Danjuma Joseph is a person with Physical Disability from Langtang North Local Government of plateau state. He is from a family of five surviving children and the only one with disability among them. He was born in Kuka village in Wase local government of Plateau state. He became a wheelchair user about twenty ago, due to stroke, in which he lost the use of his legs and one of his hands. He is married with five children.
He is the State Chairman of Persons with physical disabilities on the Plateau.
In this interview, he told TQM team, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle about his education, work as a barber.
TQM. Were you privileged to go school?
I did my primary school in Kuka primary school Wase local government and Government Secondary School at Pankshin, in Pankshin Local Government of Plateau state for my secondary education.
TQM. We met you barbing a fellow here in a Barbing saloon. How did you come about doing this?
After l became a person with disability, I need to find a way of doing something to earn some income to keep body and soul together and barbing came in as one of the work a person in my condition can do, so l got myself trained in it.
TQM. Who owns the barbing saloon?
I own and operate the barbing, l started it from my little savings.
TQM. How effective and efficient do you manage this place, are there areas that you need assisting hands?
I am doing well in managing it, I have about five boys who are working and learning the art of barbing in my saloon, two of them are my children, when there is something that l cannot do, they easily get it done.
TQM. Apart from the saloon, You what other engagement are you in?
I do a little of farming, I source money from place like this and pay people to do the farming for me, even though I do go to the farm and do one or two things there.
TQM. Have you ever received any financial support from the government to expand your business?
I have not.
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. What is your experience like with discrimination as a person with disability, in your family and the society?
My family show me no discrimination, but outside my family, some people do show me discrimination.
TQM. What do you do in such a situation?
I really do feel bad about such things, but l know human beings are not perfect, with that, l have learned to educate them on the need to have respect for human dignity as creation of God Almighty regardless of their status.
TQM. Have you ever considered seeking the assistance of Institutions like the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission in redressing some of these discrimination?
When you take issues of discrimination to places like the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission, 80% to 90% of those who are occupying the paramount positions are people without disability, and so they don’t handle issues of discrimination perfectly.
TQM. Lastly, what would your personal appeal for assistance to the government and the people be?
If l would be given a grant, l would improve the status of my barbing saloon business to be better than what it is now, for better and efficient service. I would like to equally appeal for scholarship for some of my children that are still schooling.
TQM. Thank you for your time sir.
You are welcome.
