Emmanuel Pangang lost his sight when he was two years old, he has lived all his life without sight.
He started schooling at the School for the Blind Children, Gindiri in Mangu local government of Plateau State. In 1960, when he was 12 years old, he successfully completed his class seven. He stayed at home for sometimes because there was no financial support for him to continue but in 1978, he gained admission into Vocational Training Centre for the Blind, Oshodi, Lagos which he completed in 1980.
He came back to Plateau State and got employed with the Vocational Training Centre for the Blind Zawan. He worked there until his retirement in March, 2008. And then relocated to Pankshin local government.
He got married to a blind woman in 1994. It took nine years before the wife conceived, but glory be to God, she had a still birth. and since then, his wife has not conceived up till date.
In this chat, he shared with TQM his story from his working days and now that he has gone into retirement.
TQM. You and your wife are both persons with visual impairment, are you facing any form of discrimination from your community or other people?
No, we have not experienced any form of discrimination. In fact, they are even helping us in various ways. We are staying close to my brother in-law; his children have been there like our children assisting us. May God’s blessings be with them.
TQM. How would you rate the provision of welfare by the government in the past years and now, towards persons with disabilities?
Things where a lot better in those days than now. For example, in the Vocational Training Centre for the Blind Zawan in those days, feeding and Training aids materials are not a problem but in these days, I just don’t know, if things continue the way they are, the Centre may not continue to exist, the provision is just poor.
TQM. Talking about those days, you schooled in the 1960s, you could read and write in a time, when many people could not. As a person with visual impairment. How do people look at you back then?
(Smile) That is interesting, a lot of people that heard me reading especially my Bible, they become very surprise to see a Blind person reading. Some even think l have special magical powers that is enabling me to read, people really express surprise at my knowledge and that gave me great joy. I felt good.
TQM. Now that you are retired, are you engaged into doing something else?
No, we had plan of doing something, but the money to do is not there.
TQM. What will be your appeal to government and other people, in terms of assisting you?
I am calling on the government and other people to assist us with food items and some money to established a little business.
TQM. Thank you sir, may God continue to give you good health.
Thank you.
This story is part of The Qualitative Magazine Project “CONNECTING OUR VOICES TO THE WORLD”-propagating the potentials and challenges of Persons with Disabilities in Plateau State supported by VOICE NIGERIA
