Ladi Kople is a woman with physical disability who move around by crawling with her hands. She resides in Pankshin town, Pankshin local government of Plateau state.
She had disability when she was three months old as a result of polio. Her parents did their best in the early stage but unfortunately, she lost her limbs, unlike the usual practice, she was taken good care of, enrolled in Primary School to Secondary school when her peers were going to school. But Sadly, when she was in Senior Secondary School one, she decided to drop out of school, stating the reason to the hardship her parents were going through to send her and her siblings to School. She did to pave way for her sibling to go school with less burden on her parents.
So, she decided to learn and begin a business of hair dressing. Then, she relocated her village to Pankshin town for better opportunities while she continued with her business of hair dressing. There, she added another skill, which is knitting. She acquired a knitting machine and she has been doing it to take care of her needs.
In this brief interview, she shared with our correspondent Bulus Bala Izang how she made it in her business inspite of the discriminations and the stigmatizations.
TQM: How and where did you learn knitting?
I saw a woman here in Pankshin town doing it and picked interest, I approached her so that she can teach me the knitting and she agreed. So, I paid her the sum of three thousand Naira then, as her training fee and I spend one year with her learning.
TQM: While carrying out your business, do you face discrimination because you are a person with disability?
Yes, when I arrived at Pankshin town and presented myself as a hair dresser, most women rejected me, saying, they cannot imagine themselves sitting with me while I plait their hair. While some are even afraid to come near me, possibly looking at me as if I am possessed by spirit. But with time, things get better, the discrimination have greatly reduced.
I am really grateful to God for “Women for Women”, they encourage us not to isolate ourselves from other people, they encourage us to mingle with other people even as they are discriminate against us. We should prove ourselves to them. And it really helps me to get along with people.
TQM: How do you get the materials you are use in knitting, considering your challenges of moving around as a person with physical disability?
Sometimes, if someone is going to market, I do send them to buy the materials for me. And sometimes I have to go myself, especially when I have extra money for commercial motorcycle.
TQM: Is this business providing for your needs?
I thank God for his mercies and provision. I am always careful about my spending, If I spend the little money that I make recklessly, it is me that will suffer the consequences, especially these days that things are very difficult. In fact, it has been two years now that I have not done any knitting for sale because, of high cost of wool. What I am now depending on is the plaiting of hair. I feed myself from it, pay house rent and other things.
TQM. Have you ever received financial support to boost your business?
No, I have never had such support.
TQM. If given the opportunity to make a call for such support, in what form will you like the support?
Ans. I would like assistance in any form, either money or knitting machine. Just anything that would help my business to grow.
TQM. Thank you for your time.
I am grateful to you for finding my story worthy to share.
This story is part of The Qualitative Magazine Project “CONNECTING OUR VOICES TO THE WORLD”-propagating the potentials and challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Plateau State supported by VOICE NIGERIA
ADVERTISEMENT
