The Journey to a PhD
I had firmly resolved never to pursue further education due to the exclusionary nature of Nigeria’s education system. As a blind man, I had faced significant accessibility barriers as an undergraduate student of Mass Communication. The experience had left me disillusioned and exhausted.
However, this changed in 2010, during a course at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB) in Hereford, UK. I had been sponsored by the Voice of Nigeria (VON) where, at the time, I had been employed for nine years and was also the organisation’s first blind staff member. The course focused on Information Technology and marked a turning point in my academic aspirations.
My exposure to assistive technologies and an inclusive learning environment rekindled my interest in education. I began to see the possibility of continuing my academic journey. I received multiple offers to study for a master’s degree in the UK, but financial constraints prevented me from accepting them.
The breakthrough came in 2018 when I was awarded a prestigious Chevening Scholarship to study a Masters in Communication for Development at the University of Reading. This opportunity facilitated my transition from my 20-year journalistic career into the development sector. A Gender and Development module, especially the topic of disability, was a catalyst towards my interest in research. In particular, it challenged my perspectives and inspired me to explore the intersection of gender-based violence and disability in Nigeria in my thesis. That research laid the intellectual and emotional foundation for my current PhD journey.
As a blind man, I grew up among other blind peers and experienced firsthand the discrimination and stigmatisation that often accompanies disability in Nigeria. Over time, I observed how women with disabilities face even more profound challenges in our patriarchal society. These challenges differ significantly from those encountered by their non-disabled counterparts and men with disabilities.
The Research
Despite growing attention regarding disability rights, women with disabilities in Nigeria continue to face pervasive gender-based violence, shaped by intersecting systems of ableism and patriarchy. In urban centres, like Lagos, these women are subjected to multiple layers of discrimination, stigmatisation and abuse. My research focuses on the gender-based violence experiences of these women and utilizes ethnography, within a contemporary Yoruba urban context, to highlight lived realities.
The non-inclusive nature of existing interventions, whether legal, health-related, or social, perpetuates cycles of dependency, vulnerability and violence. I demonstrate that legal reforms and international treaties alone are insufficient without fundamental shifts in cultural attitudes and social structures. Current systems are inadequate in protecting women and girls with disabilities from abuse, discrimination and poverty.
My research highlights how ableism and gendered norms intersect to produce lifelong patterns of discrimination against women with disabilities. Stereotypical views of disability in Nigeria include perceptions of inferiority, being cursed, pity, infantilisation and being unfit for motherhood. These beliefs can have particularly damaging consequences for these women. Repeated exposure can lead to internalising these narratives which shape their self-perception, limit their aspirations and reinforce societal exclusion.
There is an urgent need for interventions that are not only inclusive but also life-course oriented, addressing the cumulative impact of exclusion and violence throughout a women’s life. My research seeks to illuminate these dynamics through the voices and experiences of women with disabilities in Lagos, offering greater insights into gender-based violence. By showcasing these experiences through ethnography, my work contributes to global conversations on inclusive justice. It aims to contribute to more inclusive policy, advocacy and practice which ensures that no one is left behind.
A major challenge in my field of research is the scarcity of scholarly material addressing the intersection of gender and disability, particularly within Nigerian and Yoruba contexts. The absence of these themes in our academic discourse and historical narratives is deeply troubling, as it suggests, erroneously, that disability is alien to our culture. It also not only reflects a gap in knowledge production but perpetuates the marginalisation of disabled individuals, by failing to acknowledge their lived realities and contributions.
My research journey has been complicated by persistent accessibility barriers within an ableist academic environment. I have had to continuously overcome challenges as a blind researcher. The experience has revealed both the structural limitations of higher education and the depth of personal strength required to persist within it as a disabled scholar. However, my supervisors have been exceptionally supportive, helping me to navigate an often ableist academic space with compassion and care.
Achievements and the Future
My lived experience of disability has become a source of strength and motivation. It has led me to establish and lead organisations of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, with the aim of amplifying our voices and advocating for systemic change. These include being the pioneer secretary of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (Lagos Chapter), a trustee of the African Blind and Restoration Foundation and a consultant to The Albino Network Association. I have committed myself to advocacy that foregrounds inclusion, accessibility, and justice. This conviction, rooted in both personal experience and collective struggle, continues to shape my academic and activist pursuits.
One of my key academic achievements is presenting several papers at respected institutions. Most recently, I presented 'The Challenges of Parenting Children with Disabilities among the Yoruba People in Lagos, Nigeria' at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex.
I have also taken on leadership roles within the University community. For the second consecutive year, I serve as the Equality Representative for migrants in the University and College Union (UCU). I was honored to represent the branch as a delegate at the 2025 UCU Congress in Liverpool.
I hope to continue partnering with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) in Nigeria and internationally, supporting their advocacy efforts and encouraging more inclusive and gender-sensitive leadership and programming.
I am committed to influencing change in my own way, whether through academia or the development sector. My aspiration is to secure a position in academia, where I can contribute to shaping the minds of future leaders, policymakers, and practitioners. Through my work I want to instill the importance of building inclusive societies for persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, who are often overlooked in policy and practice.
My aspirations remain dynamic, shaped by emerging opportunities and the evolving needs of where I find myself.
Interview by Shona Clements, Sussex Researcher School
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