In
my last publication on this Platform, I intentionally did not reveal my status
in the disability community. Those of you that read in between the lines may
have gone ahead of this particular piece to decode my status. If you attempted
the best you achieved was putting yourself on a guess mode, a situation that no
matter how tried, denied you the confidence to discuss my status from the position
of assurance. To release my esteemed reader from that position of loss of
confidence regarding my status, I declare:
"As I
saddle the drivers’ seat, leading the discussions on PARA-Sports Pavilion and
Power-lifting Column on this Platform I do so, writing as a
Person-With-Disability, a physically impaired person".
Before more is said here, I wish to note and boldly too that I am a source of inspiration and motivation to many people in life, within and outside the Disability community. I wish that all in the disability community realize that they are. Truth is, even if the only thing a PDW achieved in a year is survival, a lot has already been done by him or her. Taken cognizance of the complain of the average Nigerian in the streets each day, a person-with-disability, will celebrated himself/herself enormous for surviving each passing day. I say cheers, kudos and bravoooooo to all of us members of the Disability community, in and outside this Platform. We individually and collectively achieved so much. If anyone feels otherwise that is entirely up to the person. There is really nothing I can do about that. I make this assertion with every sense of humility and respect to all, especially the so-called able persons. One of the things I owe myself everyday is celebration of me. To my maker I show Him my gratitude daily. I encourage every living to find time daily to do the two. There is power that comes with it. I will continue to do it over and over and over again...
Going
further, I wish to note that I have been active for quite some in the sporting
arena. I have competed and won laurels at both the local and national levels,
including Gold, in Power-lifting. After retirement from active and competitive
sports, I became a coach, and presently a national technical committee member
and Zonal Coordinator, North Central Zone of the Power-lifting Federation of Nigeria.
Before,
during and after my retirement, I have been one that love taking up challenges,
even when there is no monetary reward. Truth be told, it enables me to showcase
my ability, and affords me the opportunity to appear before people and prove to
them the energy, strength of character and determination in me. Among the
benefits it helps to put me off of the radar and class of people to pity and to
be exploited. Most people in our dear country Nigeria do more of seeing and
treating the PWDs with pity, I refuse to be pitied; instead finds time to
intimidate and surprise people with my skills, commitment and very big vision.
I don’t need to appeal to anybody to think big, hope and work to attain my big
dream. I clearly understand the benefits in enveloped in principle of starting
small. It is for this reason I totally align myself with the saying any big
idea that cannot start small is not good enough.
My
boss has this notion that anything good enough to be considered a big idea or
vision that cannot start small is nothing else but worry, drop it, he cautions.
If you do not drop it, it will frustrate you, he will always say and on a
confident and inspiring note. I have come to realize the huge strength that draws
from within to give one the push that makes the difference, when one takes such
a position and goes ahead to commit seriously at realizing the vision. He made
me belief unflinchingly on what the Almighty Lord can do for them that
sincerely and faithfully belief and commits their vision to Him unwaveringly. His
words”
“My dear, big dreams give strength, does not take away any, as a result never will frustrate you”
This keeps ringing in my mind, even as I take up the responsibility of driving the Pavilion and building Power-lifting column. I urge us to brace up. Seek opportunities to acquire skills and develop the will power, the zeal and the enthusiasm to offer your skill freely without counting cost or return. There is something motivating, inspiring and forcefully energizing when one does well, what many people never thought or belief he/she can do. I do come across some PWDs who though, have skills, but wait until they are hired (paid), and never had any chance to deploy their skill. It is better that people see you demonstrate or deploy the skills free and left to feel guilty for not hiring or paying you when many people are convinced you can deliver in some cases far better result than be left to settle confidently believing and making other people feel there really nothing anybody can do apart from giving you mere aid, which automatically make such a giver see you as one who can only survival through begging.
It is always better
to render free service, with a touch of speed, excellence and competence It takes more than a perfunctory display of commitment for a PWD to break the
barriers and liberate from the shackles of ignorance, pity and beggarly living.
It is a well known fact that it is only the prepared and bold that gets
announced for great works. The moment you start acting independent by offering
people free service, delivering excellently and following up with introducing
your business and canvassing seriously for patronage, you tactically live very
huge burden in the hearts of those you offered free service, soon they become
object of condemnation and sometimes a subject of discussion and ridicule for treatments
meted to you, as benefiting from you without paying. This happens as a natural occurrence
not that you will instigate it, neither is it the reason for offering the free
service to the people. Keep pushing and never relent. The moment those sudden calls,
impromptu negotiations and constant invites keep rolling in, your journey to
stardom has just begun…
Until I come your way next time, remain blessed
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