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As the United Nations (UN) commemorates another 'World Braille Day', it is worthy to celebrate Nigerians who have done exceptionally well in building their names and careers despite their visual impairment.
The 'World Braille Day', celebrated every January 4, seeks to create awareness on the importance of Braille as a means of communication in full realization of the human rights for the blind and partially impaired persons.
There is no gainsaying that people who are blind or visually impaired are excellently endowed and their potentials need to be channelled towards societal and economic growth.
According to the UN, a Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical, and scientific symbols.
The equipment, which was named after its inventor, France Louis Braille, is used by blind and partially sighted persons to read the same books and documents as those printed in the visual font.
A Laptop with a Braille
While reading is difficult for some full sighted persons, one can only imagine the extra effort required of a visually impaired person towards comprehending the content of any written document.
Below are seven Nigerians who have recorded remarkable breakthrough in their lives despite their visual challenge.
Ayodele Adekanmbi
Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi who was born blind, attributes his success to his grandmother who got encouraged that her grandson could be more than just a blind boy after seeing a blind man reading a Braille Bible in church. She spoke with the visually impaired man after service and that marked the beginning of Adekanmbi's success story. According to the legal practitioner, it was her move that made him who he is today.
He is currently the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on People living with Disabilities in Oyo State. He has been able to make giant strides in his career and society, despite his condition.
He is a graduate of Law with 1st class honors from the University of Edinburgh. He leads a Non-Governmental Organization for the benefit of disable persons and a law firm.
Forty-six-year-old Ogundare Adeleke is an award-winning journalist who has worked as an editor, reporter, and researcher with reputable news platforms. He has won various awards for his outstanding performances in his journalism career despite his visual impairment.
He is the author of the popular award-winning article; 'The Long Tortuous Road to Justice for Rape' published by The Nation Newspaper on August 18, 2019.
Professor Jubril Isah Diso
Jibril Isah Diso is a professor from Kano State, who was born blind. He rose through the academic ladder to become the first visually impaired professor in Nigeria.
Despite his disability, he never allowed that to hinder his quest to be successful. He has been a role model to both people living with disability and physically able people.
Jibril obtained his PhD in Special Education at the London University of Birmingham in 1991 and currently lectures at the Faculty of Special Education at Bayero University, Kano.
He has several academic publications to his name.
4. Adamu Ishiyaku
Adamu Ishiyaku, NAB President
Adamu Ishiyaku is a masters degree holder in Political Economy and a disability advocate in Nigeria, with over 12 years of experience.
He is the current national president of the Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), an association founded to promote a world of total inclusion for all blind and partially sighted Nigerians.
Adamu Ishiyaku coordinates the activities of the association and also takes on the responsibility of representing the interests of over 6 million blind and partially sighted Nigerians in the Joint National Association of persons with disabilities.
Dr. Chibueze Anugwo is a Nigerian medical doctor from Imo State. He lost his vision soon after he graduated from medical school. He was diagnosed with Retinitis pigmentosa, a disease of the light-sensitive part of the eye that leads to blindness, and has no cure.
Devastated by his condition, he saw no reason to be alive and attempted suicide. It took the support of his family, friends, and well-wishers to pull him out of depression. He eventually accepted his condition and vowed never to let anyone go through what he went through especially when it is avoidable.
He was determined to practice the medical profession but with modification and some assistance from family, friends, and permission from the state ministries of health and education.
He founded 'The Retina Africa Foundation' in Imo State, to spread awareness about blindness, early detection and prevention of eye defects in children. The Foundation has been able to reach schools to screen the sights of thousands of students.
Anugwo is a strong advocate against the stereotype that blind people in Africa have no future, have nothing to contribute to society, and are destined to become beggars.
Cobhams
Forty-year-old Cobhams is a Nigerian musician, producer, and songwriter. Cobhams was born blind but has not let his disability limit him from making his mark in the music industry. He wrote and co-wrote several songs on the album including the singles, 'Fire on the Mountain' and 'Jailer'.
He has worked with numerous musicians both locally and internationally. Cobhams is the Founder/CEO of Vintage Grey Media.
Yahaya Makaho is another Nigerian, who was born blind 41 years ago. The singer who is more popular in the Northern part of the country rose to fame from being a street beggar.
Makaho has carved out a niche for himself by focusing on pressing societal problems that confront his fans in their daily lives. He uses his lyrics to tackle the ills in the society such as begging, drug abuse, and corruption.
His music has become a hit among the roughly 80 million Hausa-speaking population of Nigeria and some neighbouring West African countries.
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