Lanshima lost both arms, now wants to show Plateau the way

An unlikely candidate has joined the race to represent Plateau in the House of Representatives. He is an athlete, who’s had both arms amputated. Vitalis Lanshima wants to represent Jos North and Bassa in the Green Chamber. “My life is the manifestation and embodiment of what the Nigerian Dream can be and must be,” he […]

An unlikely candidate has joined the race to represent Plateau in the House of Representatives. He is an athlete, who’s had both arms amputated.

Vitalis Lanshima wants to represent Jos North and Bassa in the Green Chamber.

“My life is the manifestation and embodiment of what the Nigerian Dream can be and must be,” he cites on his campaign portal vitalislanshima.org as his reason for running.

“The true genius and promise of a great country like Nigeria is that, our citizens are resourceful and every Nigerian, regardless of their socio-economic, religious, characteristics, or ethnocentric background, has the Purpose-Driven Potential to write the next great chapter in the Nigeria Story.”

At age 12, Lanshima was an athlete. While practising for a competition, he was carrying a crossbar straight up out into the field when the bar touched an high-voltage power cable.

He was electrocuted: 11,000 volts surged through him—crushed his hands, ripped through the skin on his left thing and right Achilles’. His hands melted together, rendered useless.

After several surgeries to repair damaged nervous and restore function, doctors settled for amputation to stop the gangrene that had set in.

For five years, Lanshima relied on his family and friends for daily care and needs.

By 1994, already feeling like a burden without help, he began to experiment—learning how to do simple tasks at home.

“First, eating, brushing, bathing, and eventually he learned how to write, holding the pen with his stumps. With this new empowerment came aspiration, according to his boil

He returned to school and athletics and moved on by 1996 to win his first Gold medal in 800 meters for Plateau State at his first championships – the National Sports Festival in Makurdi.

He today is a world record holder in Paralympic 100, 200, and 400 meters.

He is also the first immigrant to serve in elected office in Kentucky, United States.