.  As a computer engineer, there is nothing any able-bodied person can do that I cannot do,” he stressed, explaining further that his decision to study Computer Science was borne out of passion and the crucial need to make himself self-reliant after service, as he knew that the physically-challenged stood little chance of getting plum job in the country.

“If I did not get a job opportunity, I can still be on my own and be gainfully employed rather than wait for government (or an organisation) to offer me employment or for me to be relying on others to survive,” he said.

• ‘My journey to Hingees’

Speaking further, Kehinde said he would have wished to serve in Kano State, but due to his physical state, he would be seeking redeployment to a nearby state like Kogi or Osun, which were the other choices he wanted, but preferably his home state of Kwara. He, however, stated that he would complete the three weeks orientation course in Kano State before doing this.

Also speaking with Sunday Tribune, Dennis, who pushes Kehinde in his wheelchair to places in the camp, said they hit it off as friends immediately they were paired in the same room.  Though he is Igbo, Dennis said the fact that Kehinde is Yoruba should not be a reason that would make him not to give him a hand, knowing he needed such. He added that tribe nor religion should be a determinant for helping a fellow human being.

“I decided to show a spirit of one Nigeria. Though he is Yoruba while I am Ibo, I believe in one Nigeria. Helping Kehinde around is part of the sacrifice I have agreed to make. I have to do it for humanity because I believe if I did not offer him this assistance, someone else would do it and even do it better. Therefore, why should I refuse to do it? I imagine what a person like him would be passing through. I do not have to collect any gratification from anybody before rendering this assistance,” he explained.

NYSC Kano State coordinator, Kano State, Alhaji Ladan Baba, who also spoke with Sunday Tribune, commended Kehinde›s courage and his decision to face life squarely by getting himself educated against all odds and not rely on others for his wellbeing.

Education, Baba said, “is the key to liberating oneself from bondage and anybody who thinks education is expensive should try ignorance.

“When I saw him [Kehinde] among the new corps members posted to the state for orientation, I was not that surprised because I believe that God who created different people has a reason for such and nobody can challenge Him on this. I am also convinced that with determination, the sky is the limit for Kehinde. His courage is an inspiration to others in his shoes.”

Though by helping Kehinde get about the camp, he is denying himself the luxury of enjoying life at the camp and even  missing some activities, Dennis said that did not bother a bit.  He, however, called on the governments at various levels not to continuously overlook people in Kehinde’s shoes because so many others like him would have given up on their hopes.

Asked what he would like government to do for millions of other Nigerians with the same physical condition, Kehinde said not all of them want to end up as beggars if given the chance or opportunities of education. He, therefore, appealed to government at all levels and even private organisation to come to the aid of the physically-challenged through provision of necessary tools and infrastructure as well as scholarship to fund their education.