2023 world’s disability day: celebrating a woman of inestimable qualities, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, a personification of resilience.
This wonderful woman of substance, in spite of her physical challenge, remains the undisputed powerhouse. She is a radio host, a lawyer, a distinguished on air personality, a life coach, a social media influencer, an author and the founder of Amputees United Initiative, a platform she uses to add immeasurable values to the lives of persons without limbs, and persons with disabilities at large.
Mrs Lawal attended Command children school for her primary education. Having graduated, she proceeded to Queens college, Yaba, in Lagos for her secondary education.
After her secondary education, she gained admission to the reputable Olabisi Onanbanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, in Ogun state. Meanwhile, during her 200 level at the University, studying law, something unexpected that threatened to change the trajectory of this woman’s life occurred.
Having had a minor domestic accident and taken to a hospital, Mrs Lawal was diagnosed with cancer of the bone, a paralysing news she never envisaged by any stretch of imagination.
She wished with great optimism that the depressing news was a sleep of tongue or a sort of prank. But unfortunately, wishes were not horses… And the diagnosis was the beginning of her new reality. In no distant time, her Doctor confirmed that her affected leg must be amputated for her to stay alive. However, being a vibrant youth with an ambition to become a classy lawyer, losing one of her legs was a difficult, but also a necessary choice, because she had to live.
So, after months of depressing fear of what might be, this woman’s leg was finally but painfully amputated in February, 2006, at the age of twenty.
With one of her legs gone, but her hunger for success remained, Mrs Lawal took the fight to life by returning to the university to complete her degree programme in law. By 2010, she proceeded to Nigerian law school ,where she graduated with upper credit. Subsequently, she was called to the bar in the same year.
Having become a stylish lawyer, Mrs Lawal began her career as a radio host in full swing. She has, thus far, worked for media organisations like nigeriainfo and smooth radio , where she became popular for her engaging programmes.
Remarkably, Mrs Lawal did not rest on her laurels. She embarked on series of life-changing voluntary services to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, making sure they are well-empowered academically and vocationally. As a result of these, and coupled with her other numerous praiseworthy achievements, the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, appointed her as his special advicer, in 2021.
Without mincing words, even the most hard-to-please individuals will be proud of this woman, who has, without a doubt, changed the narratives of persons with disabilities in Nigeria and beyond. Without a doubt, I am fully convinced that Mrs Lawal will forever be a motivating force for those who want to defy the odds.
@Olawoyin Damilola #World’s disability day #Motivation #Changing the narratives.
