Visually Impaired Student Of UNN Graduated With First Class

Emmanuel Nweke, a visual impaired 31-year-old man bagged a first class stellar academic performance to fight stigma for people like him.

The 31-year-old man who was in the Department of Social Work, Emmanuel Nweke paved the way for other visually impaired people and it’s the legacy he’s leaving at UNN.

Emmanuel Nweke however wasn’t born blind, however, he faced stereotypes and stigmatisation because of his condition.

Emmanuel Nweke, a visual impaired student worked very hard to bag a first class certificate to pave way, encourage and change the narrative surrounding people like him.

Emmanuel Nweke in his speech said,  “Wanting to change the narrative ignited my passion. Naturally, a visually impaired student will be seen by others as someone that won’t do well. I wasn’t born blind, so, facing all manner of stereotyped stigmatisation, I felt that I could as well do it (graduate with a first-class degree) and make people believe that I can do it.

Vision is propelled by the heart and not sight. I wanted to just change the narrative and make a new landmark. So, I just wanted to do something remarkable.

I felt fulfilled. I felt I had laid the foundation for any other visually impaired person coming to Social Work. I know it’s a legacy that I have left at UNN.

On the flip side, in the Nigerian system, people don’t appreciate bright and intelligent minds. So, the question that pops up in my head is, “What’s next?” I was happy and grateful to God for making it a reality but the phobia of the larger society on how to pay my bills and all that is the situation for me.”

Emmanuel Nweke achieved this with great hardwork and motivate others like him to be positive and remain focused.

MySchoolNews reporting.