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| Blessing Mary Ocheio |
"A truly inclusive society does not view disability as incapacity, but as part of human diversity that deserves dignity, opportunity, and structural support." — Blessing Mary Ocheio
Nigeria is a nation brimming with talent, yet for many persons with disabilities, the greatest limitation is not their potential—it is a system that refuses to accommodate them. Instead of building structures that enable participation, society often labels, excludes, or sidelines those who do not fit a narrow definition of ability.
Blessing Mary Ocheio, a pharmacy graduate and disability rights advocate, shares a story that exposes this harsh reality.
"In pharmacy school, I was almost bullied out by some nefarious lecturers who genuinely believed a person with disability had no business aspiring to such a demanding profession. I was called ‘unfit,’ ‘a burden,’ and told I would slow others down," she recalls.
Rather than installing ramps, lifts, or providing academic accommodations, the institution treated her presence as the problem. “They didn’t ask how to modify the environment; they asked why I was even there,” Blessing adds. Her experience mirrors what countless Nigerians with disabilities face every day: a society that punishes ambition instead of enabling it.
“Talent Was Never the Issue. Access Was.”
Over the years, Blessing has met many young Nigerians discouraged from pursuing professions like medicine, engineering, nursing, or law—not because they lacked intelligence, but because the system refused to create space for them.
"They didn’t fail because they lacked capacity. They were pushed out because the system refused to accommodate them," she says.
Her reflection draws a sharp contrast with what inclusion looks like elsewhere. She speaks of an NHS surgeon who returned to the operating theatre after a spinal cord injury:
"Instead of discarding him, they redesigned the theatre and provided a standing wheelchair so he could continue saving lives. They removed barriers, not the person."
She also highlights a medical student in another country who navigates hospital wards using adaptive equipment, fully supported by his institution. “He is empowered, not pitied. Supported, not sidelined.
”Inclusion Is Not Charity — It Is Smart Governance
Blessing is clear: inclusion should never be mistaken for a favour.
"Disability inclusion is not about charity; it is about equity, innovation, and respect for human potential," she emphasizes. “When you build ramps and adaptive systems, you are not doing us a favour — you are building a better society for everyone.”
Indeed, accessible environments benefit many—parents with strollers, elderly citizens, injured individuals, and even travellers with luggage. Designing for the few strengthens access for the many.
Nigeria Must Choose: Exclude Potential or Invest in It
Blessing leaves us with a powerful reminder:
"I often think about how many brilliant Nigerians we have lost — future doctors, pharmacists, engineers — not because they were incapable, but because the environment rejected them. Talent was never the problem. Access was."
Her message is urgent: if Nigeria wants true development, it must stop removing people and start removing barriers.
"As a person with disability, your ability to flourish is tied to the kind of society you live in — one that believes in your capacity and builds around your potential, not one that questions your worth for daring to dream.
This article amplifies the reflections of Blessing Mary Ocheio, originally shared on her personal Facebook page. It is reshared with the intention of advancing conversations around disability inclusion, dignity, and structural change in Nigeria.
💬 A Question for Us All
How many more dreams must be discarded before we redesign our systems to include, not exclude?
If this message moved you, let it not stop at empathy — let it spark action.
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