Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face a lot of discrimination, stigmatization, marginalization, and other forms of disparities, and this results in an exclusive society.
Narrating his ordeal is a man who has stared at these challenges and decided to overcome them despite being confined to a wheelchair. Ubong lkpe shares his inspiring life story on Voice Your Stories’ platform.
In his words: “I was not born this way; I was involved in a ghastly road accident after finishing secondary school. All efforts to get my legs back to life proved abortive. I had to adapt to this new phase of depending on people to do my chores.
“Although the experience was so traumatizing I needed to come to terms with the truth and encourage myself. The verse “David encouraged himself in the Lord” inspired me to forge ahead.
I had to strive to forge ahead to accept that there is a beautiful life before me and I had to adjust my life in the process.
“My auntie, the former Commissioner of Investment, Commerce and Industry, Prof. Eno Ikpe also served as a source of motivation for me to go back to school. At this moment, I found myself in deep thought, wondering how I would navigate my life in the school environment.
But though I was terrified to go back to school, I summoned up the courage to take JAMB. Fortunately, I sat the examination and gained admission to study Special Education and child psychology.
“As a young vibrant man, I decided to live in the school’s hostel irrespective of my mobility challenges. The wheelchair became my comfort although it had its limitations.
“Having a full glance at the environment, the educational structures, especially the lecture halls were not accessible, and most of them were not disability-friendly.
This is because buildings had no accessible ramps to my lecture halls, I was often dragged upstairs and it was not a nice experience.
“Apart from the lecture hall, the school hostel was not accessible too. Sometimes I could not move independently to the library, leaving me frustrated.
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“There were a lot of barriers encountered in the school and my aunty who served as my backbone suddenly died during my first semester in year one and this was so traumatizing.
“Even though I was hurt, I didn’t back down, I forged ahead to continue my education. The activities of PWDs are financially intensive.
“As a special student, you end up paying more. For instance, able students can pay N100,000 in session but as PWDs, we can spend like N400,000 because there are double charges in transportation and you are likely to appreciate people for their kind gestures towards you and you can also spend money for help that you can’t do due to your disability nature.
“Persons with Disabilities were often treated as second-class citizens but through it all and despite the bumpy rides, I went ahead to sit on top of my challenges to achieve my dreams.
“I challenged myself to occupy sensitive positions in school like being the President of the National Association of Students for PWDs, also the Director of Socials in my department as well as being the Chairman of the Stakeholders Council in the University of Uyo.
“Apart from impediments in school, there is also discrimination in some churches PWDs Community face on daily basis but through it all, we still come out strong.”
“Even in transportation, drivers double charge persons with disabilities. If you are in a wheelchair now, you are going to a place that is worth N100 but a person in a wheelchair will pay double that.
It is also difficult to be in a relationship because you are likely to be stigmatized and deceived by some ladies.”
Regardless of these hurdles, Ubong Ikpe succeeded in being the first personal assistant to the governor on persons with disabilities in Akwa Ibom State after 36 years.
He acknowledged the fact that he wouldn’t have gone this far without the unalloyed support from his parents, his aunt, Deaconess Dora Awana and other remarkable family members as well as friends
Just as he said earlier, he foresees more beautiful scenarios in life and we are optimistic that his diligent spirit and resilient mental attitude will make him accomplish more remarkable achievements in life.
