##Hello Fellow Steemians....
Honestly, I lack the right words to fully express how happy I am discovering and belonging to this wonderful community.
##Whom am l?
My name is Aneke Chukwuka .U., a 32-year old very ambitious young man from Nigeria. I hold a degree (2nd Class - upper division with CGPA of 4.49 on scale of 5) in Industrial Microbiology obtained from Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
I hope not to bore you with my story...but in my hopelessness, your words of encouragement is important in finding reason to keep holding unto life; bear with me...
##My aspirations, Accident and Frustrations...
I have it in mind to become a renown academic, an undisputed authority in the field of microbiology. And back in the days at school, among my lecturers and fellow course mates, my intellectual prowess was recognised. So much that the Head of Department had asked me to consider taking up Graduate Assistant post in the department after graduation. To this, I gladly accepted.
However, this would later change following my unfortunate involvement in automotive accident shortly after while on national assignment. Before the dust could settle, my left hip was severely crushed in the melee of the accident.
NB: The nature of this national assignment, my near-death painful experience in the hands of incompetent So-called healthcare personnel in Nigeria, and my eventual medical tourism to India would form the subject of another article.
My return from India where I had been taken to undergo total hip replacement surgery forms the genesis of another series of agonising experiences. Firstly, the promised appointment with my alma mater was inhumanely cancelled, citing my dependence on crutches as a reason. This action was taken against a letter from my doctors certifying that I was fit enough to function in academic capacity.
Ideally, I would have loved to get an M.Sc but my farmily finances was completely wrecked as a result of my surgical adventure to india. And I would spend the next 3 years appealing to various public institutions for academic post in the capacity of graduate assistant to no avail.
A friend later advised me to consider obtaining a certificate in management to broaden my chances of securing any job. Consequently, I obtained Advanced Diploma in Management Studies (Upper Credit) from Federal College of Education, Akoka in 2012.
##Suicidal Attempt...
Yet, I was roundly rejected by all the organizatios I had applied for job, citing the same reason. The frustration was so much. And life was becoming so unbearable that i was completely overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts. In my first suicidal attempt, I was caught by Mom, who was revieved after passing out momentarily. Thereafter, I was subjected to psychologist's care for months. Today, I chose to live...not because of the psychological treatment. I choose to live for my God; my Mom and thousands of people who shall benefit from my intellectual prowess, sooner or later. More than anything else, I will fight this monster...this devilish segregation against the disabled in Nigeria's unjust society.
##What I do now and my long term goal...
I run a Small scale laundry business that cares for laundry needs of the people living within my vicinity. Besides, i have written two books to my name; one is titled 'Play Safe' where I talked about the chain of events that culminated in my being involved in that unfortunate accident and how people can avoid such. The other is titled 'Choice Gender' and seeks to aid couples in conceiving gender of interest. I will be publishing some excerpts from the book in my steemit blog to enrich this community.
On my goal...well, Right now, I just feel like an outcast...the feeling is so fresh and new. Unless i am running a webinar, I am mostly depressed and sad. I cannot just pretend. So my immediate goal is to leave Nigeria for M.Sc in Canada. I just want to go far, faraway from this unjust sciety. Thereafter, I would work for two years and then return to Nigeria to establish an advocacy group that would coordinate mass action against the government to give equal employment opportunities to both ablebodied and physically handicapped.
It is very unfair how the disabled community is being treated in Nigeria. Some are just victim of circumstances. And it isn't any fault of theirs. Physical disability does not translate to intellectual impairment. That's what people don't understand. Personally, I don't believe I am incapacitated. I am able and sound; and by God's grace I am.
I'm done for today. Thank you and thank you very much for reading. And I say to you physical disability shall never become your portion! Amen!
Kindly support my cause: RESTEEM, UPVOTE AND FOLLOW.
Once again...thank you STEEMIANS!