A Non Governmental Organisation based in Dublin, Ireland – Navaney Foundation – has written to The PUNCH Newspapers promising to gift the disable Abdulrashid Hassan Tangaza, the Sokoto State University graduate, who is confined to the wheelchair a brand new special built wheelchair to aid his movement around his immediate environment.
The organisation extended the gesture to Tangaza after The PUNCH published a story that highlighted his plight.
The Foundation Chairman, John Akpan, said he was moved to provide the welfare assistance for Tangaza after reading The PUNCH online version detailing his present situation.
The succour, according to Akpan who also spoke in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, is part of the goals of the Foundation by way of giving back to society and the needy.
The Navaney Foundation boss added that establishing a charity foundation affords him the opportunity to achieve several of his goals.
He said: “I was touched by his story published in The PUNCH online news and was moved to provide the welfare assistance.
“A package is being arranged, and in no distant time, we shall get in touch with Tangaza, the graduate of Sokoto State University on wheelchair.”
Arewa PUNCH recalls that Tangaza in an earlier interview with The PUNCH, had narrated his ordeals as a young man who lost his ability two walk on his legs before the age of two.
He had explained that despite being on wheelchair throughout his life, he never got discouraged to acquire university education.
Tangaza, who was among the batch of the graduates from the Sokoto State University, highlighted some of his challenges and expectations as a fresh graduate.
According to him, transporting himself in his rickety wheelchair on a trip of almost 12 kilometres everyday had been excruciating while his sessions at the varsity lasted.
He narrated, “I am sure you know the distance between the school and the town, I used my wheelchair or bicycle from the school down to town by holding on to a motorcycle which will be pulling me on the highway.
“They should pls help us by making provision for vehicles that has some space where we can be keeping our wheelchair as against the one they used now.
“I always want the government to look into the plight of the disabled people like myself on campus and make provision of job opportunities for us after graduation. If we know we have a secured job offer on the table, it will encourage us to be more serious with our studies,” he pleaded with the government.
Tangaza also shared with Arewa PUNCH some of his challenges, stressing, “One of my challenges or let me say our challenges as disabled persons is that there are some people who never appreciate us for what we are. They don’t wish to come in contact with us except it is very compulsory or necessary to do so.
“Even when we come across some people on the road and you greet them, they will just look down on you and act as if they didn’t see you. This attitude is even worse in the university system where the people are supposed to be better enlightened and educated. But the contrary is the case as many of the people on the campus do not want to come in contact with us.
“As for my department, I give God the glory that I never had to face such challenges till I graduated from the school, but it’s discouraging.
“There was a day while I was on my way to study that I met someone sometime ago who was asking a friend what a cripple had come do in a university. That arrogance and question really touched me that I wanted to take it up with the fellow and ask why the insult, but I changed my mind because they were riding on a motorcycle while I was on my wheelchair,” Tangaza disclosed further.
But Akpan while responding to such challenges of the less privilege, told Arewa PUNCH, “It is such abuse and dusregard for the less privileged ones in our society that provide me with a platform to make a positive impact and contribute towards addressing societal issues that I am passionate about.
“I believe in the power of giving back to the community and making a positive impact on their lives. Putting a smile on someone’s face or knowing that I have helped someone in need gives me a great sense of fulfilment and purpose,” Akpan explained.
The philanthropist also decried the attitude of some local non governmental organisation whom he accused of being in the habit of shortchanging ordinary Nigerians by diverting funds and grants meant for their well-being.
While expressing concern over such wrong practices, Akpan maintained that diverting charity foundation funds is “unethical.”
According to him, “it is a thing of concern for charity foundations to divert funds meant for the needy and less privileged members of the society to be diverted.
“It undermines the trust and confidence that people have in these organisations, and it hampers their ability to fulfil their intended purpose of helping those in need.
“Such actions do not only harm the beneficiaries who are supposed to benefit from the support funds but also tarnish the reputation of the entire charitable sector.”
Therefore, he called on governments. and regulatory bodies to enforce strict measures and penalties to prevent and to also address the fraudulent activities observed among many charity foundations across the country
This, he said, is to ensure that transparency and accountability are enshrined in the use of support funds.
