By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
A Kogi State-based Journalist,Pastor Adeniyi Bada, on Friday, launched an international foundation to help the physically challenged and abled-bodied ones in Nigeria and beyond the shores of the country solve problems.
The occasion also marked the launching of a book,written by Bada.
In his address of welcome at the occasion, the founder of the foundation said he established the foundation,”Ade-Bada Foundation International”, due to his personal experience; being a sight challenged person and to tell the people, especially, people living with disabilities that, “there is ability in disability.”
Bada, who is now a pastor, overseeing a church in Lokoja, called on those challenged by one physical disability or the other not to bemoan over such cross but instead to see it as a challenge to move on in life with sense of optimism and determination to achieve their aims and objectives and inspire others who might be thinking that disability is the end of man’s ability.
“I don’t see my sight challenge as a hindrance to achieving my aims and contribute my qouta to the development of my society, just like the sighted persons,” he said.
Giving a lecture entitled,” Discovering Disability in Ability, at the occasion,a Don, Professor Gbanga Ibileye of the English Department, Federal University of Lokoja (FUL), hailed Bada and other physically challenged individuals in the world who went ahead to achieve great exploits in sports, entertainment, politics among others, despite their challenge.
The don, who cited Cobham Asuqu,a blind man who has made great in entertainment industry in and beyond Nigeria, described the foundation as the right thing in the right direction, adding that would help many people help their problems.
“Set your mind to triumph over disability, physical blindness is not the same as blindness of the mind. If you can discover ability in disability, using your mind, you will achieve a lot in life and better your society,”he told the physical challenged in the country.
The university lecturer,who noted that physical disability could be daunting, said that about 3.7 per cent of Nigera’s population, estimated at over 200 million, are living with various physical disabilities.
He however, observed that disability should not be seen as constituting a limit to one’s ability in life.
In his Forward of the book,”Daring the Storms of My Life,”Professor Ibileye described Bada as a ” publisher, Journalist,writer, caring husband, dotting father,community leader, politician,and minister of the gospel.”
According to him,the book “documents Bada’s “five-decade life of hope raised and dashed,of vision conceived and deemed,of heights aspired but crashed,a life of trial afflictions, betrayal but of hope, faith and triumph”among other remarks.
Also contributing, Dr. H.Haqeen, the state Chairman, Private School Proprietors Association,who also praised Bada for proving to the world that there is ability in disability by achieving some enviable exploits called on the Kogi state government to make testing of sight free in public hospitals, particularly glacoma, to reduce blindness.
Earlier while unveiling the book, the Executive Editor of the state owned newspaper,The Graphic,Mr James Oyewole, also gave kudos to Bada for his duggedness to triumph the oddity of life.
He described the book as a great source of inspiration to others in the society and urged people to buy,read and digest with a view to learning lessons thee in in the 159-page book, for the betterment of humanity and society.
Also in his brief remark, the chairman of NUJ in the state, Alhaji Adeiza Momohjimoh, described Bada as a seasoned Journalist who used his expertise and knowledge in journalism to better the society and enhance the relevance of Journalism in the state.
He announced the councils donation of N50,000 to the launching of the book, with first tranche of N20,000 with the balance later.
Our Correspondent reports that the event was attended by many Journalists and other members of the society.
In her vote of thanks,the wife of the founder, Mrs Moji Bada, commended the Nigeria Union Journalists NUJ Kogi State Council for the moral and financial support and other dignitaries for the success of the event.
