Ada’ah Christopher Daniel is a person with albinism who hailed from Obudu local government area of Cross River State but he has lived in Plateau State all through his life.

He is the second child in his family, he has lost two of his brothers and in May last year, he also lost his elder sister.

He could not go beyond secondary school due to financial constraints. His parents could not afford it. He attended St Luke’s primary school in Standard Jos and vocational and relevant technology board where he got his O’level certificate.

In this interview with Bulus Baba Izang, he spoke about his challenges as a person with albinism and his hustle in life.

TQM: How do you feel as a person with albinism?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

In our community, life with albinism is a heavy task and very challenging. Keeping yourself out of sun to avoid skin burnt or cancer, struggling to see especially in the afternoon and expensive nature of sunscreen to protect your skin.

TQM: So after your secondary school, how did you start life without a higher education?

 I started with working as a baker for several years before I went into laundry services.

TQM: How long have you been doing this laundry services?

I just started not long ago but I am so focus on my job and it is rewarding.

TQM: Apart from the laundry services, which other things do you do?

I do sports especially athletics.

TOM: Have you ever represented the PWDs in any sports competition?

I know we have football and other sports that the physically challenged and other clusters have teams which participate in them but people with albinism do not really have sports teams and sporting activities like others but I represented Gombe State in athletics in 2012. But due to injury I didn’t run my final race in 800 meters. But I am encouraging PWDs to get involved in sports because it is a good way to be empowered.

TQM: Have you faced any kind of discriminations from individuals or the society?

Well, in my own case I have not really faced discriminations like that but on several occasions I have been called derogatory names like albino and white but I didn’t really see them offensive because I choose to be happy. I also associate with everyone in respect of the community or person. Like in the afternoon I don’t really see well but no one has mocked me because of that.

Are you a member of The Albino Foundation(TAF)? And if yes what is your assessment of TAF so far?

Yes. I am a member of TAF and since 2009, they organized a program in NDE which I got a sunglass, I have not really heard much about them, I am aware of any other efforts they are making to help other people with albinism on the Plateau. They need to do more because there are still hundreds of persons with albinism on the plateau who are in dying need of help.

TQM: What can you say concerning the new Commission for disability the government has inaugurated?

I am not aware of the commission before now although I do listen to news but honestly the government need to do more in the aspect of implementing the law and also include PWDs in every of their national development plans.

TQM: Since you are now self-reliance as a business man, in what area can your business be supported?

I would want government to understand this fact that most PWDs do not need millions to start doing well. Like me, with 200,000 naira, I will improve my laundry services because as you can see everything here is manual and the world has really improved. With technology, things are made easier and faster which will definitely increase productivity, so I need to step up and make more income.

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TQM: What advice do have for people with albinism or disabilities to overcome their challenges?

As you know the government has failed us so we all need to think outside the box to survive, there are so many businesses out there one can fit in and break barriers like me. I choose laundry work and by the grace of God, I am doing well with it. Provisions store is also good for PWDs because there is no much stress in it. So let us not wait for the government before we can start something in a little way even although we need little capital to start just like a vehicle that needs to be pushed to start and drive you to your destination. And again, Provisions store do not need much money to start. One can start such business with 50,000naira. There are still other businesses and crafts that PWDs can go into and be earning a living from it. Let’s begin to engage ourselves with something, government do not have a workable plan for us.

TQM: Can you assist the PWDs who would need your assistance in starting up a business of his own? 

Yes of course but one thing I must say here is that PWDs normally do rely more on the able bodied for assistance because since I started my business a lot of able bodied people have approached me for training and they got it well and they are doing well, but no PWDs have ever done that. I have trained an able bodied person on how to bake bread. It would have been my choice of business but due to its capital intensive, I choose to start from laundry services. To start a bakery business would require 5-15 million naira. So I am encouraging my people(PWDs) to come forward to be trained to become self-reliance.

TQM: Thank you for your time Mr. Daniel.

May God bless you.

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.