A student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Fatimah Aderohunmu, has lamented that the Lagos State government is building bridges and pedestrian walkways without including people with disabilities in the plan.
She also publicly condemned the institution for its neglect of students with disabilities, following a distressing experience at the university’s Victoria Island study centre in Lagos State.
She wrote on Facebook: “Today, I tried something new. I went to school this morning, and instead of taking my dad’s car or hiring a cab, I decided to use public transport. The blue bus. I’ve always wanted to experience it. So I got the terminal as early as I could.
“I got there around 7.a.m because I needed to get to school before 9, and it was a beautiful ride from Ikeja to Obalende and then from Obalende back to Ikeja. Even though I felt nauseous when the bus started moving, and it was because of the way it kept shaking us, and I was so nervous. I took the pictures this morning.”
The staff at the Ikeja bus terminal did so well, especially the driver. He assisted me despite how the wheelchair went in with the help of the ramp there, and didn’t collect the fee from me either. I don’t know if it’s part of Lagos state benefit for PWDs. The driver kept asking if I didn’t need a seat belt and he dropped me inside the Obalende bus terminal instead of where others alighted and wanted to help me book a ride sef.
“When I was inside the terminal trying to find a safe spot so I could book a ride to Victoria Island, a man who was part of the security quickly came to my side and found me a safe spot because the drivers at the terminal were not patient and when the rain started falling, he quickly covered me with his umbrella and stayed with me till the ride came. It was like a bodyguard scene and everyone was looking at us. May Allah bless him for me because he really helped me a lot when I was going back home, too. He had to find a way to talk to the bus drivers so that the bus going to Ikeja could load before others.
“Honestly, the bus experience was exciting, but in reality, it shouldn’t have been a big deal. If everywhere were inclusive, this would be the bare minimum. Nothing special. Just a normal person in a wheelchair going out for her activities.
And of course, people stared as usual, but I put on my coping mechanism, which was a smile.
“But seriously, this is the reason why I have been advocating so much for accessibility with my platforms because using a wheelchair or any assistive device shouldn’t make mobility so difficult, especially for those who use a motorised wheelchair like mine and those who can wheel themselves with their hands, as well as those who can’t. We all need ease-ability (I don’t know if that word exists, sha).
“If accessibility were a priority, getting to the bus stop and boarding a bus—or even a train—wouldn’t be a challenge. Ideally, I should be able to wheel myself in anywhere, travel, and alight at my destination just as easily without my mom or brother going with me every time.
But what can we do? Even the government, which carries the greatest responsibility, are still building bridges and pedestrian walkways without including people with disabilities in the plan.
They’ve forgotten that they set the tone and lead the way by mandating change.
But for me, I totally loved using the bus because it’s been so many years since I last took a public bus. The last time was when I was a teenager. Can’t remember sef.
Now, I understand how people who use the bus feel up there, looking down at people in small cars. Haha.
But what made me angry during my trip today was the discomfort I encountered when I got to school. Since I’ve been a student of the National Open University of Nigeria, I’ve not been able to tour everywhere in the study centre, but I did today due to what I came for even though I was able to do some and not able to do the rest.
Can you believe that every entrance there was too dangerous for me as a wheelchair user? I almost fell when my mom and brother were trying to lift my wheelchair from the stairs, and my mom’s leg was bruised when the wheelchair lost balance. That’s unfair to me and to everyone in need of this accessibility. No single place in the whole school has a ramp.
Imagine if I had fallen down and hit my head on the floor!!
Those who have been to the study centre at Victoria Island can testify to how big this place is, and no single area in the whole school was inclusive.
I was annoyed and hurt because the stress of climbing up and down the stairs and tall entrances from one office to another kept shaking my bones, but I knew that by the grace of Allah, all my efforts wouldn’t be in vain.
National Open University of Nigeria, you should do better.
Wallahi I wasn’t happy with it. I still have lots of things to write about the inaccessibility I faced when I gained admission into the school but that’d be another time. This was the reason why I started a discussion with the president of the student union because I don’t think I can leave this school without making any effort for inclusion. I need to do something because of other PWDs who are still coming to study here. The stress is too much.
But AlhamduliLlah.
For my next adventure, maybe I’m going to try out the train, In Shaa Allah.
“I think I enjoyed my outing because of the thoughtfulness of the The Lagos State Government. Well done to them.
