The Executive Assistant to Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State on Persons with disabilities, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi has revealed why he’s passionate about people living with disabilities.
He made this revelation while featuring on Parrot Xtra Hour On Radio, a magazine radio show that was aired on King 103.9 FM located within the esoteric Premier Hotel, Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
Ayodele, while on the program made the revelation that his vision came to him through a dream while he was studying Law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
In his words “while I was in the university, I ran out of cash one day. That winter night, it was so cold and with nothing to keep me warm, I had to wrap myself with the carpet in my room so I could keep warm. I slept and saw some guys in my dream and I promised them that once I can be free from the present challenges I was facing, I would never allow those living with disabilities to be in the same terrible situation, even in Nigeria. I saw them as big people who can help so I asked them to help me achieve this. They assured me that I would be great without issues, I should just make sure I keep to my promise. That was when I woke up”.
Adekanmbi, however, gave kudos to his grandmother Late Mama Eweoba Victoria Adekanmbi for pushing him to achieve success in life.
He gave a full account of how his Grandmother helped him. His words “a blind man came to my grandmother’s church to give his testimonies. The man was reading a Braille Bible and my grandmother told him about me. I was six years old then and that man singlehandedly trained me. If not for my grandmother, I wouldn’t be here. She pushed me to where I am today”.
The Executive Assistant on Persons with disabilities for the Oyo State governor, Governor Seyi Makinde also stated that the Disability Commission in Oyo State would start operation in the next three months.
According to him, the commission would seek to pick people living with disabilities off the streets in a bid to make them more useful to themselves and the community at large.
“If you check the Governor’s inaugural speech, you’ll see that he mentioned it there and we’re very serious about it. We’re serious about removing those you see on the streets disgracing us by begging. We want to make them productive, to move them out of the streets. That is for those who want to move out. For those who are not willing, we will give them a dedicated area where they will be and give them necessary facilities. People who want to give alms or any other thing can go there to give”.
Adekanmbi, however pleaded with citizens of Nigeria to be more accommodating and friendly to people living with disabilities as he mentioned the environment as a major challenge they face.
He said “the environment has been a major barrier and hurdle around us. The way people take us, the way they think. People don’t even put themselves in our shoes – even our family members. People just jump into conclusions and judge us. The environment is not conducive because we struggle to get everything, they think we’re stubborn but we have to be because we struggle a lot. They should no longer look down on us “.
Packaged by Olaitan Ige and Olawale Awe
