I Want To Sell My Kidney To Further My Education — Blind Electrical Engineering Graduate

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) — 32 year old Kamilu Ayinla Suleiman, a 2013 graduate of Electrical Electronics from Kaduna Polytechnic in northern Nigeria, never knew he will go blind while undergoing the one year mandatory Youth Service programme.

An indigine of Ilobu, Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, born and bred in Kaduna, Kamilu was the second in a family of seven children.

Kamilu’s failure to secure a job to take care of his parents and siblings made him to resolve in selling one of his kidneys to sponsor his education.

“Frustration is what brought the idea of my readiness to sell one of my kidneys just to get money to sponsor my education. I really want to be useful to the society. I don’t want the effort of my parents to go in vain.

“So I’m appealing to well meaning Nigerians to help me with a job, or scholarship to further my education. I have applied to various media organizations seeking for job, but I didn’t hear anything positive. Please Nigerians, help me!” he said.

According to him, he was diagnosed with Glaucoma at the National Eye Centre Kaduna in 2009, but lost his sight completely in year 2012, because of his poor background.

“I was suppose to graduate in 2012, but because of a carry over (C.O) I got in one subject, I went for my NYSC in year 2013.

“I was posted to Plateau State, but requested for redeployment back to Kaduna due to my condition. After I became completely blind, I decided to live with a friend to avoid my parents seeing me in this condition, because I don’t like seeing them worried.

“My effort to look for somebody to sponsor my Master program didn’t yield result. I just want to further my education so as to be useful to society and help others in my condition too.

“My parents don’t have the money and I don’t to be a burden on them. So, I got a letter from Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) to my governor, Rauf Arebegsola in 2014, another letter to Chief Imam of Yoruba land, Mustapha Ajibade and to the Chief Imam of my home town, seeking for assistance, but am yet to hear from them.

“The letter to the governor I gave it to his personal Assistant, Alhaji Sikiru. I also spoke to Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, who is from my home town, Honourable Lasun Sulaiman Yusuf who also promised to help me, but as I speak to you, he has stopped picking my calls,” he said.

According to him, he also sent a letter through DHL to Senator Representing Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani seeking for Assistance.

The energetic Youngman said he doesn’t want to become a liability on anybody that is why he wanted to forge ahead with his education and become self reliance.

However, when contacted, leader of Kaduna State Blind Welfare Association, Salisu Ibrahim, advised Mr. Suleiman to equip himself with skills that can help him adapt to his new condition before furthering education.

“He cannot read the way he used to, so if he gets admission now, how can he read and do his assignments, since he doesn’t know how to use braille.”

Salisu who himself is blind, and a Masters Degree holder from University of Leeds in the UK, said acquiring reading and writing skills in braille system, as well as computer literacy are key to helping blind people towards self reliance and staying above board.

“Our organisation will reach out to him. I heard about him about a month ago and have been looking for his contact, we want to help him adapt to his new condition which we know is not easy.”

“We’ll support him towards acquiring braille and computer skills and also becoming self reliant.”