Gloria Ogbu
A visually impaired student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nweke Ifeanyi has broken the record by graduating with a first class from the Department of Social Works, Faculty of Social sciences.
According to Emmanuel, his major goal when he was admitted into UNN was to change the narrative that people living with disabilities are limited.
“What ignited my passion and motivated me was changing the narrative that people with physical disabilities are limited in life. I believe a quote by Dr. Joe Vitale that says, “You can have, do, and be anything you want to.” He said.
The young graduate who proved that disability is indeed not a barrier revealed that though it was not an easy journey, he scaled through because of his faith in God and his determination to succeed at all cost.
In his words: “When I came to school, I had this mindset that I can have anything I wish or think of in life and when I work towards it the law of the universe will certainly make it a reality with the help of God. People with disabilities have made it, and I believed I can do it too. I got a vision and had my mind gazed at it and God in His infinite mercy made it a reality.
“Yes, my sense organs are not complete, my sight is gone but my vision was intact. It goes beyond the sight but the vision. The heart propels the vision, not the sight. So, you can see far; 200 million miles with the heart, not the sight.
“Another thing that helped me was the Church I attended in school, City of Purpose Ministries International in Nsukka. I remember vividly one Academic workshop I attended in school that pushed me into believing that my dreams are valid, that I too can graduate with a first class.
“Also, I believe I’m disciplined but I saw a different dimension of discipline in my church which I embedded and inculcated into my personal life and that translated to my first class. I was able to learn how to manage my time to cut across my social life, my religious life, and my academic life.
“The challenges of persons with disabilities are quite enormous that mere words can’t express them. From the issue of mobility, to note recording, discrimination, stereotype, and so on, it was not easy but God helped me even with the gift of men.
“The bottom line is that God crowned my efforts, and gave me grace and understanding.” He added.