Yola, Adamawa State – Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Adamawa have received a boost in career and entrepreneurial guidance as Jobberman Nigeria, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, hosted a special forum aimed at equipping them with skills and opportunities for growth.
The event, themed “Empowered to Achieve More”, brought together jobseekers and aspiring business owners to access practical tools, counselling, and mentorship to advance their personal and professional pursuits.
Participants described the forum as a turning point in their career and business aspirations. Aminatu, an aspiring entrepreneur with visual impairment, said she received valuable guidance on starting her business.
“The counsellor told me that I may need to get more training on business operations and also check with Jobberman to help me get loans from bank like the FCMB loan they mentioned,” she explained.
For a school teacher living with albinism, the panel discussions offered a new perspective on handling discrimination.
“People always make fun of us and say that we cannot see anything and I used to get very angry, but today I have learned to be patient and understanding with them, especially as a school teacher. I will be more patient with my students,” he said.
One of the panelists, Ms. Grace Dauda, a farmer and shoemaker, shared her inspiring journey.
“I used to crawl to my farm to plant and people would just look at me, some with pity, others with awe. I knew that I needed to show that I am only physically challenged and not completely helpless… Persons With Disabilities should not hide or be shy. Nobody can help you if they don’t see you,” she told the audience.
Her story drew admiration and hope among attendees, reinforcing the forum’s theme.
Delivering the welcome address, Oladoyin Kolawole, Senior Consultant with Jobberman Nigeria’s Strategy team, reaffirmed the organisation’s mission of inclusive empowerment.
“The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Jobberman Nigeria is committed to giving not just a voice to marginalised persons such as women and Persons With Disabilities, we are also putting measures in place to create opportunities for them to dream freely and achieve those dreams, whether in a career path or in an entrepreneurial pursuit,” she said.
The programme featured an engaging panel session, followed by one-on-one career and business counselling tailored to participants’ specific challenges. Many described the experience as transformative.
A young man with hearing impairment said it was the first time he felt truly listened to, while another participant celebrated the courage gained to speak boldly about her dreams. Others praised the interview preparation tips, describing them as practical and life-changing.
The forum, organisers said, underscores Jobberman’s commitment to being an agent of positive change in the world of work. By extending opportunities to marginalised groups, the company and its partners aim to ensure that young people with disabilities not only survive but thrive in their chosen career and business paths.
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