Plangnan Batholomew who hails from Mangu local government of Plateau State is lady with physical disability.
This single lady was not born with disability, the disability came as a result of wrong spot of injection when she was about three years old.
She is the first born among eight children but she grew up with my grandmother in Mangu local government, while her parents where in Jos. It was much later on that she joined her family in Jos.
In this interview with our correspondent, Bulus Izang Bala, she spoke about her education, her challenges and her experience from involvement in NPower program.
TQM. What is your educational background like?
I started my educational life at the School for the Physical Children Mangu, where l did my primary education, after completion, l went to Government Secondary School Balbong and Government Secondary School Mangun, all in Mangu local government of Plateau State, for my Secondary education, from there l later on went to College of Education Gindiri, where l read Primary education studies and Social Studies at NCE level. I completed in the year 2012.
TQM. What are doing for a living?
At the moment, l am not doing anything economically so to say. I was among the last batch of Npower that completed this year 2020.
TQM. In what area were you engaged in during your Npower period?
I was engaged as a primary school class teacher.
TQM. What was the experience like being a class teacher?
The experience was a good one, even though this was not my first time experience, being in class with children, where you have the fast learners and the slow learners and still finding ways of still carrying them along together. I really felt and l still feel good, knowing that, l am helping to shape positively the lives people who will take up from us tomorrow. You know, watching them in class, reminded me so much of my primary school days.
TQM. Being a person with disability, how did you relate with the children in class?
We related well with the children, they are young, innocent and ready to learn. Even though children are known to bring up surprises, but actually, l would say, my disability did not constitute a problem in my teacher and pupils relationship.
TQM. What are thinking of doing now that you have completed your Npower program?
I gone far with the arrangements to start a poultry farm, l am just waiting for some money to come in.
TQM. Away from that, as a lady with disability, what do you see as some of the common challenges of ladies with disabilities?
There are quite a numbers of challenges, like in families and the society, a ladies with disabilities lack acceptance on equal ground like any other person, most of us are being seen but not heard in our homes and community, we lack voice.
Another challenge is that of finance or economy challenge. Some people believe, that, as long as there is food for us to eat, ladies with disabilities don’t want or need money. They forget that, we as humans and women or ladies, we do have needs and wants that need to be meet. We are mostly left alone in the midst of so many people, with our needs unnoticed not to even talk of those needs being meet. If only ladies with disabilities will have economic empowerment, we will be better off.
There is also the opposite sex relationship challenges. A good number of the members of the society, are having this notion that ladies with disabilities are not worthy of romantic relationship, as such they are quick to discourage family members or friends in such relationship. The challenges ladies with disabilities face are just many.
TQM. Have you suffered any discrimination or abuse of your rights as a result of you being a person with disability either at home or outside home?
At home, l have no such experience of discrimination even as child, remember, l told you l grew up with my grandmother, and you can imagine the kind of protection and love she lavished on me. But outside home, l think, my inability to again employment cannot be unconnected with my disability, l am not sure where and how, its just my thinking.
TQM. The Government have put in place commission and laws to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, are you aware of them and how to utilize them?
Yes, l am aware of them, l have even been to the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission premises for other occasions not for any complain.
TQM. Lastly, what would you say is your number one desire now?
For now, l would like to have financial empowerment, either to be employed or to be empowered to start my poultry farm business.
TQM. Thank you miss. Plangnan, we wish you the best in life.
Thank you.
