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Following the success of the OIFN outreach in Lagos State the train of events moved to Agbor, South-East, Nigeria.
Inspired by the outcome of the Lagos phase the OIFN team hit the ground running motivated by the impact of the outreach in Lagos.
The OIFN Team worked tirelessly over two days to make sure that the goal of the wheelchair distribution’s second phase for the 2024 edition was reached. Based on what improves their circumstances and has the biggest beneficial influence on their life, each person was assessed and provided with a suitable item.
Given that some beneficiaries had no access to therapists before the Foundation arrived in Delta State, it is evident how much of an impact it made. They are appreciative that OIFN could give them the assistance they need to improve their quality of life.
The four-day Agbor, Delta State outreach was a very energising event for both the recipients and the team members.
TESTIMONIALS
Isiekwele Daniel - 46 Years Old: Abavo, Agbor, Delta State
I really don’t know exactly what happened. On a particular day my mum left me at home for the farm. I was two years old at the time.
Upon her return she called out to me to come take in the fresh snails she come home with. That was when it was discovered I couldn’t move. She asked my father who she left me with what happened, he said nothing that he too don’t understand what was happening.
Then my parents start taking me from one herbal medicine home to another but nothing changed. I could not sit and walk until they took me to one herbal medicine woman before I was able to sit.
Life has been up and down ever since, I made an effort to get my primary school leaving certificate and learned shoe making afterwards.
In 2021 my old wheelchair packed up and the meagre income from my shoe making can’t allow for a replacement. I earnestly wished for one.
Today, after getting word about the free wheelchairs distribution by OIF Nigeria, I presented myself and thankfully I have a new wheelchair.
I’m so happy for the wheelchair may God bless everyone who made this possible. The work and families would continue to prosper.
This would go a long way to make life easier for me now. Thank you.
Ruth Joseph -22 Years Old: Agbor-on, Agbor, Delta State
I wasn’t born a cripple this came about due to an unfortunate play gone south when I was 7 years old. This happened around December of 2009.
On the day I took something off my brother and dashed across the road. As I made the return attempt to re-cross the road I was knocked down by a vehicle.
After which I was rushed to the hospital and I was treated by the junior doctors on duty, as the senior doctors had gone on Christmas holiday. When the senior doctors returned it was discovered that I was being wrongly treated.
They called for a new treatment plan for me. That’s when they discovered I had a spinal cord injury and as such I won’t be able to walk again. It took over 3 months before I could even talk, after about a year I was discharged from the hospital.
Life took a turn and became unpleasant, I could not go to school because of attending issues such as involuntary peeing and bowel movement.
Today, I am grateful to OIF Nigeria and the founder for this great gift. I don’t have words enough to say thank to the foundation. God bless you all.
Chioma Ifeanyi -11Years Old, Agbor, Delta State
My name is Patience Ifeanyi, the mother of Chioma. Well, I gave birth to her 11 years ago, her condition started manifesting when she was not showing any signs of walking neither was she sitting up and all that.
So, China taken to the hospital there we were asked to see a bone doctor. It was there they referred us to UBTH in Benin, Edo State. But at the end of the day didn’t take her to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital as we couldn’t afford the money.
We resulted to church for prayers with hope that she would get healed.
At moment she can sit by herself but she can’t walk nor talk.
A friend of ours told us about the programme and advised us to come and here we are. I see that the organisers are giving out a lot of things, walking sticks, clutches and wheelchairs.
As I am talking to you now they have given my daughter a brand new wheelchair. I am thanking them because I never thought that such a help can come to me and my family. God will bless them for the
Faith Uguna - 32 Years Old Abavo, Agbor, Delta State
Well, I was 5 years old when it all happened and that’s about twenty-seven years ago.
But it was when I was seven that my mother now told me about what happened. She explained that on the faithful day, I was sleeping and in the middle of the night they heard me shouting. They came to me and calmed me and at dawn I discovered I couldn’t move my body.
At that point they took me to a native doctor’s place. I was able to regain function in my two hands but I could not still use my legs. After several years of going to different native homes nothing changed.
It’s being challenging and life generally has been tough. I was unable to attend school as well.
So, when I heard that OIF Nigeria is going to be giving out wheelchairs I made sure I attended the outreach. As over the years I have been unable to afford to buy a wheelchairs.
I came here today and thankfully I have a brand new wheelchair courtsey of OIF Nigeria.
This is a life changing experience for me and I can’t thank the foundation and her supporters enough.
This gift of hope would make life better for me.
Romeo Omasho - 40 Years Old: Umudein, Boji-Boji, Agbor, Delta State
My name is Romeo Omasho, I am 40 years old married with 3 children.
Well, I was a truck driver until 2007 when I had an accident with my truck. On the faithful day I took off from the loading point and was headed for Ekwulobia when the unfortunate accident occurred.
As a result I was taken to University of Benin Teaching Hospital, were I was admitted and my legs were put on plaster of Paris for over a month.
Afterwards, a review was carried out and eventually I was told that my legs would have to be amputated. This is because vein function in the legs has gone.
Ever since then life hasn’t been the same, if not for family support here and there only God know what the situation would have been.
Well, I came here today due to the information from a known person, who told me about the distribution of free wheelchairs in Agbor.
I was happy with the news because for over a year now, I have been desirous of a new wheelchair because the old one has gone bad. And since I can’t afford to buy a new one, I made it a point of duty to be present here today.
I am very, very much happy about the wheelchair, may God continue to lift all those who made this possible.
I am delighted to a part of those who are benefiting from this kindness of the foundation.
Flavour Nduka - 18 Years Old: Ogbisogban, Agbor, Delta State
My name is Mercy the mother of Flavour Nduka.
It all started three days after his birth when he began having repeated convulsion episodes.
That began our hospital journey as it was revealed to us after 6 months, when he was taken to the hospital as a result of another episode, that the injection administered to him the first time had caused a lot of damage and had caused paralysis.
As it Flavour cannot talk but he hears. It’s being quite a challenging journey for both of us and the family generally.
The one challenge that has stood out is mobility. I have always had to carry him about. It’s difficult to leave him alone but today I am most delighted. Flavour has been blessed with a wheelchair. This would greatly impact our mobility, now I don’t have to carry him anymore.
May God bless the foundation and all others involved in this great work, Flavour and I truly appreciate this good thing you have done for us.
Obiokor Emmanuel - 35 Years Old: Abavo, Agbor, Delta State
Well, I was three years old when it all happened, I caught a fever and was taken to the hospital, two days after I lost function in my legs.
Thereafter my mother and I left for Ikot Ekpene Hospital in Calabar where we were referred to. The hospital carried out an operation and promised I would regain function in the legs.
We stayed six months at the hospital with no change or improvement of any sort. The hospital then transferred me to Ettina Hospital also in Calabar. After a year on admission and nothing changed my mum and I returned to Agbor.
Upon return I was able to start and finish my primary education. For lack of funds I could not continue, so I decided to learn hairdressing as a vocation.
Life for me ever since has been one for survival, tough and a case of hand to mouth.
Over the past year my 11 year old wheelchair became unusable and since I do not have the fund to pay for one, I have been praying to God for a miracle and thank God I received my miracle.
I got wind of the free wheelchairs distribution through the chairman of the association of People Living with Disabilities. And when I got here today and after the people accessed me I was given a new wheelchair.
Right now I am feeling very happy, I have been longing for this for a long time now and today I got it for free. I am grateful to the foundation for the gesture. A very big thank you for what you have done for me.
