Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI) recently held a mentorship session for students of Kuje School for the Deaf, Abuja.
The session which was facilitated by experienced members of Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI), had the aim of addressing challenges faced by students with disabilities, analyzing services available for them, and help them achieve their full potentials.
The first discussant, Douglas Izuu, an undergraduate student of the University of Ilorin spoke on “staying positive amidst challenges”.
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In his speech, he made the students understand that they are not alone in their challenges by emphasizing the fact that every breathing human being face challenges in life.
According to him, “if we do not have any challenge, then we do not understand ourselves”. Douglas added that many students usually find themselves lost amidst challenges and do not know the right path to follow.
He went on to enumerate different ways of staying positive amidst challenges, they include learning from experiences, mixing with intelligent peers, going for guidance and counselling, etc.
Another discussant, Executive Director of VDI, Barrister Catherine Edeh, presented a moving speech on how deaf students can aspire to their fullest potentials.
Students of Kuje school for the Deaf, Abuja
Barrister Edeh said: “we are all able, and disability is never a barrier. You can become a doctor, engineer, scientist, lecturer, president, or anything you want to become in life if you work hard towards it.”
As a lawyer, Barr. Edeh used herself as an example by sharing her experiences with hard times during her school days. She used her success stories to encourage the students while expounding on ways they can strive to achieve their fullest potentials.
In addition, she emphasized the importance of ‘focus’ and encouraged the students not to let anything derail their focus. She also strongly dissuaded boyfriend and girlfriend relationships.
The session was rounded up with words of advice from Mr. Abdulrazzaq Suraju, a representative from Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB). In appreciation, the school head teacher thanked the VDI team for the time and motivational speeches which she noted will be most beneficial to the students future.