Ede—An indigene of Liama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa state, Ikiotere Ayebatonye Otuma has refused to allow his physical appearance to limit his achievements in life.
He told mangrovepen.ng that he grew up in a community where the majority of his peers did not discriminate against him despite his appearance.
He admitted that “there were some kids who would sometimes want to make fun of my appearance. But whenever they do, I normally take them to be ignorant.”
Highlighting his educational journey, Ayebatonye averred that after his secondary education, his mother advised him to learn skills.
“After my SS3, my mother met me one day and asked if I would like to learn a handcraft.
“I told her I have already picked Jamb form and I don’t want to waste time in furthering my education. She was impressed with my aspiration.
“And by the grace of God, in my first attempt, I got admitted into the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, to study management,” he said.
Ayebatonye is currently undergoing the compulsory orientation course of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ede Camp, Osun State,
He advised people with a similar condition not to allow thoughts of their predicament to take over their lives.
In his words: “Having a physical deformity should not make you think much. Your life is not over as long as you are mentally stable.
“You do not have to make excuses for failure. You have every reason to be who God wants you to be by his grace.
“Even though along the line you will face depression, difficulty and hardship do not let it get to you.
“Other people without physical deformity also feel down at some point in their lives and still come out of it.
“We can too if we put our minds to it. We can achieve anything and everything.”