Founder of the Hope builders Foundation for Physically Challenged, Dr. Christiana Kehinde Akinrinmade has enjoined women and youths living with disabilities to optimize opportunities around them to attain greatness.
Akinrinmade made the call at an event to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2024 at Ikorodu, Lagos recently.
The event titled Youth-Powered Ecosystem To Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH),
was in commemoration of the International Women’s Day.
Objectives of the program was to
raise awareness about what the YPE4AH project is doing to promote gender equality and empower adolescent girls in the intervention communities and
to raise awareness on the challenges and issues faced by adolescent girls such as education, employment, poverty, health, gender-based violence, early marriage and human rights and how to address the challenges.
The event also was aimed to amplify the stories and achievements of women to inspire adolescent girls.
Akinrinmade who spoke on the need for skill acquisition for adolescent girls said, she is a teacher who imparts knowledge despite her disability.
“Don’t say what does a blind woman has to offer. The mental ability is there. We have five sense organs. I lost one, haven’t passed?” She asked.
She continued that, “My four other senses are functioning well, I am able to teach, so forget blindness.”
She encouraged people with disabilities to acquire knowledge to improve themselves and increase their chances in life.
“I went to study at the Lagos Business School and I got a certificate in Enterprunurship from there. I didn’t allow my disability to deny me. I determined I will not be a beggar, I will be a giver.
“Acquiring skills increases your status, the skills I’ve gained have increased my status. I have been known not only in Lagos State but beyond Nigeria just because of my skills,” she explained, encouraging people living with disabilities to seek knowledge that can stand them out despite their disabilities.