Despite losing his sight unexpectedly in June 2023, Nelson Ayuba Maina, a 28-year-old visually impaired man from Gombe State, says he remains determined to build a meaningful life for himself.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, Maina shared his inspiring story of resilience and hope.
According to him, his journey to visual impairment began when he was diagnosed with a mysterious condition that led to the loss of his vision, stressing that despite undergoing various treatments and consultations with medical experts, the cause of his blindness remains unknown.
“I had a fever that led to the sudden loss of my vision. Everything happened within 24 hours. I never had any medical issues related to my sight, and we don’t have a history of glaucoma in my family,” Maina explained.
Despite the challenges, he insisted that he is determined to adapt to his new reality, adding that he had started learning to read and write with braille and is making rapid progress.
“The learning of braille is not easy, but I am gradually getting the hang of it. I can now read in braille, and I am excited about the possibilities,” Maina said with a smile.
When Arewa PUNCH met Maina at the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities Gombe State chapter office he further explained that his ultimate goal is to become self-sufficient and provide for his family, noting that he is eager to learn computer skills and acquire a laptop and Android phone to facilitate his education.
“I want to be a responsible father, not a beggar by the roadside. I have already denounced that. I believe that I can still use my hands to create a meaningful life,” Maina emphasised.
The visually impaired man thus urged leaders, including the senator representing Gombe South and the governor, to support him in his quest for self-sufficiency. “I am calling on Siyako and the governor to come to my aid to give me something to do, even if it’s a job opportunity.
“As a BSc Public Health graduate, I have so many things to contribute if only I am given the opportunity,” Maina pleaded.
He continued, “I believe that the highest form of disability is that of the mind and death. So, I count my blindness as nothing. I can still move on with my life, and it is now that my life is even beginning,” he noted.
