An ex-journalist turned public relations supervisor cum entrepreneur, Kolapo Abiodun, shares his extraordinary journey after dropping his sight to glaucoma with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI. He spoke on how the life-altering expertise not solely sparked his ardour for mastering assistive expertise but in addition ignited an unwavering willpower to thrive towards all odds
Might you share your journey as a journalist and expertise within the printing press earlier than dropping your sight?
I earned my diploma in English Language from Ogun State College, now Olabisi Onabanjo College in 1990 and commenced my profession as a journalist at a health-focused media home.
This function required me to interpret advanced medical materials and current it in a method that was accessible to most of the people.
Our emphasis on function writing distinguished it from standard journalism and geared up me for future challenges.
Earlier than dropping my sight, I led an energetic life stuffed with numerous management roles. I served because the president of my residents’ affiliation and chaired the Alimosho department {of professional} printers.
Moreover, I used to be the vice chairman of my secondary college alumni affiliation and held a principal officer place in my college alumni chapter in Lagos. I additionally ran a profitable printing press that lined the complete worth chain of the occupation.
Nevertheless, right away, my vibrant life remodeled into one in every of ache, redundancy, and loneliness paying homage to the biblical proverb about sudden downfall. This expertise taught me an important lesson – irrespective of how snug life could appear, circumstances can change dramatically at any second.
Throughout a disaster when the trade was in turmoil and salaries have been nonexistent, I ventured into non-public enterprise. After a number of years, I returned to communications as a company affairs supervisor and ultimately labored as a public relations supervisor at an oil and fuel firm. After a couple of years, I left to ascertain my very own printing firm, which was a long-held dream.
As an Ijebu boy, printing runs in my blood. My firm, situated in Ikotun, grew to become recognized for guide publishing. We began small, however over time, it grew and have become pretty profitable.
My background in English allowed me so as to add worth to my shoppers, enhancing their tasks with my enhancing expertise. Along with my enterprise endeavours, I engaged in neighborhood service and continued to tackle management roles.
How would you describe your life earlier than you grew to become visually impaired, each personally and professionally?
I used to be doing properly in my printing enterprise, dealing with notable shoppers and printing bestselling books. Nevertheless, in February 2020, I confronted a major problem. I had been recognized with glaucoma earlier however was managing it properly with out glasses and visiting the hospital frequently to take my medicines.
Regardless of being recognized with glaucoma, I drove very properly. In February, after a visit to Ilorin with my spouse, I observed that my left eye had turned crimson upon waking up the subsequent day. Following a go to to an optician, I used to be referred to a tertiary hospital in Lagos.
It was there that I skilled the cruel actuality of Nigeria’s well being system. For 3 months, I visited the hospital each day however solely noticed the guide twice. After a process on my left eye, I wasn’t supplied with the mandatory medicines, and sadly, I misplaced imaginative and prescient in that eye.
Reflecting on my expertise, I puzzled why I hadn’t sought various healthcare sooner. Finally, I went to a non-public hospital, the place the physician requested if I had suffered an harm to my left eye beforehand. After some thought, I recalled an incident from years earlier when a site visitors officer struck my left eye with a horsewhip whereas I used to be driving.
This harm, mixed with the delayed therapy, possible contributed to my imaginative and prescient loss.
Later, whereas managing my glaucoma and attending a non-public hospital, the COVID-19 lockdown halted entry to eye clinics, which worsened my situation. My left eye grew to become contaminated, and I subsequently misplaced that eye utterly.
The problems continued, and I began dropping imaginative and prescient in my proper eye.
When the lockdown was lifted, I reached out to my guide and was suggested to bear surgical procedures to regain my sight. I had quite a few surgical procedures and even had implants positioned in my eyes however maybe the implants weren’t fitted accurately. Sadly, the harm had already been completed. It was a deeply miserable second for me; it was troublesome. I needed to cease going to the hospital.
Think about the expertise of somebody who had been so energetic out of the blue present process an entire 360-degree shift like that. I misplaced my imaginative and prescient and fell into melancholy at one level as a result of I noticed my complete world crashing down in entrance of me.
What have been the most important challenges you confronted after dropping your sight?
My enterprise collapsed because of the actions of these I put in cost. I needed to promote my machines and different tools as scrap, gadgets I bought for hundreds of thousands of naira.
Regardless of these challenges, some individuals stayed with me. I’ll always remember the chums who constantly referred to as and visited, however there was solely a lot they may do.
After the COVID-19 lockdown, individuals returned to their common routines; my spouse went again to her job, and my kids resumed college. It was then that it dawned on me that I used to be alone and needed to navigate this expertise virtually all on my own.
My spouse tried her finest for me. She is a very incredible lady. Nevertheless, because the stress of taking me to the hospital whereas balancing her work grew to become overwhelming, an Igbo neighbour provided to take me to the hospital. Regardless of not being Yoruba, she was extremely sort.
I found that the Igbo neighborhood stepped up for me much more than the Yoruba neighborhood. Other than a couple of associates, I felt considerably deserted. I confronted a alternative between dwelling and ending my life, however I selected to stay. Finally, I turned to farming as a option to cope.
How did you adapt to your new actuality, and what instruments or methods helped you modify to life with out sight?
In the future, a consumer who specialised in serving to individuals develop their ministries, Dr Akin John, referred to as and requested me to fulfill him. He advised me he didn’t have any work for me however sensed one thing was mistaken.
I defined my state of affairs however made it clear that I didn’t need pity; as a substitute, I wished options to assist transfer my life ahead. He steered that I write Christian books since I had been enhancing books for him. Regardless of my reservations about not understanding the Bible properly, he provided to show me on-line.
At that time, I had mastered utilizing assistive expertise like TalkBack, which helped me navigate writing on Fb and different platforms. Most individuals, together with my neighbours, didn’t realise I used to be visually impaired due to how I interacted, spoke, and contributed.
Sadly, earlier than our classes may progress, he handed away. Regardless of this setback, his suggestion had set me on a brand new path.
The query grew to become, how do I write as a visually impaired particular person? How do I successfully use assistive expertise?
I needed to take classes on the way to use the system. Earlier than my imaginative and prescient loss, I may see the display, which made utilizing the system simpler. Shedding my sight modified that and I may now not navigate the display with a mouse or see the keypads.
It felt like beginning once more, like a kindergarten pupil. My teacher, who was utterly blind, taught me many important expertise, together with mobility.
Now, I can sit at a pc and write utilizing keystrokes. It took me over six months to adapt, and there have been irritating moments.
Has dropping your sight modified your perspective on life?
At the moment, I’m writing a guide on loneliness as a result of I’ve skilled its highs and lows. Loneliness just isn’t merely about being alone; it’s about feeling disconnected from society.
Society’s therapy of disabled individuals, particularly the blind, is a blended bag. Nigerians might be extremely sort. As an illustration, if you happen to need assistance crossing the street, somebody will help you. Folks additionally assist you to board buses, generally even providing that can assist you get to your cease.
Nigerians are very supportive in that regard. Nevertheless, alternatively, when you turn out to be disabled, many individuals typically now not see you as precious. Accepting that feeling of abandonment was robust for me.
A person who had been visually impaired since childhood as soon as advised me, “Once you lose your sight, individuals now not see worth in you.” It was a tough fact, however I realised that I wanted to make myself helpful to society.
I’ve come to consider that God permits adversity in our lives to form us, and the way we reply to it’s essential.
What recommendation would you supply to these dealing with comparable challenges, whether or not it’s dropping their sight or present process one other life-altering occasion?
I typically say that anybody may probably turn out to be disabled. 5 years in the past, if somebody had advised me I might be on this place, I wouldn’t consider it, however right here I’m. By my expertise, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the challenges that visually impaired people face.
Many blind individuals in Nigeria are confined to their properties by their households, handled virtually like furnishings, and merely stored alive.
Most lack the capability to look after themselves, which is the place my state of affairs differs. I’ve the schooling and skill to be a blessing to others, even in my present situation.
It’s not all the time about cash, as I don’t have a lot. Nevertheless, I do have associates who assist. After I obtain help, I share it with different visually impaired individuals, as some lack the means to interrupt limitations or open doorways for themselves.
I like to recommend visiting authorities hospitals and clinics. The crowds you encounter there replicate the state of our well being amenities.
After I was visiting a authorities well being establishment for therapy, I observed that the variety of sufferers was overwhelming, whereas the variety of docs was minimal, and so they have been overworked.
It took me three months to see a glaucoma guide solely a couple of times as a result of he was the one one accessible.
My recommendation is to by no means enable anybody to look down on you. First, you should settle for your self as you might be. I’m on the verge of registering a non-governmental organisation on the Company Affairs Fee that can solely deal with those that are visually impaired.
This organisation will handle schooling, intervention in visible instruments, and ICT. These are my visions-to empower the visually impaired to turn out to be unbiased and handle their very own lives. I perceive the challenges they face.
Wanting again, are there any classes or philosophies you adopted which have helped in your journey?
Shedding my sight has modified my perspective on life in some ways. First, I discovered that there are issues in life you can’t management. Second, our authorities just isn’t doing sufficient to assist visually impaired people or enhance the nation’s well being state of affairs.
The price of healthcare is astronomical, and common Nigerians can’t afford it. I exploit 5 totally different eye drops, and the least costly one prices round 8,000 Naira. I’ve observed that about three out of 10 Nigerians have some type of visible impairment, typically on account of poor entry to high quality healthcare.
I’m a Christian, and I consider within the prayer that claims, “Goodness and mercy shall observe us all the times of our lives.”
Goodness and mercy are like foreign money; you save them by the way you deal with others and assist these in want.
When challenges come up, you possibly can draw on these reserves. I’ve skilled this firsthand. Regardless of my challenges, there has by no means been a day I used to be left hungry as a result of individuals got here to my help, and I consider it’s due to the goodwill I amassed over time.
To the youthful technology, particularly males, while you’re younger and financially unbiased, deal with your loved ones, together with your spouse and youngsters.
Present them love, since you don’t know what the longer term holds. My household has been my pillar. I’ve additionally discovered to handle my expectations of others. Earlier than my challenges, I used to get upset when individuals upset me, however now, I’m now not bothered by such issues.
Your first daughter not too long ago graduated as a medical physician. How does that make you are feeling?
I ought to point out that I’m a father of many kids. I’ve two organic kids, together with a number of foster kids. Regardless of my very own challenges, I’ve been capable of prepare my kids morally.
I even have the account particulars of many kids in class, whom I assist financially with no matter I can, and this offers me pleasure.
Sure, my first daughter not too long ago graduated as a medical physician, and I’m very pleased with her.
Nevertheless, her journey additionally uncovered some essential issues in our well being system, significantly the shortage of manpower.
Medical college students spend round eight years in coaching, together with housemanship and NYSC service, totalling almost 10 years, solely to earn lower than N300,000. In the meantime, politicians earn exorbitant salaries. How can we anticipate our docs to not depart the nation beneath these situations? Till we correctly remunerate important professionals, we’re solely deceiving ourselves.
Adversity will all the time come; it’s part of life. Those that face challenges aren’t any much less near God than those that don’t.
It’s not the adversity that defines you however the way you react to it. For many who lose their sight later in life, like I did, it’s significantly laborious since you are conscious about what you’ve misplaced. But it surely’s not the top of the world. You simply have to retool your self, study new expertise, and adapt.
What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for a lot of issues, particularly the present of life and the provisions from God. In my neighborhood, I’m not handled as visually impaired. I contribute to discussions and share my opinions similar to anybody else.
Expertise has made life simpler, with instruments and sources accessible to assist. I’ve taught myself the way to use computer systems and voice prompts. Retooling your self is essential.
Challenges may function a method for God to disclose issues we could have ignored within the hustle of life. I’ve found features of myself—each strengths and weaknesses—that I didn’t know earlier than.
I now recognize individuals and friendships extra. The general public we name associates are sometimes simply acquaintances, however by way of challenges, you study who your true associates are.
My recommendation to anybody dealing with comparable challenges is to keep away from indulging in self-pity. You’ll expertise emotional turbulence, nevertheless it’s essential to create a routine that retains you engaged.
I’ve developed my methods to fight loneliness. I spend time studying, strolling, and staying energetic. Strolling, specifically, helps battle melancholy.
It’s necessary to have interaction in actions that deliver you pleasure and maintain you mentally and bodily match.
Is there any sort of assist that must be given to people who find themselves bodily challenged?
As for assist, there isn’t a lot offered by the federal government. Lagos State has some programmes for the visually impaired, however they’re minimal. The federal government just isn’t dwelling as much as its guarantees, whether or not for the disabled or for ladies’s illustration.
It’s a must to depend on your self for assist as a result of there may be little to nothing coming from the authorities.
Folks could present you like and supply the little assist they will, however the authorities isn’t addressing the state of affairs.
I anticipate that there can be grants for visually challenged people who need to begin companies. When it comes to schooling, the one assist accessible to the visually impaired comes from non-public people.
Whereas there are vocational faculties for the blind, such because the one in Oshodi, they’re privately owned.
In relation to larger schooling, do establishments have satisfactory amenities for the bodily challenged? There’s a lot assist the federal government may present, but they’ve failed to help those that can converse, not to mention the disabled.
That’s the reason I need to work on my NGO. This endeavour will deliver me pleasure and fulfilment.
Though I’m not wealthy and at the moment don’t have a job, my state of affairs continues to be significantly better than that of many visually impaired people.
