A physically challenged lady, Blessing Mary Ocheido, on Thursday, narrated how Madonna University rejected her application in 2008 despite having an outstanding performance at the interview.
The disability rights advocate and writer disclosed that it was painful listening to the varsity officials telling her that owing to her mobility challenge, she would not be able to participate in their compulsory Saturday morning exercises.
In a nutshell, it was their way of informing her that there was no place for her at the institution.
The physically challenged lady disclosed this via her Facebook page on Thursday, April 22, 2020.
Recalling the emotional incident, Ocheido stated that her mum wept bitterly upon hearing the news.
The tears, notwithstanding, she said her mother consoled and kept encouraging her not to lose hope.
Blessing disclosed that after trying out again, she later gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where she got her pharmacy degree.
Today, Ocheido is a United Nations Youth Steering Committee member on Beijing+25, an Enterprise for Peace Scholar and a 2021 One Young World Ambassador.
She has won several awards, including a humanitarian award from Voice Global recognizing her advocacy to reduce inequalities in Nigeria.
Read her post below:
“In 2008, I applied to study pharmacy at Madonna University and I was turned down owing to my disability despite my stellar performance at the interview,” she wrote.
“They told my mum (whom I went with) that being mobility challenged, I will not be able to participate in their compulsory Saturday morning exercises so there was no place for me at the institution.
“I remember when we left and how my mum cried her eyes out and told me not to worry. That I was too good for them. Anyway, I eventually got my pharmacy degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
“Even then, there were people who did not want me to graduate as they simply didn’t see why I, as a person with disability, will dare to aspire to a prestigious course like pharmacy. Why not Home Economics or simply sit at home and be at the mercy of my family members’ kindness
“Why did I even dream of financial independence as a girl on a wheelchair? Omo, I don suffer for this Naija sha. But seriously though, why are most Nigerian institutions so discriminatory against persons with disability.”
See her Facebook post below;
