For many persons disabled in anyway, life is indeed incomplete in many respects. But Muhammed Anaruwa, 47, has proven for more than 20 years that though blind, there is ability in disability, as he boldly declared; “disability should not hinder one’s ambition in life. I don’t depend on people before I provide for my children quality life and education. I am training them myself. I have achieved what able bodied men have also achieved.”
Anaruwa, who resides at Inoziomi area in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State curiously, deals in meat despite being blind. He told Weekly Trust that he lost his sight on October 30, 1990 and since then, he has accepted his fate and continued with his life.
“I am a Muslim and as a Muslim, you have to accept whatever happens to you as an act of God. So, with that in mind, I said I must differentiate myself from other disabled people by working to earn a living for myself and my family,” he said.
Anaruwa has his shop in front of his house said his late father was a meat seller adding that he completely took over the business after the death of his father, having been in the business with his father.
“I started learning meat selling from my father before I lost my sight. In spite of the blindness, I still continued. So, when he died, I just have to continue with the business to prove a point that there is ability in disability.
“I hate begging, because it lowers one’s dignity and respect. So, I asked myself that even if I have to beg, how much would people give me to satisfy me and my family? Is it the N10 that people will give to me that will be enough for me and my family? That was why I had to continue this business despite my predicament,” the blind trader said.
Any first timer to Anaruwa’s meat shop would marvel at the dexterity and skill, with which he handles knife on meat. “You can hardly believe he is blind,” says a neighbour.
“If I need N10,000, I can conveniently get it by selling meat, without sustaining injury. The work has been so rewarding and I thank God for that. I can say that I am an expert on the job now,” Anaruwa explained.
Narrating how his predicament started, Anaruwa said “my blindness started on October 30, 1990. On the day it started, I went to bed at night as usual without any eye problem, but when I woke up in the morning, I could not see very well again. My father took me to an eye treatment centre in Kaduna where I was referred to the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan.
“My eye was operated upon but after the operation, I could still not see. So, I decided to accept the challenge and move forward with my life,” he said.
Anaruwa who is married to Mrs. Hawa’u with seven children, said the desire to adequately cater for his family and get his children the best education in life propelled him to be steadfast in his business.
“I used to slaughter two cows in the past and sell all to customers, but my children’s education, especially my daughter, who got admission into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to study accountancy has affected my business. When her admission came, it became difficult for me, because I didn’t quite expect it. I had to spend all that I had and with the help of friends, I was able to pay everything concerning the admission,” he said.
“When I go to buy cows, I have a boy who always go with me and once he tells me this cow is good, I will just bring out the money and pay. It’s a bit difficult for me now as my children’s school expenses have taken all my money,” he lamented.
Anaruwa’s first son Abdulhamid Muhammed has also completed his secondary school, and is now learning a trade. His second child, Ramatu is in ABU, while Abdulrahman and Abdulmalik are both in SS1. His fifth child is in primary school and the last two children, who are twins, are yet to start school.
However, Anaruwa said what occupies his mind now is how to sustain the education of his children since times are hard.
He therefore appealed to government and well meaning individuals to come to his aid to actualize his dream of giving quality education to his children.
“I need money to fully go back to the business. So I am appealing to government and well meaning individuals to come to my aid so that I can re-equip myself to achieve my dream of educating my children,” he said
Muhammed told Weekly Trust that he met his wife before he lost his sight, saying “we were neighbours, but I never had any premonition that one day she would be my wife. When I wanted to get married in 1992, two years after l lost my sight, she came to my mind and I didn’t hesitate to approach her. And one thing leads to the other and today we are happily married,” he recalls happily.
He said getting married to Hawa’u was the best thing to have happened to him in life, adding that he has never had any reason to regret getting married to her. According to him, his wife is very hard working and supportive.
“Unlike other women, Hawa’u is an obedient woman. She always takes to my advice. If all women are like her, I don’t think there would have been problems between husband and wife. She is also into petty trading. She grinds items and sells moimoi. When I am broke, she spends her own money on the family,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hawa’u Muhammed said she has never had any cause to regret marrying Muhammed too.
“I call him my perfect husband because he loves and takes care of the family. Just like he said, I knew him very well before he lost his sight. So, when he sought my hand in marriage, I had no option but to accept and there was no objection from my family too. I love him and I am proud of him because he is very hard working,” she said.
She said “I am a petty trader and I have a grinding machine which I use to grind things. I am also into the business of selling moimoi.”
“My husband’s resilience spurs me to be up and doing, so that I can also contribute to the up-keep of the family as well as give quality education to our children since we are not educated. I have to support him in all ways, because if I don’t do it, who will do it for me?” she said encouragingly.
She said all their grown up children assist their father in the business during weekends.
Like the black America music legend, Stevie Wonder, Anaruwa told Weekly Trust that though he has accepted his fate as a blind man, but his only regret is he cannot see the faces of his children whom he loves so much.
“I can’t question Almighty Allah, but I would have loved to see my children’s faces. I only know them by their voices. I appeal that people should always come to the aid of the disabled, especially the blind, because it takes only Allah’s grace to venture into any business and succeed,” he said.
