Ogunnusi Alexander, a physically challenged digital marketer from Ogun State, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI how a freak accident he suffered while jumping from a tree resulted in a spinal cord injury that made him abandon his dreams of studying medicine.

What was it like growing up for you?

My name is Ogunnusi Alexander. I am thirty years old. I am from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I live with a physical disability. I had a spinal cord injury from which I could not recover. Although there were times when I felt emotionally down, times when I felt inadequate and felt like I didn’t belong, especially among my friends, I would say that I am grateful to my family who helped me, and the people who have made sacrifices for me.

What kind of work do you do?

I am a digital marketing specialist, social media manager and digital campaign manager.

What is your birth position in your family?

I am the second child. We are actually two, I have an older brother or sister.

Can you share the story that led to your disability?

Sometime in 2002 I went to a class with other kids. The site is a development site in Abuja. There were trees with some fruit. I climbed a tree looking for fruit. However, when I jumped down, I think I jumped wrong and got hit in the spine. I thought it was just one of those minor injuries that I could easily recover from, but I was wrong. A few days later I was in severe pain and began to lose the ability to use my hands and legs. All I could do was talk and move my head. I was rushed to St Mary Catholic Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja. I was treated and given medication, and we stayed there until late at night, but there was no improvement in my condition. Then the doctor told my father that I might not make it, and suggested that we be referred to Ibadan. But a nurse came to my mother and encouraged her not to abandon me. She suggested we try Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.

So when my father came to my mother with what the doctor had said, she refused and demanded that we be referred to the specialized hospital in Gwagwalada. We were then referred there. This was around 11pm to 12pm. We couldn’t find a vehicle so we got on the bike which took us to the hospital. But there was no room left in the wards, because that night there had been a serious accident with a luxury bus and there were many casualties outside, while the doctors were taking care of everyone. Later that evening a doctor came to see us, and we were given a bed in the emergency room. Two days later I underwent successful surgery, after which I spent four months in the hospital and was discharged in the hope that I would be able to make a full recovery.

Unfortunately, what happened was that my father’s pension ended and there were no resources to go back for check-ups and continue the therapy sessions. So I had to recover a bit at home and return to school in a wheelchair. Later I started using crutches and eventually a walking stick. Since then, I have been visiting hospitals to learn about my health. I started physiotherapy at Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja, although I stopped doing so during the peak period of the COVID-19 outbreak and could not resume due to funding issues. I later returned to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada for treatment, but since we moved to Mowe, Ogun State, I have not been able to take any steps regarding my health condition. It’s been a matter of stops and starts.

What did the doctor say about your health the last time you were in the hospital?

They did some checks and asked about my medical history. I took an x-ray and the results came back. Physiotherapy was recommended for six months to check for improvement, after which other options would be explored. They claimed that we should have done something about it a long time ago and that the deformities were related to the muscles that had not been active for a long time. They noted that I have a chance to walk again.

Have you graduated?

Yes that’s me. I read theology. I have a degree in Theology from Africa Independent Seminary, Niger State.

In what year did you graduate?

I graduated in 2017.

How supportive were your friends during those days when you were in school, and how was it easy for you to deal with the challenges of academics as a physically challenged person?

I think my mother especially helped me by constantly involving me in chores. I started doing the dishes at home, with my siblings, as soon as I could start moving and get in and out of my wheelchair. I think maybe consciously or unconsciously she was preparing me for the outside world. And when I got to school, my friends were very supportive, you know, especially at primary school where they could wheel me around in my wheelchair, which was fascinating to them as children until I started using crutches. Of course, I had my sister’s support throughout primary and secondary school. I also went to boarding school in high school, where I had boarding masters and mistresses, prefects and hostel mates who were quite supportive.

What are your unforgettable experiences during the school days?

In college, I wasn’t too sure about theology because I wasn’t interested in it initially. But in the end, thanks to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of fellow students, who were mostly older because we had fewer young people, I was able to get more ideas about the course. it was more of a comfortable environment and yes, it was a welcoming environment. My father played a big role in getting me used to exercise.

Usually he just asked me to dress up and then took me out. I started to understand movement. So when I started theology, the school was 15-20 minutes away from where I live. It wasn’t too difficult getting in and out of the vehicles to and from school. I also received support from passengers who, for the most part, were kind enough to give up their seats for me. My family played a big role in making sure I didn’t lose hope.

Can you discuss specific obstacles you faced in your daily life and how you found ways to overcome them?

I think the obstacles are moving, gaining access to buildings and crossing roads. I remember when I was traveling to Ijebu Ode and I had to get off at the roadside to cross to the other side and there was only a small plank to cross the big gutter, I had to look for a way to do that maneuvering. God was kind enough to keep me from falling into the ditch. I draw attention to these kinds of things on my platform on Twitter. We need to investigate and address these issues to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in society. For example, crossing roads in some places can be particularly difficult for people with physical disabilities. So I would say that exercise is one of the things that I find challenging.

Are you in a relationship?

Not at the moment. However, I have had previous relationships, one of which was with someone I met online. We were good for a few years until she got admitted into the University of Lagos and we lost touch with what we had but today we are good as family friends.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone rejected you because of your disability?

It may have happened to some people, but I haven’t experienced many such outright situations. However, I met someone on social media and we were always chatting on the Twitter timeline. Then we decided to meet in Abuja. We had other friends come for a hangout. She came and saw me. She did everything right and we talked. So when I got home, she texted and asked in her words, “Why didn’t you tell me you had a disability?” And I said I thought you knew because it was in my bio and she said she didn’t understand that. I didn’t know how to respond to that, so from that moment on I took a step back.

How did you feel about that situation?

It was a rude shock to me because I didn’t hide anything about my condition and it wasn’t my fault she didn’t know. It’s in my bio on all my social media channels. I don’t think people with disabilities should be a problem.

You mentioned that you are a digital marketer and social media manager. Was that what you were passionate about as a child?

I wanted to be a doctor. I was interested in saving lives and also giving back to the world. However, unable to fully recover, I gave up on the idea, especially after trying to get admitted several times without success. It was my mother who suggested that I study theology and I also embraced the idea due to the family’s financial constraints as my father died before I graduated from high school in 2011. Guiding my sister through nursing school was a huge burden for me. my mother was already there, so she couldn’t do much about my education at that time and maybe she was afraid that I was far from home.

Is there something someone said to you that almost made you depressed or almost gave up on yourself?

Growing up, I received harsh comments from people. Sometimes I just go into my shell and other times I leave it behind. I think I was blessed in some ways growing up because I was able to overcome some challenges, especially not being able to get into college. After all, that has always been my dream. I felt depressed when I saw that some of my friends had gone to school and I was at home with nothing to do. That was before I started studying theology.

How do you encourage yourself?

I believe I can find my way in anything. I feel like tomorrow will be better if I keep pushing. I believe I have been able to do well for myself and I don’t want to be seen as handicapped in life because it is just a state of mind.

How do you deal with misconceptions or stereotypes about disabilities in your interactions with others?

I am very vocal about disability and have joined several disability groups and attended a number of disability seminars. I always say something when people talk about disabilities. For example, there is a boy in my community who has a verbal disability that people mistake as a mental deformity. I also talk about this online.

What are your goals and ambitions for the future?

I want to be seen as the light in the disability environment and community. I want people to know that it is possible to reach the top even with a disability. I have a personal project I’m trying to work on. I am working on a campaign to get the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, to domesticate the National Disability Act. It is my dream to be able to give so much back to society.

What kind of help do you need?

I would say that I need help financially, especially to improve my health and possibly achieve a full recovery. I would also appreciate help with my career in terms of connections for jobs and gigs. I’m a freelance digital marketer, social media manager, digital campaign manager and paid advertising manager, and connections with people who need my skills are highly appreciated.