By Stanley Onyekwere
As part of its avowed commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama has donated 1.5 million Naira worth of electric wheel chair to a 42-year-old polio survival, Festus Aziken.
Aziken, a physically challenged father of three children, is an employee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), who was 9-year-old, when he had the physical challenge, as a result of Polio meningitis he survived.
Making the presentation, Dr. Goddy Nnadi, District Governor of Rotary International District 9125, said the initiative which is all about touching lives, will the beneficiary with the motorised wheel chair will be moving around independently.
Nnadi, described the donation as the real change, as it marks a turn around for him and the family, as he will now live a more independent life.
“It is not really dignifying for any human being to be crawling on the floor because you are meant to stand erect, but when by an impairment, you are forced into that situation, nobody will like it.
“Through the help of Rotary and other international organisations we have driven Polio out of Nigeria, and now we are celebrated two and half years in the country”, he stressed.
In his welcome remarks, President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama, Yusuf Ali, members of the club decided to assist the man, after the club conducted due diligence, and found the man to be worthy, as all he needed was an assistance from them, so as to ease his movement.
According to him: “I am proud to say members of this club have been awesome in ideas and action. The RI President, Jennifer Jones has been asking Rotary members to dream big and take action. RC Abuja Maitama is where big dreams and actions thrive.
“Today, we have put our treasures together to buy a N1. 5m electric chair for Festus Emmanuel Aziken, a Polio survival, who has been crawling for 32 years.
“He has never allowed the adversity to kill his dreams. RC Abuja Maitama by this token is adding sustainable value to his life. His fate reminds all of us of our charity obligation because we are all pencils in the hands of God.”
On his part, Aziken, who expressed gratitude, disclosed that he went to primary, secondary, tertiary schools, and participated in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) crawling.
He who said the wheel chair will aid his movement, revealed that he got connected with the Rotary Club through a friend in the office.
“I’m so happy that it came to pass for me. Before, me crawling on the ground, using my kneels for about 32 years, and it takes me time to get to some places, in pains.
“But right now, I can move easily within my vicinity, go out to fend for myself and do so many things for myself and family. So Rotary Club Maitama are like second god now to me, for assisting me. They should keep doing good for humanity”, he expressed.
