Celebrating Life

In Vandeikya, Nigeria, the world day for the disabled calls all to rejoice

By Br. Fred Sherreer, F.S.C.
May/June 2008

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

I came to Vandeikya in early December for a quiet few days, but I picked the wrong week. When Sr. Rosemarie Donovan of Our Lady’s Missionaries mentioned over a cup of tea that the coming Saturday would be World Day for the Disabled, I nodded in interest and wondered what it had to do with her. I soon found out.

Sr. Rosemarie Donovan with Beatrice (right), and Msendoo whose name means “prayers are good.”

For the whole week, the compound was abuzz with staff of St. Joseph’s Centre for the Handicapped coming to check with Sr. Rosemarie on details related to the celebrations—preparation of grounds, rentals, catering and last minute program changes. Wednesday saw the first activity, a wheelchair race at St. Peter’s Secondary School. A dozen young people showed up on their bikes for the disabled. All the wheelchair bikes were constructed at St. Joseph’s Centre. If the riders were at all embarrassed about their disabilities, they showed no sign of it. The young men wheeled their chairs like chariots around the field to the amusement of curious students who might well have felt a grain of jealousy that they could not do as well. The young women were rather more sedate, decked out in finery. But when the actual races came, the women like the men put all their considerable muscle into tearing up the field. Each of the races was over almost in seconds, the winners proudly doing their victory lap.

The races had been the preliminary event. Saturday saw the really grand affair. This time the venue was St. Joseph’s Centre for the Handicapped. By 11:00 when I arrived with the Sisters, the Centre was a wonder to behold. The entrance and grounds were swept clean. Canopies were rigged up and 300 rented chairs set in the shade of two open-sided buildings. One section was for the guests of honour—the disabled—who came from as far as Adikpo to celebrate “Our Day!” Two hundred eager faces peered out from the shade taking in the whole show.

A prime item on the program was the presentation of prizes to the winners of Wednesday’s wheelchair races. All of them in turn wheeled their “chariots” up to the chairman’s table and carried off their prizes in grand style. Some even gave a speech. Tersoo Asemen dragged himself up to the rostrum to tell in a strong voice how spinal TB had disabled him and how deeply grateful he was to Our Lady’s Missionaries because of what the Centre was able to do for him. When he finished, an attendant lifted him as he would a baby and carried him back to his chair.

Emmanuel, Donald and Ganger take part in the wheelchair races during the celebrations for the World Day for the Disabled. Vandeikya, Nigeria.

There was hardly a dull moment, but when there was, Aku, a man with Down’s Syndrome, took the stage. Pop bottle raised high, time and again he moved rhythmically to the music and did his own thing, even taking over the microphone, to the delight of the assembly. And you may be sure all joined in the feasting. The honoured guests could go away proud that the disabled of Vandeikya and environs had shown the world that they are people with lives worthy of celebration.

Meanwhile, sitting opposite the honoured guests in the shade of a similar building were the paying guests. This section had filled up fairly well and, as someone remarked, no one left early.

The fundraising event began with Thomas Agbo, chairman of St. Joseph Society for the Disabled, delivering a vigorous opening speech praising the work of Our Lady’s Missionaries and outside agencies. But he added a stern reminder that soon it would be the turn of the Vandeikya community to take full responsibility for the operation of the Centre, and the time to start was now.

Contributions for the work of the Centre were then received. Among those coming forward was Mrs. Seember Akauzua from the Women’s Development Office of the local government. She pledged to continue her efforts to keep up interest in the project on the part of the government and various women’s associations in Vandeikya. Councillor Vincent Agaku expressed his great appreciation for the work of Sr. Rosemarie and her team. He pointed out that further development of the Centre called for meaningful co-operation on the part of the people of Vandeikya.

The celebration of this World Day for the Disabled was not the financial success that was hoped for. However, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm and the sense of appreciation that the disabled can contribute to the community made it a triumph. Vandeikya is privileged to have St. Joseph’s Centre through which all Benue State can see how a little dedication will allow the physically challenged to take their place as valued members of society.

Fred Sherrer is a De La Salle Brother who has worked in Nigeria in the field of education for nearly 50 years.

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article