Yusuf Ibrahim is a polio survivor from Kanam local government of Plateau state. He was nine years when he became a person with disability. He hails from family of ten children, his father is married to three wives. He has married and the marriage has been blessed with three children.
In this interview with our correspondents Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, he spoke about his education and exploits as a person with disability.
TQM. What is the story of your educational?
I did not have western education, but I did a little of Arabic home education.
TQM. What could be the reason, that you could not have western education?
Even though I became a person with disability at age of nine, at that age I was not in school, our parents did not like western education because a good number of my siblings are not educated in this fashion.
TQM. What work is Yusuf doing to provide for his family?
I was in a man’s shop, he sales kola-nut and palm oil. When he is not around, I attended to his customers and keep the money for him and he usually gives me something at the end of every weekend.
TQM. Are you an apprentice or working for him?
I am doing both.
TQM. Do you have the ambition of establishing your own business?
Yes, that is my dream, but for now I don’t have the money to do that.
TQM. The government have schemes that gives out loans to small scale businesses, have you consider approaching them?
Yes, I have even applied, but I am yet to be successful.
TQM. You did not have the privileged of having western education, what is the status of your children, with regard to education?
My children are schooling; they are in primary school. I don’t have the same principle with my parents in this aspect.
TQM. Is your wife a person with disability?
She is not a person with disability.
TQM. What work is she engaged in?
She is a full-time house wife.
TQM. Have you been discriminated upon because of your disability in your family or outside the family circle?
Yes, When I was younger, my parents would take my other siblings the farm and leave me behind, even when I want to follow them, they will turn me back, with words like, “you cannot do much.’’ As a result, today, I am lacking addition source of income that is available in farming.
TQM. At this point, what is your call to the government and general public for assistance?
I am pleading to the government and other persons for capital assistance to enable me to start my own business.
TQM. Thank you for your time.
