Umaiya Suleiman is a married woman with physical disability from Dengi, in Kanam Local Government of Plateau State and a mother of three children. She was born into a family of ten children and the only one with any form of disability. She lost the use of her legs when She was about eleven years, after an illness.
“My parents did their best to seek for medical attention for me from several Hospitals, I remain grateful to them”.
In an interview with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, she talked about her education and her life struggles as a woman with disability.
TQM. As a person who had early disability, were you privileged to go to school?
I thank God for my parents, they gave me education to the level they can afford. Today I have Certificate in Computer Application.
TQM. What are the names of schools you attended?
For my primary school, I attended Ugguwan Goje Primary School Dange, from there, I proceeded to Government Secondary School Kantana for my post primary education.
TQM. After your certificate course in computer application, why did you not proceed for a higher certificate?
My parents could not afford to pay for me to get to that level because of my other younger ones, I am the first child of the family. They needed to train my young ones too.
TQM. Where are you working or what work are you doing?
I am not working anywhere, but I have a little business of selling secondhand clothing.
TQM. Do you have a shop for this business?
No. I can afford the cost of having a shop, the business is small. I am running it at home.
TQM. Where did you get the assistance to start the business?
I did not get any assistance from anywhere, my savings is what I used in starting it.
TQM. Have you experience discrimination because of your disability?
Yes.
TQM. Can you mention one of such instances?
When my husband who is not a person with disability asked for my hand in marriage, a lot of people in our community were saying, what is he going to do with a girl with disability? That I will only be a burden to him and so many nasty words were associated to my person because of my disability, in a way suggesting that he should marry a girl without disability. But God’s ways are different from that of man, we got married and stay married with three children.
TQM. Are your children schooling?
Yes.
TQM. Who is paying for their education?
I and their father, whenever he has difficulty I come in.
TQM. What call for personal help do you have for those who are reading your story?
I need assistance to expand my clothing business, when I get help, I will be knitting bags and sweaters which I know how to make, but limited by financial constraint. I could even open a computer training center for women and girls especially those with disabilities.
TQM. Thank you for sharing your time and story with us.
Thank you sir.
