For many students, postgraduate education is a journey of professional growth and entertaining explorations. But for Moses Allinson, a visually impaired postgraduate student of the faculty of Education, University of Lagos, living in Henry Carr Hostel, it is also a daily exercise in resilience, determination and self-discovery. Despite the challenge with his sight, Moses is undeterred and continues to navigate the four walls of UNILAG to achieve his career goal.
Seeking to carve a niche for himself as a professional teacher, Moses Allinson, despite the gradual loss of his sight at the age of 17, made a great career decision to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Education as a way of impacting the educational sector in Nigeria.
Mr Moses Allinson is also a songwriter who has two of his songs released and can be accessed on Boomplay, Apple Music and Spotify. Apart from the released songs which are “The Lord’s Presence (2021)” and “Cry for Justice (2022)”, he revealed that he has more songs awaiting to be produced but are delayed by financial constraints. However, he is committed to his gospel works and hopes an opportunity to produce more music comes in the future.
Being the second born in the family of four, and a native of Ibefun, Ogun State, he stated that he was not born blind but began having difficulties with his sight in SSS1 until he could no longer see on July 2nd, 2002. All efforts to regain the sight proved abortive as he was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a visual condition acclaimed to have no remedy by the doctor.
During the interview, he admonished the people with disabilities not to be discouraged by their conditions and to strive to be relevant to the development of the societal economy. He acknowledged that it may not be easy but with perseverance and hard work, their dream is achievable.
Below is the Excerpt of the interview;
Aliu: Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your background sir?
Moses: I am Moses Allinson, from Ibefun, Ogun State, Nigeria, and I’m from a family of four. I happen to be the second born. I wasn’t born blind. I was in SSS1 when my visual impairment occurred. So, we tried all we could to regain the sight but no avail. All efforts proved abortive. Thereafter, I went to the rehabilitation and vocational training centre for the blind at Oshodi, Lagos, to adapt myself to this visual condition. At that vocational training centre for the blind, I learned how to read and write using braille, how to use a typewriter, computer, and telephone operation and also acquired handcraft, such as textile design, popularly known as tie and dye, bag weaving, and basket weaving as well. Thereafter, I proceeded to Kings College, Lagos to complete my secondary school education. Thereafter, I went to Nigeria farm craft for the Blind to learn how to do farming and crafts for a year. Then, I came to UNILAG to study English language for my first degree, which I finished in 2016.
Thereafter, I worked with a particular home for 2 years before I resigned eventually to focus on my own business, which is textile design and music production because I’m a songwriter, and to my credit, I have 2 songs. One of them is “The Lord’s Presence-2021” and the other is “Cry for Justics-2022”. They are available online and you can access them on Apple Music, Spotify, Audiomack, Boomplay etc. I also have a ministry as well, called “Testimony Empire Ministry”, which I started in August 2020. It’s an online ministry where we talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a church, but a ministry. That is what I do online. We talk about Jesus and other related issues. Then, I have a registered company where I do my textile works, popularly known as tie and dye, and also my postgraduate diploma in Education so that I can become a professional teacher.
Aliu: This is very detailed and incredible too, but it’s quite touching. While you were talking, you said you were not born blind but I am curious about what could have been the cause, or did you notice anything before it happened or it was caused by an accident?
Moses: Actually, when the impairment began to occur that I couldn’t see from afar and to see back then was becoming difficult, I went for a medical checkup and treatment, drugs were prescribed for me, which I used according to the prescription but still to no avail before I totally went blind on 2nd July, 2002 to be precise. So, we proceeded further to get solution in different medical eye clinics but what we were told was that there was no remedy to the problem, and that I should go for my rehabilitations. I could remember they said it was caused by Retinal Detachment or something like that. For 5 years, I was going from church to church, expecting that I would regain my sight.
Aliu: Okay. what was your experience during the rehabilitation?
Moses: The first day I got to the school was January 22nd, 2007. I was wondering when they were introducing me to the people like you (the Aliu). They are visually impaired people like me, and they did orientation for me in order to familiarize me to the environment. That was the first thing they did so that I could move within the vicinity. After the orientation, they still guided me for some days to familiarize with the environment. After the third day, I was left alone to become independent. For the first time they introduced what they called “guide cain” to me, I never knew it before, and it involves using stick for direction.
There was a subject called MOBILITY; where I was taught how to walk independently, sighted guide, and some guide tips that when you’re walking you should use your upper guide to prevent hitting one’s head against the wall. If you’re a pregnant woman you should cover your stomach with lower guide so that you won’t hit your stomach against the wall. In the course, we were also taught how to cross road. If it’s a major road, we were told not to cross it on our own and all other things like that. I told you that time I have not used computer on my own before, but they introduced computer class to me and telephone operation as well and how to read and write. For the first time I learnt how to use braille a bit, but it was later introduced to me that I would be using my fingers to read what is on paper. So, I was wondering that what’s this?
And I told you that I didn’t know anything about textile before. They introduced me to textile design which I learnt well and I’m still doing till now. So, those are the new things that were introduced to me, but eventually I acquired those skills and that’s what I’m doing now. Since then, I have attended several other trainings. I even did one online recently which I could not complete because of the workload on my table.
Aliu: So you can operate all this software on a computer, including PowerPoints?
Moses: Yes, I can do powerpoint presentations. I can work on excel too but only on basic functionalities. I can browse with my laptop as well. You know I told you that I run a ministry online, popularly known as Testimony Empire Ministry. I’m a member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry and I have done a series of courses, up to pastorate level and I completed my pastoral school in 2022 and I went for my industrial training in 2023. Automatically, I’m a certified pastor in MFM. Although, I am not working as a pastor, but the knowledge I gained has really equipped me for the work of my ministry.
Aliu: So you actually don’t want to work as a pastor, I mean a full time pastor?
Moses: YES, I don’t want to be a full time pastor.
Aliu: But do you have a passion to be a pastor?
Moses: Point of correction, I don’t have a passion to become a pastor. I have been called by God to work for him, not that I have a passion to become a pastor. It was the time I noticed the call was upon me, that was when I started attending the school.
Aliu: So what was your experience like, trying to reintegrate yourself into the education system after the rehabilitation program, and did you feel reluctant and demotivated to go back to school or you were probably forced?
Moses: The issues is that when I was doing my rehabilitation, I was asked to do WAEC and I was like why should I do WAEC when I didn’t finish my secondary school before I became visually impaired. So, I said I have to go back to school so I could complete my secondary school and achieve my career goal. So, I turned down the offer and made enquiries about inclusive school, a secondary school that admits visually impaired students. So, Kings College happened to be my first choice. I went to Kings College and joined them in SS1, which was around 2009/2011.
Aliu: Now, can you describe a typical day for you as a post graduate diploma in education student, what is your normal daily routine like?
Moses: I pray in the morning and sometimes read Bible. Then, I do my assignment if I don’t have early morning class. Once it is class time, I take my bag, dress up and go for lectures. When I get to lecture room, I ask questions. I ask my colleagues about assignments that I may not know about. Then, I get materials and buy textbooks. Then I take the textbook to where they would scan it, and then convert it to PDF after the scanning. Thereafter, I would begin to read and prepare myself for tests and exams. One thing is this, we use the same computer system but there is a speech software called “Job Access with Speech (JAWS)”. Even though we have many of them but that is the most popular one. Once it is installed it would continue to talk back to what a visually impaired person is doing on that computer system. We also have narrator. Ordinary narrator comes with all computers but narrator is not that efficient, compared to JAWS. So, that is what I use to read mostly. Then, sometimes I could some audio recordings for further reading.
Aliu: How do you handle your daily tasks, including laundry, plate washing, and so on?
Moses: what happens is that I schedule my plans based on my timetable because I don’t like missing lectures. I can wash my plate before going to lectures, if it’s not 8 O’clock class. But if I can’t wash it, I will leave it till after the lecture. Then, I cook a lot because I don’t like buying foods outside. I prioritize my heath above any other thing. Early in the morning, once I wake up, I cook whatever I want to eat, be it rice, beans or Spaghetti. I don’t eat early in the morning, even when I have classes. When I come back, then I can eat.
Aliu: How have your lecturers and peers responded to your needs, do you find them supportive?
Moses: Well, the issue I have with some lectures is very simple. Whenever they are selling hard copy text-books and I approach them to sell the soft copy for me to save me the stress of taking it to where they’ll scan and the financial burden that comes with it, they don’t accept to sell the soft copy to me. There was a lecturer that did that to me last semester and it is my right to ask because it is contained in Nigerian Copyright Codes. Even without asking them for it, I feel that should be the ideal, considering my disability. Although, I don’t take it as an offence. When I have time, I would go and scan it at a computer center and pay for it.
Aliu: Some people are not familiar with how visually impaired people interact with their immediate environment, can you talk about what your experience is, like living in the hostel, and how do you cope with them ?
Moses: I have seen people that have told me different things like you are walking on your own, how do you do that? I will just answer them that it’s because of the people they’ve met in the past. They’ve not met educated visually impaired people before and they felt we are beggars on the street. I try to give them orientation when it is necessary and some of them are fond of asking silly questions. Even the ones that have been talking to you before but I just laugh at them and shun them. Sometimes, they just come and touch me and ask, “Moses, who is talking?” I would just laugh at them because they are asking me silly question. They are people I can even recognize their voice from afar, and you are asking me who is talking. I don’t take offence because I know most of them are acting ignorantly because they believe that visually impaired people don’t have sense. So, I don’t take offence, but rather look at them as novice who don’t want to learn. If they persist in doing such, what I do is just to do away with such person and their ignorance. Once they greet me some other times, I just shun them and ask them to go away.
Aliu: Have you faced any social challenge(s) or stigmatization because of your impairment before?
Moses: That one is normal, because some people just naturally hate you because of your disability. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it. All you have to do is to just ignore them. Even though it happens in the hostel and school, I don’t bother myself with that and place them in the place they belong. After all, I am not asking them for anything. If I ask you to do something for me and you’re feeling too big, I just ignore you. I leave them on their own in order to avoid altercation with them.
Aliu: What do you think the University could do to support visually impaired students or other students with disabilities?
Moses: What I think the university can do is to make the building more accessible, provide railings on major roads so that we can walk independently. For instance, if they can do railings from the main gate to the campus, the visually impaired persons can lean on that rail in order to enhance our movement, with the support of our guide stick from gate to the campus. They should provide ramps for physically challenged people on the wheelchair, which I noticed they did in the library, and faculty of law, I pray they do something like that in every building, too.
Then, in terms of classroom accessibility, the lecturers should also be considerate when we ask them for soft copies of their books, especially the visually impaired students. They should be willing to sell soft copies to us. We don’t need the hard copies. Because this is even our right. Nigeria Copyright Commissions has given us permission to get soft copies of the book. Refusal, however, could cause us extra burden in stress and finances. I think the University management should work on that. And also, in terms of exams, they should always give us additional time when writing exams because we can’t work at the same pace as the students with sight.
Aliu: Have you been involved in any advocacy or support groups? Can you tell me your roles there and the work you did?
Moses: When I was doing my first degree, I used to be a member of the National Association of Nigerian Visually Impaired Students (NANVIS), and I held 3 different positions, including Public Relations Officer in my 200 level, Vice President in my 300 level, and then then the Financial Secretary in my final year. I am also a member of the National Association of the Blind, Lagos State Chapter. I have gone to Abuja to protest for employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in 2022.
Aliu: What are your goals after completing your PGDE, program how do you see your education shaping your future?
Moses: Like I said before, PGDE program is to make me become a certified professional teacher because I didn’t do education in my undergraduate. Now that I’m in the teaching line, I need to be a certified and professional teacher. Because without that, if I teach in the classroom, it means I am violating the government rules and regulations and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), could come around anytime and ask for my TRCN number and if I can’t provide it, they might get me arrested and charge me to court. So, to avoid that, I decided to come for PDGE so I could become a certified teacher.
I intend to proceed with my career as a professional teacher or education officer, as the case may be. In my musical career, I have songs that I have written and I told you that I have two songs to my credit. I have more songs to produce and publish. Then, my ministry would keep going. As time passes by, we will also integrate physical ministration. We would go to places like correctional facilities to preach the gospel to the criminals, patients in hospitals and the rural dwellers. We can erect boreholes and render other community services in the villages. These are my goals for my ministry. But financial challenge has been an impediment to realizing my goals and it has placed limitation on the length we can go. Although, we have not yet given up. As time goes on, I will produce more music too.
Aliu: I will like to listen to your music. Can you help mention their titles and the year they were produced once again?
Moses: Okay, they are “the Lord’s presence, by Moses Allinson in 2021” and “Cry for Justice by Moses Allinson, produced in 2022”. In the Lord’s Presence, I featured Deborah Marcus, and in the cry for justice, I featured Odeyemi Onaope. Both are available on Boomplay, Apple, and Spotify. They are easily accessible on those platforms, just search for their titles.
Aliu: Thank you so much for your time. What message would you like to share with people with disabilities?
Moses: Winston Churchill, my political mentor, and former prime minister of England during the Second World War, says and I quote “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”. Your challenge should not hold you back from fulfilling your dream, aspiration and vision but you need education because it’s a powerful tool to help you get to the top. As a person with a disability, if you’re not educated, you would be nowhere to be found. So, I’ll advise every single person with disability to try and be educated so they can contribute to the development of the society in order to avoid being a liability to the society. They should acquire skills that could make them function outside the four walls of the school. Like I said earlier, I do textile design, popularly known as Adire and I can do weaving craft as well. This means if the certificate is not making them money at first, they can complement it with their skills.
Aliu: Apart from what we talked about, is there anything you feel like sharing with people?
Moses: In terms of relationship, I have been in a relationship before, but it didn’t work out. The lady was my good friend. So, when I noticed her attitudes towards me, I developed feelings for her but she later started playing me. Although I wanted a relationship with her, I had to let her go, last year. Visual impairment is not a problem, as long as the person is capable. The stigmatization against us when it comes to marriage, I think people should correct the mindset and allow their daughters to marry persons with disabilities as long as the person has a source of income and has plan for the future. If your daughter is interested in marrying a person with disability, allow her. Conversely, if your son is interested in marrying a person with disability, allow him.
Aliu: Thank you so much, but did you discover your song writing talent before you lost your sight?
Moses: No, but my mum was a great singer. So when I became visually impaired at 17, I began to develop an interest in composing songs. So, naturally, I have many songs coming, even more than 20. The only problem is financial constraints.
Aliu: Thank you very much Mr. Moses, I really appreciate it.
Moses: You are welcome.
This interview was done by Aliu Gbadegesin, MSc Student of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, following the training on Disability Reporting facilitated by Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONews Service.