Dirkat Nimdap is a lady with physical disability who come for a family 21 children and the only one among them with disability. Her father is married to three wives.
She was not born with disability, she became a person with disability as a result of wrong injection. She hailed from Langtang North of Plateau state and attended Shishiri primary school and Government secondary school and later, Gani Development College for her secondary school education all here in Langtang.
Our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle engaged her in her home town Langtang North to talk about her struggles as a woman with disability.
TQM. Why did you not continue to your education to higher Institution?
I became pregnant and gave to a daughter, so my parents shifted their resources towards providing for my daughter.
Dirkat Nimdap and her daughter
TQM. What about the father of the your baby, is he not capable of providing for her?
He refuse to marry me and he is not providing for me or his daughter, he just don’t care about us.
TQM. Is he a person with disability?
No, he is not a person with disability, but person who took advantage of my disability.
TQM. Are you aware of the activities of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, a government establishment, that help to protect the rights of people with disability?
No.
TQM. Is you daughter schooling?
Yes.
TQM. Who is paying for her education?
Me, with the assistance of some of my siblings and some friends. She completed her secondary school last year, she is seventeen years.
I also have two orphans, a girl and a boy, the children of my late brother that l am providing for and paying for their education, not because, l have the means to, but because somebody have to do it for them.
TQM. What work are you doing to provide for yourself and the children?
I make Dawa- Dawa (a local Maggi) and Kunu which l sell by the roadside. I also do some knitting and hair plating.
TQM. Have you ever been assisted by government or private individuals to expand your business?
The one assistance l have received is from Daddy Jeremiah T. Usaini. He organized an empowerment program for fifty (50) people, and l was one of the beneficiaries. Apart from that, l have not received any other assistance.
TQM. The house you are staying, is it a family or rented house?
It is a family house.
TQM. Have you experience discrimination or abuse as a result of being a lady with disability?
No.
TQM. Before we go, what personal appeal will you like to make to the government and other persons?
l need assistance with the payment of the children’s education, for my daughter and the two orphans, the first orphan is in secondary school, while the other is still in primary school. l would appreciate any employment or some money to increase my business. If l can get all or some of these, l believe life would be better for me and the children.
TQM. Thank you and TQM is wishing you the best of luck.
Thank you.
