Ramlatu Salihu is a thirty years old single lady with physical disability from Doemak in Qua’an – Pan Local government of Plateau state. She is one of the eight children of her parents, She became a person with disability at the age of two years and her father died when she was ten years old.
In a chat with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, she talked about her business of grains.
TQM. Were you privileged to go to school?
I was not privileged to go to school, not only me but my all siblings were not sent to school as well. This is because our parents were not financially strong.
TQM. What are you doing for a living?
I am into the business of selling grains like Maize and beans.
TQM. How did you come about this business?
After the death of our father, my aunt took me to stay with her, and that was her business. When l was younger, she will make kuli- kuli (ground nut cake), l will sit and sell it for her in her shop in addition to other food grains.
When l grew up, l started my own business of selling food grains. And now, l do go to other local market where the food grains are cheaper, buy two to five bags bring it to my shop for resell.
TQM. Bags of food grains are known to be heavy, how do your get them to your shop?
I hire hands and owners of motorcycles to help me in carrying the bags to my shop. I also have four children, a nephew, an orphan and two younger sisters, that are staying with me, they do also assist me.
TQM. Hiring people to help you, how does that affect your profit?
It reduces my profit, but that is one of those costs that l cannot avoid.
TQM. The shop you are in, is it a rented place?
Yes.
TQM. In your business, have you ever received any assistance from the
government?
I have not received even one Naira in form of assistance to my business from the government.
TQM. You talk about, a nephew, an orphan and two sisters that are staying with you, are you providing for them?
Yes l am.
TQM: All the four of them, are they not too many for you to care and provide for?
God have been providing and helping us.
My Nephew, his father gave him to me to be assisting me, then l took the orphan in to assist, and my two younger sisters came to stay with me after the death of our mother, having lost our father much earlier.
TQM. Are they all in school?
Ans. They are not schooling, rather , l am training them in my line of business. I would very much like them to be in school, but l lack money.
TQM. As a lady with disability, do people discriminate a against you?
Yes, people treat people with disabilities, including myself, as if we are animals.
TQM. When treated in such manner, what do you usually do?
I usually let things be, because, l know, l am human and they may not be better than me in any way, in fact, l may be better than them in certain ways.
TQM. Our governments have established Institutions that would help protect the rights of persons with disabilities, do you know about them?
Yes l do. I have even engaged their services in the passed.
TQM. Lastly, what would your personal appeal be to the government and other peoples?
My appeal is that they should help me with finance to expand my business, so that l would have more money to sent my wards to school. Or the government and other people can help us with scholarships.
TQM. Thank You Ramlatu for sharing your story with us.
Thank you.
