Entrepreneurs with disabilities showcase their products during Lagos exhibition

 

Members of the disability community dispel all doubts about their ability to compete in the economy.  Under the umbrella of the non-governmental organisation, Hope Builders, they showcased their products including African prints popularly known as Kampala, female handbags, footwear, throw pillows, beads, antiseptics, processed food  (garri, palm oil, etc) and many others to the public at an event in Lagos. 

The event, which was held in the Itere, Mushin area of Lagos State, had in attendance representatives of Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mushin Local Government, National Productivity Centre, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) among others. 

At the event, the entrepreneurial spirit of members of the disability community came to the fore during the products exhibition. 

Dr Christiana Akinrinmade, founder of Hope Foundation, said the exhibition was designed to celebrate the entrepreneurship spirit of these Nigerians, many of  whom were trained by the foundation. 

She said: “We’ve been around in the last five years impacting people with disability with a lot of programmes including training them to unlock their potentials and showcase to the whole world their abilities to contribute to the development of the economy.”

She said the foundation has been impacting the lives of many people with disabilities, making them financially independent.  One of such persons impacted by the foundation, she recalled,  is a visually impaired and cripple man who six months ago was a beggar in Ebute Metta area of Lagos.  She said he is now into bags and beads making. She said that makes her very proud. 

Dr Akinrinmade urged the government at all levels, including the private sector and well meaning Nigerians to assist the foundation so as to expand their capacity to train more people with disability to be financially Independent. 

A co-founder of Hope Builders, Dr Meranda Motunrayo added her voice to the appeal for support towards people with disability. 

She said: “If people living with disability can do this in this economy, I am calling on philanthropists, Nigerians in diaspora, all the governors, the president, international bodies to please hear these people and support them in terms of health, education and finance.”

One of the guests at the event, Rev Dr Adebayo Ishola Stephen said the initiative by Hope Builders is the best thing to happen for people with disability. 

He said: “There are many lives being wasted and potentials being destroyed not because they do not have anything to offer…Some people get destroyed because there is no one to give them motivation. I thank God for a programme like this. It is giving meaning to people’s lives. I just pray the government will recognize this kind of programme and give them all the support and encouragement they need.”

In his submission, Adeyemi Ogunbule,  a visually impaired Nigerian who came from his base in the UK to attend the event,  urged the government to at least make a policy for free healthcare for people living with disabilities. 

Asked to comment on what Nigerians can learn from the UK on how to care for people with disabilities, he said there is no basis for comparison. 

“There are some things I don’t like saying because some people might get home to start thinking that ‘my life has spoiled.’  

“In the UK as a person living with disability, you will be taking salary like the people who are working. They don’t want you to think that ‘if I was working I could have been this and that.’ 

“The house I live in is free. If anything gets spoiled, they will repair it. 

“I have about three ways of going out if I want to go out. The first one is Dial A Ride. You call a day before and they will come and pick you up. 

“The second is a Taxi Card. The government will pay 30% and you will pay 70%. 

“The third one is a card given to you for the train and bus. It is free. I won’t pay any dime just so that you don’t get depressed at home. 

“Hospital is free. I don’t know the cost of drugs,” he said. 

He advised the government to start with free healthcare for people with disabilities as a way of supporting them.