The Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) was set up by the law to help people living with disability in the society with the statutory mandate to ensure that their welfare is met within the ambit of the law in Lagos. LASODA, however, failed to play these roles when Olawale Hassan Adedigba was forced to approach the agency after a near-death accident changed the story of his life.
For Adedigba, the future was rosy and full of promise for a generator repairer in the Alakuko area of Lagos State as he had everything about his life going according to plan.
At 31 years, he had achieved his dream of being his own boss and having a wife and a child.
He had bigger dreams for himself and his family of a fashion designer wife and a daughter.
However, on October 13th, 2023, fate dealt Adedigba a cruel blow which has scuttled his plans and put a hold on his lofty dreams.
On that day, he was involved in a ghastly accident in which he was left for dead by a hit and run trailer driver at the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
He recalled the events of the day. “The day of the accident was like every other day. I woke up, had my morning prayers with my family and went to work.
“Nothing unusual happened at work. I fixed some generators for the owners and closed for work at the end of the day.”
On his way home, an articulated vehicle smashed Adedigba who was on his motorbike.
Mr. Adedigba was trapped under the vehicle between 9pm and midnight before some good Samaritans were able to pull him out. His motorbike was a complete write off. The driver fled the scene.
By the time he regained consciousness Adedigba was in the emergency ward of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The doctors had performed a miracle bringing him back to life but then there was a severe price he paid for survival: his right hand was amputated and three fingers chopped off from his left hand.
For Adedigba, life certainly will never be the same again with the new reality of being an amputee.
Like the early morning dew, his lofty dream evaporated as his condition did not only exact a massive toll on him financially but also drained him emotionally.
For a hardworking man who hitherto toiled to take care of himself and family without seeking support from anyone, Adedigba now lives on the benevolence of family, friends and some members of the public.
The accident has reduced him to penury as he has spent all his life savings on the treatment and management of his condition.
Added to that is the fact that he can no longer function as a generator repairer without a hand.
Adedigba revealed “I have spent over two million naira in managing my condition” “And the end of the spending is not in sight because I still buy a lot of drugs and go for the dressing of the hands.
“All the money I saved to expand my business and my wife’s fashion house before the accident have been spent on my treatment.
“In fact some kind-hearted family members and friends have also been supporting me”
In the midst of his travails, Adedigba decided to approach the Lagos State government, through the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA).
In his letter addressed to the General Manager of LASODA, Adedigba requested for assistance in the form of prosthesis limb and some funds to enable him switch over from repairing generators to buying and selling spare parts of generators.
Three weeks after delivering his request, Adedigba got a call from the LASODA. He was over the moon thinking that at last the agency was ready to salvage his situation.
Upon arrival at the Alausa secretariat of the agency, he was asked to get the cost of the prosthetic limb.
“I was so excited on that day after meeting with the LASODA officials. I thought my problem was over when they asked me to provide the cost of the artificial arm”.
Mr. Adedigba went to LASUTH from where he was referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos where he was given the cost of the artificial arm.
“I returned to LASODA with the bill filled with great expectation”.
Adedigba’s hope was dashed when he was given a LASODA identity card and no word was uttered about the artificial arm.
Till date no word has been heard from LASODA. With the government agency not forthcoming with any assistance. Mr. Adedigba decided to reach out to the public to come to his aid.
He lamented “Since the accident, I can’t explain what I have been going through. I no longer earn anything and my wife who had a fashion house before the accident has stopped going to work.
“She takes care of me and our daughter. Without hands, there is nothing I can do for myself. I am like a baby.”.
“I have been living on the goodwill of some family members and friends but with the situation in the country, it has not been easy “.
Adedigba appealed “I want to use this forum to appeal to Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora to come to my aid. It was never my dream to be a burden but unfortunately without hands, I have no option than to appeal to Nigerians to come to my aid.
“I require financial assistance to take care of my daily feeding, the management of my wounds and the routine drugs I use.
“However I don’t want to live the rest of my life begging for funds to take care of my basic needs.
“To return to my productive life, I will need an artificial arm which will aid my mobility and some capital to start buying and selling spare parts of generators”.
Adedigba sounding hopeful that he will come out of his present travails enthused “I am confident that I’ll overcome this challenge and be a responsible man again who will be useful not only to his family but the community at large. I know my story will serve as an inspiration to others who find themselves in my present unfortunate circumstance. For now I need help from all Nigerians even if it’s the widow’s mite.”
The account details of Mr. Olawale Hassan Adedigba 7017545715/OPAY
