In February 2021, I, Dr Ijeoma Nnodim, the Executive Director of Isonye Foundation was invited by Barrister Catherine Edeh-Nnaji, the Executive Director of Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) to work with VDI to implement a EU-UN Spotlight Initiative project in Yola, Adamawa state in Northern Nigeria. The theme of the project was “Disabilityrightsmatters: Strengthening Voices Against Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Advancing the Sexual And Reproductive Health and Rights of Women with Disabilities and other Marginalized Groups in Adamawa State”
During one of the programs in March 2021, I had just finished giving a presentation and returned to my seat. From the corner of my eye, I noticed that a lady in a yellow draping dress sitting to my right, kept glancing at me. I was already used to people staring at my right ear in which I wore a hearing aid. I guess she hadn’t seen a hearing aid before. My mind did not dwell much on her again until the end of the program when participants were called to collect their certificates of participation. That was when I realized that the lady in yellow was physically challenged.
She labouriously climbed down from her chair, shoved her hands into a pair of white slippers and crawled to the podium to collect her certificate. Her pretty yellow dress trailed on the floor as she moved. I was touched observing her move and wondered if she owned a mobility aid such as a wheelchair.
After the program, I asked her if she owned a wheelchair and she explained that although she desired to own one, she could not afford to buy a wheelchair. I took her details and promised to do something about raising funds for a wheelchair for her.
I contacted some prominent members of the disability community and with funds Isonye Foundation raised, we were able to get Rhoda Ibrahim a wheelchair. We are grateful to the donors and everyone who contributed to making this possible.
