•The amazing story of COMAS OKOLI from a school pauper to an employer of labour 

By Fred Iwenjora

The success story of Cosmos Okoli, a man who discovered his physical challenge at an early age of about 4 but went ahead with sheer  determination to surmount it, becoming a  voice for the entire aggregate of the physically challenged in Nigeria, will always be a source of inspiration to many who hear him tell it himself.

Armed with the God given belief that if he would ever do anything successfully, he must work extra hard, Okoli was not only top of his class in primary and secondary schools, but also went on to the university and passed out in colors, before becoming Best Corps Member in Nigeria during his one year of National Youth Service and winning prizes from Lagos state as well as from Nigeria.

People still recall his photograph with President Babangida which made front page of national newspapers at that time. 

Cosmos Okoli,

Currently, Okoli who is an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), sits atop Mobility Aids and Appliances Research and Development Center,(MAARDEC), an NGO which he founded and through which he is realizing his vision of providing physically challenged Nigerians with mobility aid to move, run and drive their cars amongst other things.

Read his story:

Anyone who follows the snippets of what could be pieced together to be your life story and how you laboured to be who you are today would love you to trace this story..What kind of upbringing did you have?

I started school in my home community of Isiofia in Aguata LGA of Anambra State. I then moved to the Salvation Army Home for the Physically Handicapped Children in Oji River, Enugu, Enugu State now. I found out that of all the children in the home, I was the only one who had started school before coming there. My father didn’t know I could cope with formal education.

He had planned that I was going to learn shoe making. He set aside a piece of land for me to start a workshop. When my elder brother started school, I called my father a year after and told him that I wanted to go to school because I couldn’t hear him talk about my own uniform and school bag like he did for my brother.

That was when my father who expressed surprise at my question said okay, you would start school tomorrow. I continued to pester him about my uniform and how I would be going to school. He budged one day and I started school. I was always on top of the class and he was happy I spent two years at the Salvation Army School.

I had my surgery there and was taught how to use my clutches and walk for the first time. After I mastered the use of clutches and braces, I was discharged and I went back home and continued my education.

What do you remember of your disability? Do you have any low moments about the way you are? I mean your physical challenge?

I was barely four years old and I can’t say I was conscious about what happened at that time. But I know that when I became conscious of the disability I became conscious that I had to work extra hard to be anywhere successfully.

If I tell you that there were no low moments when I asked God question why me then I would be telling a lie. But I came from a very wonderful family where I was treated like every other child so I never condemned myself as someone different from others. But during Xmas when my parents made clothes for all of us, they would make trousers for my other siblings and make shorts for me.

It was only then that I felt different and bad. I kept asking God why. One day I confronted my father with the question and he told me that it was useless to make trousers for me because I would end up folding it up and crawling on my knees.

Then one day, such a thing happened again and I felt so unhappy and asked God again and he revealed to me; If not you then who …. I looked at my brothers and said no, God forbid, I love my brothers the way they are. God told me that I have been equipped to go through this. It was a wake-up call for me.

From that day I had never looked back and faced my disability as a call to duty. When I realized that this is a call to duty, I have never looked back and God has been blessing me. I am passionate when I follow a cause.

You often tell of how you almost got stranded in the University..How did you wriggle out of the University with success?          

It was indeed very tough for me. Lack of funds and other challenges almost made me drop out. The biggest challenge I had was access within the university. There were a lot of architectural barriers and I took a strong decision to die in the university rather than leave without my certificate because at a point it was so tough that I decided to take out a full month to reassess the fact whether I should continue or leave.

After the soul searching, I realized that if I left the university at that time, I would not be able to remove the word Drop Out from my CV. Secondly, I realized that the whole world of the   disabled people who were inspired to further their education because of me would change. They could , also, very likely drop out and this would be disastrous. I served as their role model from the time I was at the Rehabilitation center at Oji River.

When I told them I was going to be a medical doctor, they laughed and wondered how I could cope with university education not to talk of studying medicine. When I got admission to study Medical physiology at the University of Lagos and stories went round that I was already in the University, many couldn’t believe it.

Those who believed also started aspiring to get education. I thought of all those who would drop out of school if I dropped so I persevered. They all decided that if I could do it, then they could. It is that kind of iron will and resolve that saw me through. I had to climb staircases, slippery grounds and get to the lecture halls later than others. I had to do extra work to cope and I eventually graduated to the glory of God.

At what point did Special Sports which gave you your first break come into your psyche?

When my father couldn’t pay my fees any more after two years at Unilag, I discovered special sports. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to travel out of the country in 1987 for the special sports, the wheel chair Games. Since it was the first time that Nigeria was to feature in those sports, I was an observer and didn’t feature in any games even though I went to play Table tennis.

I also had to finance my trip because of that.   I traveled with the support of friends and well wishers who contributed. I recall the fare was N1,300 and a cousin of mine gave meN500 which I added up and traveled. During the trip, I bought ladies clothes and shoes while my mates were buying gifts for people.

They wondered what I would do with female clothes but I knew my case was different from theirs. I needed to generate money for my survival and continued stay in the University. Again when we returned, my appeal to Anambra state Government for support had yielded fruits and I was given a refund and I became very buoyant.

You have always mentioned Late Commodore Emeka Omeruah in all your conversations, why would you always do this?

Late Commodore Omeruah played a role in my life that he is unforgettable to me. I had attended a seminar of the Nigerian sports Association for the disabled and asked several questions which made them recognize me as an asset to the association and recommended me for the trip to represent Nigeria in Table Tennis.

Even when I was told that I won’t be financed for the trip, I decided to travel because I believed I was going to learn so much from the trip. And indeed that trip opened my eyes in the organization of sports for the physically challenged. I eventually became Chairman Special sports Federation.

I had gone to Commodore Omeruah and told him that the original name no longer suited the association because we do better than people that are able and we needed to re-brand and he accepted my suggestion.

He saw my reasons. I became President for this sports association for seven years and it was during those years that we did best in special sports. I led the troupe to Atlanta 96, and Sydney 2000 where we won a whooping seven gold medals. Since then, no one has beaten that record in that federation.

In this world when able bodied men have thrown in the towel on life; how do you feel with all you have achieved?

I think I am in this world to make a difference. I also think my disability is an act of God really. God wanted me to effect changes so he created me like this. I see it happening because when I was Chairman of Special Sports Federation, I challenged others with my performance and excellence. I see the world as a place where everybody is created to make a difference. Indeed I give God the glory.

At what point did you decide to set up MAARDEC ie Mobility Aids and Appliances Research and Development Center. You may have been highly inspired by something….

I am naturally talented in Engineering. I made toys with anything I had in my hands. May be that was why my father felt I would do well as a shoe maker. I started by working on things to help me move around. For instance I drive today and several others now also drive with what I invented.

I realised early enough that if I needed to drive, then it won’t be with my legs. I developed a gadget to drive. I later set up a workshop to produce it for people who needed it. Also my braces were a problem. The ones I got from off shore were no longer serving me. I sat down and designed one that served me better and still serving me.

I also started manufacturing it for others. But one event also sparked me off to think. In 1984, I encountered a very terrible experience where my room mates fought at night and used my clutches as weapons and broke them. I got stuck in my room that I couldn’t move for several days.

I sent people out to buy me a new one but they came back with nothing. All over Lagos, I searched but there were none. I sent a message to my father that I was stranded in my room. My dad sent out my sisters and they stumbled at two pairs forgotten at a chemist and that assured me that I would actually complete my education.

That showed me that there was a vacuum and that something must be done to arrest the ugly trend of not having mobility aids. I started thinking of the idea that I could set up a research and development centre for mobility aids and appliances. And we are at it now and we thank God that we produce over 2000 mobility aid appliances including wheel chairs, clutches, mobile three wheel cycles etc every year.

Funding must have been a problem…how did you make it possible?

When I graduated from University, I had a little bit more money and I received stipend from NYSC which I saved. I became the best corps member in 1988/89. I also won the National honors and Lagos State honors. I met with President Ibrahim Babangida who conferred the honors on me.

This honor gave me N25, 000 and I was buoyant. In 1990, I picked up a job as social development officer. I also won the National Science and Tech Innovator Award. I had a car and hired a workshop to produce the aids for a start. It has grown today to MAARDEC.

Can we take a peep into your home front, how did you meet your wife in the first place?

I have a very fantastic family and we have four well behaved kids. I have a very responsible and responsive and loving wife who has helped me to have a stable home. She understands that I have to work from outside more often. I look at her and I see a woman who is there to take care of my home.

It was in 1994 when there was national strike of Nigerian Universities. She needed to keep herself busy for those months. She came to work with my organisation-MAARDEC. I found her God’s gift. She is well behaved, friendly, homely, disciplined and responsible. She is from the same town with me.

The families knew each other. Stories said twins like her are snobbish and took no nonsense. When she came to work with me, I didn’t see any of such character that is alleged to be the ways of twins.

At the end of her stay, I tried to make her my girlfriend but she turned it down. She told me very humbly that she didn’t want to date any man. When I asked how she was going to get married then she said if I have to date any man, how many would I date before I get married.

She said there is no guarantee that the first man you date will end up marrying you. She said she won’t date before marriage. I kept observing her until I was sure she is the person. I proposed and she accepted. We got married in 1995. She is working with me. She is the Vice President of the organization in charge of admin and finance.

Did she accept your proposal just like that…How easy was it to woo her?

It was not a problem for her to accept my proposal. It was however when she accepted that all hell was let loose. Some people felt she was too beautiful for a disabled man to marry. People went to my father-in-law to ask why he allowed a disabled man to marry his daughter.

Some of her siblings did not believe the unfolding scenario. Some were with her while some others were not. My mother-in-law was behind her saying she should think about it very well and give her the answer. When she did she advised her not to listen to any other person from then. Rumours were flying about me but my wife stood firm.

You have been seeking to hold elective office and have failed…are you discouraged?

I am not plotting to get involved in politics. I am already in it fully. I have contested elections and will still do. I realized that over the years, we have been clamouring for one thing or the other. I mean that Nigerians with disabilities have been fighting for legislation to improve on their right, and so many other things that have not been realized. I feel I have a lot to offer.

I have gone through thick and thin. I have moved from the point when I am crawling on all fours as someone who was struck with disabilities as a result of polio which again is preventable. I blame the government for not providing adequately for the childhood preventable disease.

I have also been at a point when I almost got stranded in the university because of lack of funds to complete my education. I struggled and weathered the storm including the problems of inaccessibility of infrastructure which made mobility very difficult.

I went through all that up to the part that I picked up an appointment as a civil servant where I worked for 18months at the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development as it was known then. After that I felt I needed to express       myself better with my talent to improve the lot of the less privileged people like me.

So I set up the NGO, MAARDEC i.e. Mobility Aids and Appliances Research and Development Center. Of course I organised another business by the side to support financially. It got to a point where I am today an employer of labor as President, Founder of MAARDEC.   I see myself as someone who has seen it all and able to contribute to the stabilization of our democracy in our country Nigeria.

It would be a disservice if I didn’t do this and say since I could take care of my needs, I would just relax. No matter what happens, I am a citizen of Nigerian and it is my responsibility to ensure, with other citizens, that we get a Nigeria of our dream. I would not blame anybody if we do not get the Nigeria of our dream if I sit on the fence so I want to get involved and do my best. I am not discouraged at all.

You have always claimed to know the real needs of the masses. What are these?

The needs of the masses are simple. Basic infrastructure, electricity, water, roads, stable polity for them to do what they are doing and not to wake up and see all the labour vanish into the thin air due to unrest and the like. I think Nigerians are fantastic people who do not need more than these to be happy.

They still see people who cause the excruciating poverty and still greet them. I imagine what it would be for government to do the right things. If we create enabling environment for the poor masses to feed their children, educate them and all, then the problems are gone.

How many Nigerians can send their children to private universities where they pay a lot of money as fees? If you provide food, schools and motivate the teachers and provide those infrastructure that I talked about, then the masses will be happier.