Jessica Lekki Peter is a woman with blindness from Bokkos local government of Plateau State.
In 1982, she started primary school and when she was in primary two, she noticed that she could no longer see what is being written on the black board.
This made her parents to seek medical solution in various hospitals in Plateau State. At a time, she was taken to Kano where she was operated upon exactly at her left eye.
After the operation, she started seeing a little with the eye. She was given some medications and there was improvement on the eye but mysteriously the drugs got missing and that was how she eventually lost my sight.
She was made to stay at home for some time but in 1989, her father had to enroll her in School for the Blind Children in Gindiri, Mangu local government of Plateau State, on completion, she was enrolled in Government Secondary School Balbong also in Mangu local government of Plateau State. She later went to University of Jos. She graduated in 2003 and got employment with Bokkos local government of Plateau State, as a welfare officer.
TQM. Are you married?
Yes, I am married to a visual impaired person, Mr. Lekki Peter from Edo State. We meet at the University, he has finished his masters, but is yet to gain employment. Our marriage is yet to be blessed with Children.
TQM. What is your relationship like with your in-laws, being a woman with disability, is there any discrimination?
Well, our relationship is good. We are here in Jos, while most of my in-laws are in Edo and some are in Abuja. We are not really staying together for me to determine that. But, we have been communicating well.
TQM. Are you engaging yourself in any other thing outside your work as a local government welfare officer?
No
TQM. What is stopping from doing that?
I would have love to but I lack the space and finance stopped me from engaging in poultry farming that I desire so much.
TQM. Have you ever received any assistance either from your workplace or somewhere to engage in other vocations?
I have not received such assistance.
TQM. What did you observe as a welfare officer, to be the general problem of women with disabilities?
The problem of women with disabilities are that, they cannot go to farm and they don’t have money to do business to assist themselves and their children. Also they are facing the problem of lack of education among others.
TQM. Thank you so much for your time.
You are welcome.
