By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
A blind professor of the Special Education Department, Bayero University, Kano, Prof Jubril Diso on Friday said he was grateful to God for making him virtually impaired.
” I thank Allah for making me visually impaired and then gave me the opportunity to turn my disability into ability” Prof Diso said while being presented with a car by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr Ernest Umakhihe in Abuja.
The car, IVM Ikenga 2020 Model was donated by Innosons Motors to the participants of the 18th Joint Planning Board meeting held in Asaba (9-11 October2019), who visited the motor company in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Prof Diso being presented with the car keys.
And to determine who among the over 700 visitors would take home the car gift, a ballot was cast after which the blind professor emerged the lucky winner.
Speaking further during the presentation, an elated Prof Diso said, “at the risk of sounding immodest, I must state that it is not easy for a visually handicapped person to become a professor in Nigerian environment with all its attendant encumbrances and other hamstring circumstances”.
He thanked the PERL/DFID for sponsoring him to participate in the Asaba meeting, adding that ” the benefit here is two-pronged, the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone to interact with such distinguished participants and to enable my fellow physically challenged folks to look up to me as a sort of template “.
He also commended the Chairman of the motor firm, Mr Innocent Chukwuma for “this selfless and incredible gesture”
He enjoined his fellow physically challenged persons not to relent or be discouraged in making their own little contributions to the development of the country.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, My Umaikhihe had also commended the motor firm for its magnanimity.
