By Moses Nosike

Barrister Danlami Basharu, CEO of Anglo Nigerian Welfare Association for the Blind (ANWAB). In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he narrated how his ordeal in life brought him fame, and how MTN Foundation partnership with ANWAB has brought scholarship for many blind people.

Barrister Danlami Basharu, CEO of Anglo Nigerian Welfare Association for the Blind (ANWAB). In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he narrated how his ordeal in life brought him fame, and how MTN Foundation partnership with ANWAB has brought scholarship for many blind people.

Hear him, “I was born in the 1960s. At a point, my siblings and I were infected with measles.

Unfortunately, I was the only one left with a major effect, my blindness. Somehow, I had to find a way to cope. After earlier scepticism, my parents eventually allowed me to travel down South to seek better opportunities that would support and enhance my life. Allowing your child go down south in the early 1960s was very difficult because Nigeria just got its independence and we do not fully understand our different cultures, so people were sceptical mingling with one another, let alone allowing your child go far away from you. It was scary to leave me as a blind child to come all alone from the north.

However, I had confidence and was determined that whatever the situation, it would be wise to be educated. I thank God I did because it paid off.

I finished at the Pacelli School for the Blind having studied between 1963 to 1970. I sat for the Common Entrance and gained admission into Kings College, Lagos where I concluded my ordinary level and advanced level in education in 1977 before I moved to Edinburg in the United Kingdom.

I was fortunate to have scholarships from both government and private organisations and individuals. I also had a guardian who supported my degree courses in Business Administration and Law at the Cambridge University. Eventually, I also got scholarship from the Cambridge University.

My work experience officially started from the Nigerian Television Authority in the mid 80s up to 1990s but I had to resign to set up Anglo-Nigerian Welfare Association for the Blind.
ANWAB partnership with MTN Foundation Scheme for the blind

Earlier, the MTN Foundation had started a scholarship scheme for science and technology students in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. At a time, the Anglo-Nigerian Welfare Association for the Blind (ANWAB) felt that the scholarship did not cover blind students because most of them do not offer science subjects. Thus, the Association approached the MTN Foundation with a proposal. After due process, the Board of the MTN Foundation approved our proposal as partners in administering the MTN Foundation’s scholarship for the blind. The Nigeria Association of the Blind gave a positive recommendation about ANWAB to MTN and for four years, we have collaborated with the Foundation.

The journey so far
It has really being wonderful. It is a new experience for us and we are happy that we can reach out to more blind students who are desperately in need of education. Getting education is always at a cost and we are happy that the MTN Foundation, for four years has being augmenting this cost, choosing us as a partner on the scheme.

Challenges of blind people in Nigeria
In fact, the scholarship scheme for blind students provided by MTN Foundation is highly appreciated and it is a welcome development. I am not sure of any other organisation reaching out to the needy, particularly the blind, same way the MTN Foundation has done.

You will agree with me that the blind are a set of disabled people who are most impoverished and neglected. So, for MTN to take up this challenge as a major part of its corporate social responsibilities cum investment, the company must be commended. Some of our blind students can now access scholarships to study and become successful in their chosen field of study. It is indeed happy times for a lot of our beneficiaries.

The journey has been quite good although there were challenges at the beginning. Administering the scheme involves travelling around the country, visiting places we have never been to before. It is indeed an interesting learning experience.

Over the years, the number of students receiving the scholarship keeps increasing. Now, there is healthy rivalry among our blind students, to ensure they qualify and probably win a slot in the scholarship scheme. At the last award ceremony, we had about 175 students compared to last year when we had 169; so the number keeps increasing. The students are determined to do well while others are also encouraged to come on board. Not minding the challenges, we are determined to provide scholarships to our blind beneficiaries.

Skills gathered by blind students on the scheme
One laudable aspect of the scheme is the employability training workshop where our students are trained and enabled by MTN to take up the challenge of unemployment in Nigeria.

They are trained in the use of computers and telephones particularly the smart phones, to enable them live independently as much as possible and cope with whatever job they find themselves doing. So, these are basics of the workshop aside the guidance and counselling sessions they are offered.