The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Credit: Saturday Sun
Affiong Ene-Obong is a lawyer, author, fashion enthusiast, and women advocate. In an encounter with Saturday Sun, she said she is poised to make a change in the society through all the things she does, in spite of her physical disability.
Is your disability by birth or it was caused by an accident?
It was by birth – premature birth. From a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy, to a woman learning the law, mastering her craft, changing lives with her words in pursuit of purpose.
What was your childhood like?
Childhood was an opportunity to learn, unlearn, grow and become. My parents were ‘present’ in every sense of the word. They ensured that all had and still have the best of everything great. Whenever I had challenges regarding my mobility, they had alternatives opted for the best opportunities for me. They never second-guessed my abilities and gave me the chance to give my best to every good opportunity to succeed. Despite the sneers, jeers, constant staring, toying with the wheelchair from strangers as a result of my mobility challenges, I believed in myself as a child and I knew I would be a great person.
Did you face any discrimination in primary, secondary school?
Discrimination for persons with special needs in Nigeria is a major concern. It’s at its peak in primary and secondary school due to the level of orientation and exposure children have regarding people with special needs from their families, communities, etc.
I attended mainstream primary and secondary schools where children were already enlightened on how to treat people with special needs; when to offer assistance, support. The idea of discrimination stems from how you are treated in school- if your classmates see how your parents and teachers treat you, they would treat you alike. There are quite a number of mainstream schools that need to teach children to accept and understand that others are special and should be treated equally.
Discrimination in my primary and secondary schools wasn’t a concern because parents, teachers, pupils, students embraced acceptance and inclusion.
Have you ever faced any discrimination at work?
Discrimination at the workplace can result from the kind of work environment. If you are in a workplace where employee don’t understand inclusion, diversity and acceptance, that’s a major concern. If your organisation understands and abides by its work practices, there should be zero tolerance to discrimination. If they also see how your parents and loved ones treat you, you won’t need to worry about discrimination. It’s about the choices you make, level of confidence you have in yourself that determines how you are treated. If you make the right choices, you receive the best results. I haven’t faced any form of discrimination at work.
There are a lot of toxicity and discrimination in different workplace environments in Nigeria and we need to keep advocating for change.
Are there groups doing advocacy on behalf of people living with disabilities? If yes, how has such work impacted on these people?
There are groups. Many of them are private groups and non-governmental organizations and I must commend their work. They are striving to create the changes we seek for persons with special needs and it has put smiles on their faces and given them a sense of belonging and hope for a better future.
How do you feel each time you realise that there are certain things you can’t do as other full-fledged persons?
It’s human to be sad about it but I have realised that I can do my best and optimize every opportunity to succeed in life, fulfilling my purpose, living my dreams, building a lasting legacy and making others happy.
What are some of the challenges you are facing as a result of your physical condition?
Accessibility, barriers in workplace environment, absence of assistive devices and social inclusion.
How were you able to push through during your study as a lawyer, as it requires a lot of energy and moving from one place to the other?
Present and supportive parents- my parents believed in my abilities and encouraged me in every way. They were ‘present’ in every sense of the word. Another thing is the presence of a resilient heart. My heart believed what it nursed and my mouth confessed it into reality. Positive mindset too. I had a goal and I believed I could achieve it. Moving from one place to the other required a lot to be considered in terms of convenience, infrastructure, etc but I kept pushing to achieve my dreams.
What is the perception of people towards you, especially when it has to do with your profession?
The legal profession is a noble one that accords us with the rights and responsibilities we have for ourselves and others. The perception others have about me is that I will stand for what is right though the heavens fall.
You are into some other projects in addition to your profession. What is motivating you to keep moving on?
The motivation to keep pushing comes from my desire to fulfil my purpose, build generational wealth and lasting legacy, financial independence, become an agent of change globally, give and make others hope for a better future.
Your passion for children and women with special needs, does it stem from your life as a person with special needs?
I believe children and women if given the right information and opportunity can transform the world. It takes a nation to raise a child and a woman to propel them to be agents of change. No woman or child with or without special needs should be treated with disdain in their homes, schools or communities. The integral part of the change we seek in our world begins with children and women’s rights duly enacted globally. Advocacy for women and children has being a driving force for me and a channel for change and development.
What are some of the challenges of people with disabilities generally?
Interaction- People with special needs aren’t easily expressive and as such shy away from seeking help and support from others.
Health care- Most people with special needs aren’t given adequate care to make living conditions better for them.
Attention and affection- Most people with special needs aren’t given attention and affection and as such their medical conditions deteriorate and can lead to harm or death.
Acceptance- People don’t understand that disability is part of human diversity while some are of the opinion that disability is contagious. Persons with special needs should be accepted; never assume a person’s disability defines him or her.
Do you think the government is really taking care of their needs?
The needs of persons with special needs aren’t met and the government has a major role to play in achieving this. Persons with special needs have been displaced and not given equal rights and opportunities in the society. Through advocacy, we can ensure that these individuals have and exercise their freedom, equity and fairness they deserve.
In your own thinking, what do you think is best for the government of Nigeria to do for people living with disability?
The Nigerian society has failed to understand that disability is a medical condition that prevents any person from engaging in certain activities. Before anyone is categorised as a person with disability, he or she must be regarded as a human being and should be treated as such
The fundamental rights of every Nigerian – disabled or not – are enshrined in Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution and must be duly implemented and protected to propel the change we seek. The Nigerian society has failed to understand that inclusion must be prioritized. A fight for one is a fight for all. Disability is part of human diversity and must not be perceived as a taboo.
As a person with special needs, each part of my body complements another. Don’t assume that when one part doesn’t function, other parts won’t.
The Nigerian government should implement schemes to create awareness on inclusion. We must collectively advocate for inclusion for persons with special needs and this means we have to expel all forms of discrimination against them in our homes, schools and communities. We must ensure they exercise their rights according to the law, lend their voices and defend their rights accordingly without fear, threat or force.
Gender-equitable education empowers persons with special needs and promotes the development of life skills- like self management, communication, critical thinking, negotiation. They close skill gaps that perpetuate pay gaps and build prosperity for the nation.
Empowering people with special needs is essential to the health and social development of families, communities and countries.
When these people are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential, contributing their skills to the workforce and can raise happier and healthier children. They are also able to help fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
There are two models that view disability in vastly different ways: Social and medical.
The medical model- ‘I need to be fixed to fit in with the society’.
The social model- ‘Society needs to change so I can fit in’ Medical model- Can’t go to the cinema because they are hearing impaired. Can’t go to the cafe themselves because they are visually impaired. Can’t work in parastatals because they can’t go upstairs.
Social model- Cinema hasn’t provided closed captions. Cafe hasn’t provided Braille or electronic menu options. The building does not have an elevator or ramp.
The Nigerian government needs to change the way they view disability and break barriers for sustainable development.
What can the National Assembly do regarding creating laws to ensure fairness and equity for persons living with disability?
There are no disability laws specifically making provisions with regards to access to special education and special needs health care delivery systems. The law is rather mute.
For instance, instead of establishing functional and standard special needs schools, there should be a design to allow the training of teachers to meet the needs of special children in mainstream schools.
Instead of setting up infrastructure, there should be a regulatory body that inspects facilities to ensure that accessibility should not be a barrier to persons with special needs. Inclusion in Nigeria should be advocated for and laws to champion inclusion should be enforced.
Is there any state in Nigeria that prioritises the welfare of persons living with disabilities?
There are provisions for regulatory agencies to prioritise the welfare of persons with disabilities across the states in Nigeria, but it’s not fast-paced. This should be prioritised and enforced to advocate for the country.
What inspires you to write?
The inspiration to write is drawn from my desire to express myself through my gift of writing. Writing is innate and over the years I have honed my craft through creativity and consistency. Categorically, inspiration is drawn from experiences, personal research, dialogues and prayers.
You are also passionate about fashion. How did it all start?
As a child, I loved looking good and I appreciated the compliments that came with it. I recalled being nicknamed ‘Expensive baby’ by a family friend each time she visited and I would grin from ear to ear. I had and I still have a great fashion sense and I earnestly desire to inspire, impact and transform lives through fashion by my creativity, commitment and consistency.
How do you combine all these that you engage in considering your physical condition?
My physical condition doesn’t deter me from finding and fulfilling purpose. Strength doesn’t come from physical capacity; it comes from an indomitable will. I will inspire, impact, transform lives, create income and build a lasting legacy. Prayers, perseverance and positive mindset have helped me engage in all I do.
What is your advice to people living with disability?
Pray always. Embrace your uniqueness and it will lead you to the path of greatness. Starve distractions and feed your focus. Commit to learning, unlearning and relearning. Evolve and emerge.
Credit: Saturday Sun
