My playmate hurled a sharp object at my left eye. He and I lost another when we separated fighters. Nasarawa teacher at the varsity level, Akoji
Solomon Akoji is a visually impaired graduate assistant at Federal University, Lafia in Nasarawa State. He tells COLLINS that his physical disability has not made him.
Tell Us a little about You.
Solomon Akoji is my name. My parents are my fourth child. There are nine of us – seven males, two females.
Igala is my tribe. I come from Ibaji Local Government Area in Kogi State, but I live in Lafia.
Although life was difficult growing up, my parents tried their best to provide for my siblings. They made sure that all my siblings went to school because they believed that education is the only way to succeed in life.
What happened to your sight?
In fact, my left and right eyes were intact when I was born. In 1987, I lost my left eye when I was living in Awka in Anambra State. At the time, we were still living in that area. It happened when I was just a small boy. I can recall playing with other children in my neighbourhood when a sharp object was thrown at me. I tried to dodge it, but it unfortunately got into my left eye, causing severe damage. I couldn’t see again.
My parents tried to repair the damage by taking me to various hospitals, but they failed. I accepted the fate of my remaining eye and lived with it for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, the other eye was also lost in 1990 at Lafia in Nasarawa State.
We were living in the police barracks at the time because my father was a cop. It was very sad. My friends told me to appeal to the boys to stop fighting. Unfortunately, I was injured in my right eye by the boy who held a stone in one hand when I reached the spot. I went there to make peace, but unfortunately, I sustained a severe injury that rendered me blind in my remaining eye.
Did anything happen to save the second eye after that injury?
My father took me to Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State. For four years we were regulars at the hospital, coming and going. When it became clear that there was no hope, we stopped going to the hospital.
The treatment did seem to have worked at some point. I can recall that I was able to see a little bit better with my right eye. However, I was suffering from a terrible, constant headache. My father was told by the doctor that it was because of my eye injury. He also said that my retina was damaged. After a while, my vision stopped completely. The headache stopped at that point.
How was it to adjust to being totally blind?
It was hard for me to accept the reality of not having my eyes. It felt like I was in another world. It wasn’t easy. Imagine someone who saw before suddenly becoming blind. For my life to continue, I had to accept the fact that I was blind. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. My family supported me and I am grateful. The only thing that was a problem was the cost of treatment. However, my entire family was able to adapt to the situation. Their concern was to help me regain my sight. We were unsuccessful, but I will be forever grateful to them.
