Nendirmwa Habila is a single lady with physical disability from a family of seven children. She became a person with disability when she was about seven months old as a result of polio and the only one with disability in her family. She is from Shandam local government of Plateau state.
She had her primary education at school of Preliminary studies (SPS) Nursery and primary school Keffi, at completion, she went to Commercial and Technical School Keffi for my secondary education. From there, she was privileged to be at College of Science, Arts and Technology (CAST) Kurgwi in Qan’a pan Local government of Plateau state.
In this interview with our correspondents, Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle, they discussed her life as a woman with disability.
Nendirmwa Habila in her sister’s shop
TQM. Who sponsored your education?
My parents
TQM. What economic activities are you engaged in to support your life?
I am helping my sister with sells in her Bridal Accessories shop.
TQM. Is she paying you for the service you are rendering?
She is not paying me, but, I am using her shop to train myself in that line of business, with the hope that one day, I would get to open my own Bridal Accessories shop.
TQM. Do you experience any form of discrimination against you, either at the home front or in the community because of your disability?
No, I don’t experience that, but what I face is, people look at me a lot, whenever I am passing by.
TQM. What about romantic relationships, what is it like with you?
I have been having on and off courtship. The relationships have not been stable, because not every man would like to marry a lady with disability.
TQM. Do you think, friends and relations play a role in these negative perception about ladies with disability?
I am not sure of that, but I think so. I used to have a boy friend, who’s mother said, she want a daughter – in-law that would fetch water for her. I can do a lot of domestic work, fetching water is what I lack the ability to do because of my disability.
TQM. What happened between you and the boy friend?
He left me, to look for a girl that does not have disability and the one that can fetch water.
TQM. How have your disability affected your relationship with the opposite sex?
A lot, in fact more than you can imagine.
TQM. Before we go, what would be your open request for assistance to any one that is reading your story?
I am requesting for assistance from any person or group of persons, to help me with capital to start my own Bridal Accessories shop. I have learned much, what I am lacking now is the money to start.
Having my own business will equip me with the resources to be able to take care of myself.
TQM. Thank for granting us this interview, we wish you good luck.
Ans. Thank you.
