A visually impaired man from Gombe State, Nelson Ayuba Maina, refuses to let his condition shape his destiny as he seeks employment support from Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.
Despite unexpectedly losing his sight in June 2023, 28-year-old Maina remains determined to build a fulfilling and independent life.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, he recounted his experience, describing how his journey into visual impairment began.
A sudden fever triggered a rapid loss of vision within just 24 hours, leaving him and his doctors puzzled.
“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 that followed, he has chosen to embrace his new reality with determination. He has since begun learning to read and write in braille, making remarkable 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,” he shared with a smile.
When The PUNCH visited him at the office of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Gombe State, Maina spoke passionately about his aspirations.
His goal is to achieve self-sufficiency, not dependency, and he is eager to gain digital skills.
He hopes to acquire a laptop and an Android phone to aid his education and professional development.
“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,” he asserted.
Calling on his state’s leaders for support, Maina appealed to the senator representing Gombe South and the governor to assist him in securing a job or means of livelihood.
“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,” he pleaded.
For Maina, blindness is not the end of his story—it is a new beginning. He firmly believes that true disability lies in the mind, not the body.
“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.
His unwavering resilience is a testament to the power of determination, proving that with the right support, he can still carve out a meaningful and successful future.
