In some developing countries including Nigeria, being an albino is in itself a drawback. For an albino to go blind is something else. One can then imagine the joy of Victor Kalu, an albino and student of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos when the Onome Akinlolu Majero Foundation, OAMF, offered to foot the bill for his 4-year undergraduate program.
Announcing the good news, the Co-founder of the organization, Onome Okagbare Majero, said the OAMF was aiming to end the stigmatisation and misconception about persons living with albinism and improve their well-being. “In line with this objective, we are supporting Kalu, a blind albino to realise his academic dream. We plan to offer more scholarships in future and we are open to partnership to enable us to empower more albinos”.
Majero advised Nigerians to stop stigmatising people living with albinism, stressing that the condition is not a disease but only a genetic disorder.
A highly elated Victor Kalu said the scholarship would improve his academic studies psychologically and bring out the best in him. In his words, “Before, I was living in fear but now, I am living in hope. In the campus, everything is expensive and to make things worse because of my condition, I have to spend more. The way we write is different and our materials are expensive”.
Kalu, who hails from Abia State, said that after the death of his mother, survival became difficult because there was no way his father, who was a taxi driver, could maintain six little children.
The young man explained that with the latest support, his dream of becoming a media practitioner could be achieved. Kalu narrated his pathetic dilemma, “I lost my sight in 1998. It was domestic accident, people were fighting and one of the fighters happened to hit me mistakenly on my left eye. Due to wrong medication, I lost my two eyes”. That sounds too bad, but thanks to the OAM Foundation for coming to Kalu’s assistance.
