Life And People
“How I turned to football viewing centre due to unemployment”- Wheelchair-bound entrepreneur -By Phillip Anjorin
On the hurdles he faced as a football viewing centre owner, he said that his siblings and friends were of support since his dad’s death. However, there are still grounds to cover in his entrepreneurial endeavours.
Adebisi Michael, a physically disabled entrepreneur, has shared the challenges he encountered as a football viewing centre owner due to unemployment.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter, he revealed that his fancy for sport inspired him to open a viewing centre early this year so he can make ends meet after job hunting for 7 years.
He said, “Actually I graduated in 2014. I hunted for a job for many years, all to no avail. I’m a fan of sports, so I looked around where we live and couldn’t find any viewing centre nearby. I brought it up just to make ends meet.”
Exactly two months later, he found favor with Nigerians after pitching his business request on Twitter in reply to a giveaway tweet of popular artiste, Adeleke David (Davido).
Davido had earlier announced on Wednesday his desire to give out 20 million naira to 20 Nigerians as financial support for their business ideas.
Michael, a graduate of Industrial Chemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 2014, revealed that since he shared his request on Twitter, he has received lots of help for his business, though he is yet to be selected by Davido.
He also disclosed that the selection will determine the possibility of getting help from other Nigerians.
He said, “Davido did not show up but few people have sent the token they could afford and also many people have promised me with the clause of ‘if Davido didn’t pick you’. So you know, I can’t ask them if Davido hasn’t said anything about the giveaway”
As of press time, Davido is yet to announce his winners despite scheduling the announcement to Friday, March 18.
On the hurdles he faced as a football viewing centre owner, he said that his siblings and friends were of support since his dad’s death. However, there are still grounds to cover in his entrepreneurial endeavours.
“It’s been tough because I always have my dad by my side who helped me to transport the TV and sorts. Unfortunately, I lost him not long ago but my siblings have been helping with it now.”
“I don’t have a standby generator, which could develop faults while watching a football match. The shop I’m using does not have maximum security which force me to take all my properties back home everyday”
“I have a friend that has a car that helps with the transportation of those properties. The only call for financial support was the one I put out to Twitter as of recent”, he added.
Michael however called on youths to avoid relying on the government for provision of employment. Using himself as an example, he challenged youths to come up with ideas that will empower such youth.
“For the fact that I’m physically challenged and I’m able to put things like this together, then a learned youth with no disability should be able to reason and put things together and not rely fully on the government.”
“If the government later offered a job, that’ll be like an addition to the one on ground”, he noted.
Sharing his experience growing up as a physically disabled, he praised his dad (now of blessed memories) for striving to provide help for his education. Also, he bemoaned the impact of his disability on his social life.
“From my primary school down to tertiary institution, it’s really not been easy. My late dad did alot for me during my primary and secondary school, carrying me on his shoulder to and fro.”
“University was a little bit easy because I was surrounded by good friends then. I’m still very much single. It’s not that I’m not ready to marry but some ladies find it very much difficult associating themselves with people like us, but I know with time the right woman will come”
“I’m not social. How would it be if I got fully dressed, then hopped into my wheelchair and started going out. No!”
Going back the memory lane, he stated that his first choice was in Pharmacy. However, he was ‘advised’ by the University in good faith to pursue another course, which saw him pick Industrial Chemistry.
“I actually wanted to study Pharmacy but due to the fact that I’m physically challenged, I was not given the course. So I opted in for Industrial Chemistry. I was given and since I have a passion for schooling, I had to take it.”
“Actually, when we’re talking about Pharmacy, it deals a lot with practicals. So, maybe they’re looking at the convenience for me and thinking if I can handle all these practicals and the stress.”
“I was advised, not forced. It’s not that they forced me to leave the course because they believe it will be easier for me and I have to agree with them because they want something good for me.
The Ilesa-born entrepreneur further berated societal segregation of the less privileged, which he described as “bad, discouraging, awful and disheartening”.
He stated that the societal misconception often leads to prejudice, which can cause emotional trauma for the less-privileged.
“Had it been we’re not segregated, some of us have so many good ideas, even more than some able-bodied people but we’re not considered. Some got segregated to the extent of causing depression and some even end up being suicidal”
He, however, urged the society and government to take necessary steps that will positively include the less privileged. He said, “I can only recommend the society to please be considerate. We’re humans like them.”
“They should stop the discrimination and sorts. The government? Maybe if they create awareness for the society and empower people like me”
He hoped to be gainfully employed someday with his certificate and live comfortably so as to impact others less privileged like him.
