How I perform my duties as a blind journalist- FRCN reporter
What inspired you into journalism? It was borne out of childhood interest: I have a strong passion for journalism then, now and always. I am the type who wants to impact on lives of other people. Thus when I was in secondary school my career thoughts were based on what I would do for the […]
What inspired you into journalism?
It was borne out of childhood interest: I have a strong passion for journalism then, now and always. I am the type who wants to impact on lives of other people. Thus when I was in secondary school my career thoughts were based on what I would do for the benefit of the people. My desire for this career was informed by that and right from that time, I saw this profession not as an opportunity to make fame or money but a chance to give everyone a voice and to hold the government accountable for it actions and inactions. I chose to work in radio station because it is the channel of broadcasting that I believe is best for people like me, due to our condition.
How did you secure appointment with FRCN?
I first established relationship with them because it was the place I did my Industrial Training exercise, for the duration of four months. I was a National Diplomat student of Kaduna Polytechnic. So I became known and recognised even by the management of the station, because there was a time I overheard them describing me in glowing terms. Thus, after my masters, I applied to work there and the appointment letter was given to me without much problem.
How has it been easy for you to carry out your duties as a journalist?
First, let me mention some of my duties, which include: translating news from English Language to Hausa (my native language), reporting news, news casting and production. I am carrying out some of these tasks with the help of my colleagues. For example, if news material came in clip, I will sit down and listen to it before translating to Braille. And if the news material came in printed version, I have to seek the assistance my colleagues, to dictate it for me in order to convert it to Braille.
How do you report to duty on daily basis?
I reside at Kawo, and I have to join public transport every working day to make it to the office at Independence Way, Kaduna. It will also be pertinent to understand that I walk alone without the guide of any individual. But if the environment is the unfamiliar type, I do recourse to my cane.
How was growing up and your education like?
I was born in Kano, on December 31, 1979. I lost my two eyes when I was seven after suffering from measles. My parents enrolled me to Special Education School Tudun Malika, where I bagged both my Primary School Leaving Certificate and Junior Secondary School Certificate in 1994 and 1997 respectively.
I was faced with the first real challenge of life when I went to Government Grammar School, Gwale, simply because my previous learning experience took place in the midst of disabled pupils. At Gwale, my mates were all abled body students, thus the learning ground was not just levelled. After every lesson, I had to seek assistance from, at least, one of my colleagues; he would dictate whatever was written on the board while I translate to Braille system of writing, which could be readable for me. I won’t forget one Malam Aliyu Dayyabu because of the selfless support he rendered in that direction. In 2001,
I gained admission into Kaduna Polytechnic where I began my National Diploma (ND) programme in Mass Communication. After my graduation in 2004, I returned to this same institution for my Higher National Diploma (HND) in the same discipline. My name was mobilised for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2008, and Akwa Ibom was my state of deployment. Due to my condition, I stayed in Uyo only for the three weeks of orientation exercise and unsolicitedly, I was relocated back to Kaduna. After I carried out all the necessary documentation at the Kaduna State NYSC Secretariat, I was posted to the National Commission for Nomadic Education as my Place of Primary Assignment.
After completing my NYSC programme in 2009, I was among the four youth corpers honoured with the state NYSC award of automatic appointment at Kaduna state Ministry of Information. And to add to my joy and happiness, before I report to duty, an American NGO, offered me a scholarship to study MSc in Digital Communication at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. I returned to Nigeria in 2012 and joined the service of FRCN, Kaduna Zonal Station.
In your school days, how were you assessed by your teachers?
Despite my blindness, I am a very fast typist. During every test period, an instructor would be assigned to me so that he can dictate the questions one after the other. After grasping the questions, I will then provide the answers via type writing and the work will be forwarded to the appropriate examiner for assessment.
How was your relationship with colleagues like?
I had a cordial and pleasant relationship with all of them. They relate with me without discrimination or stigmatisation. It is because of their compassion and support that I always feel less disabled.