SPOTLIGHT: Meet Emmanuel, Mr. Blind Nigeria 2020 who empowered 29 visually impaired students with laptops, cash prizes
By Victor Akuma
For Eze Emmanuel, Mr. Blind Nigeria 2020 winner, creating an inclusive society for the physically challenged is a fight to finish.
Emmanuel’s vision informed his recent decision to empower 29 visually impaired students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
The event tagged “Building capacity in disability,” took place the institution’s Faculty of Arts lecture theatre, and was graced by staff and students.
Also in attendance were founder of Bethesda Home for the Blind, Chioma Ohakwe, UC the MC, Temple Sam among others.
The event featured scholarship awards of N90, 000 to 16 visually impaired students in first year and N5,000 scholarship to students of other levels. It also saw scholarship awards of N30, 000 to a visually impaired graduate for clearance and five HP laptops to other visually impaired students.
In their presentations, UC the MC and Temple Sam encouraged the visually impaired to be firm in their career pursuit and should not be discouraged by impediments that are likely to come their way.
They further charged them never to lose sight of their vision as that is worse than losing ones sight.
Speaking with CRISPNG, Mr. Blind said the event was a demonstration of his passion to create a better society for the physically challenged, of which he’s one.
“It is my desire to help some of these students who are like me.I know how tough it could be combining this impediment with studies. Sometimes, some of us can’t pay our school fees, feed or even do assignments. These are some of the reasons why I have chosen to do this'” he said.
Mr. Blind Nigeria 2020 and some beneficiaries at the event
He further called on NGOs and government to dissipate more attention to blind students and other physically challenged to enable them contribute meaningfully to the society and showcase their worth.
One of the laptop recipients, Onwusonye Promise, a 400 level student of Mass Communication, UNN, expressed appreciated the organiser of the event, noting such gesture has further helped the visually impaired students.
He stated that it is the first time he is getting such free package on a platter of gold. He therefore calls on the authorities to follow the footprints of Mr. Blind.
High point of the event featured a dance performance by Mr. Blind and some visually impaired students who cracked jokes, played the keyboard and sang.
