According to a report by the Guardian, up to 25 million people living in Nigeria currently have one form of disability or another. Given the economic and social inequality prevalent in Nigeria, people living with disabilities are even more disadvantaged as they face lack of inclusion, inaccessibility, discrimination, and segregation. Against all these odds, however, many people living with disability have yet distinguished and established themselves as industry leaders. In today’s column, we celebrate a few of them.
Lauritta Onye
Who says you cannot be a master of many trades? Lauritta says “hold my beer”.
Lauritta Onye has not only starred in Nollywood movies, most notably, “Lord of Money”, she is also a Paralympic gold medalist! She competes in throwing events.
Born with a form of achondroplasia, the most common type of short-limbed dwarfism, she began venturing into sports in Lagos in 2007 and since then, she has represented Nigeria internationally and achieved many feats.
Dr. Chike Okogwu
Chike Okogwu is the perfect embodiment of “you can be whatever you want to be”.
Dr Chike is currently a presidential aspirant for the 2023 elections under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). You read that right!
In 2006, he was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury after a freak accident on his way to the airport and has since been physically impaired.
Ever since, he took up the challenge to become a disability advocate alongside efforts to promote infrastructure financing. He has also been involved in many public advocacies including the ‘Save Nigeria’ project led by Pastor Tunde Bakare in 2010.
Loveline Obiji
Loveline Obiji became impaired as a result of the effects of polio.
She has since turned lime into lemons by venturing into sports. Loveline began powerlifting in Imo state, Nigeria in 2006. She won a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and a silver medal for Nigeria at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
In 2015, she won the prestigious sportswoman of the year award at the Nigerian Sports Award festival.
Dr. Yinka Ayefele
Yinka Ayefele is a Nigerian music producer, gospel singer and the founder of leading radio station, Fresh FM Ibadan.
After being diagnosed with a spinal cord injury in 1997 following an accident, he began a singing career that has helped him win the hearts of many Nigerians.
Despite having to use a wheelchair, Yinka Ayefele has excelled in the media as a broadcaster and live music performer. He continues to lead with his radio station rated as one of the best in Oyo State, Nigeria.
Cobhams Asuquo
Cobhams is a musician, producer and songwriter. He was born with a visual impairment but that did not stop him from pursuing a career in music as he had always wanted.
He is as skilled in playing the piano as he is a great singer. His portfolio includes collaborations with other top acts like Asa, Timi Dakolo, Yemi Alade and Banky W.
He has also been featured in a number of jingles and has acted as a judge at several popular musical shows and competitions like Nigeria Idol 2010, MTN Project fame, 2015, Trophy Extra Special Band 2021, among others.
