Remikat Nimzing is a woman with physical disability, a mother of five children, from Langtang North local government of plateau state. I became a person with disability when she was a child.
She shared with our team of correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle when they visited Langtang North Local Government Area as part of our Connecting our voices to The World Project supported by Oxfam Voice Nigeria, about her family, life struggles and some of the interesting issues about her.
TQM. Are you married?
I was married, but I got separated with my husband because of his abusive attitude towards me.
TQM. In Who’s house are you now staying?
I am staying in my parent’s house, me and my children.
TQM. Why are the children with you and not with their father?
Because, their father does not care or provide for them.
TQM. Are the children schooling?
For now, they are not schooling because there is no one to pay for their education. They have tried and paid for their own education up to secondary School, and now they are engaged in labouring work to provide for themselves and for me as well. One of them could not make it beyond primary school.
TQM. What work are you doing for a living?
I sell soup ingredients and l also do some knitting.
TQM. Have you ever received any assistance from the government or organizations to increase your business?
No.
TQM. Why are you crawling, don’t you have wheelchair or tricycle?
I have a tricycle, it need repairs, but l do not have money to repair it, that is why I am crawling.
TQM. What is your experience with regards to discrimination because of your disability, either at home or outside home?
I am being discriminated against especially, when l was younger, but the older l became the less the discrimination.
TQM. How do you response in such situation?
I used to get so furious, but l am now taking things easy on myself and on the people. When you get angry, you give some people, the joy of hurting you, l don’t want to give any body the joy of hurting me especially because of my disability.
TQM. Do you know about, an Institution that the government have established to help protect the rights of people with disabilities call. The Plateau State Disability Rights Commission?
No.
TQM. Lastly, What is your appeal for help to the government or organizations in the society?
The government should come to my aid with money to increase my business, my tricycle should be repaired for my easy and hygienic movement and lastly, but not the least, some of my children, that would want to continue with their education, should be assisted with scholarship.
TQM. Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
