MY MOMENT OF CHANGE...

In the words of John Lennon, he said: "life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans". I was born in a very humble home with an ambition to become a banker and live an "ordinary" life with my family. However, while I was busy having my own "ordinary" plans, life was also busy having big plans and challenges for me to go through. I found solace sharing my story over and over again because I have realized that each time I share it; be it in public functions or event, I feel a very big burden lifted off my heart. Losing someone special to the hand of death is painful but what is more devastating is knowing that you could have avoided what led to the death of that special one.

August 2014, Nigeria was welcomed with a deadly disease called "Ebola" by a Liberian America who came all the way from Liberia. My fiancée who happened to be a nurse that just resumed on a job (hospital) she just secured after many months of searching was one of the nurses who cared for this him. This was a time no Nigerian hospital knew about the disease and she attended to this man well exposed with no medical safety kits. She got infected and at that time, she was two months pregnant. We were looking forward to having our baby. Unfortunately, she died because at that time, among every ten pregnant women who got infected in other affected African countries, only one survived. She lost the battle with a two months old pregnancy but it didn't stop there. I was next in line. I became infected too since I was the one who cared for her while struggling for her life. I fought and defeated Ebola because I was determined to stay alive. This was my moment of CHANGE!

As an EBOLA survivor who suffered rejection from friends, neighbours and people I relied on; I experienced what it means to be an outcast due to an illness I didn't bring upon myself. This is exactly what people living with diseases like HIV/AIDS go through. In Nigeria they, like me, experience daily stigmatisation and discrimination. I lost my job but not only that. It got to a point where kids run away from me by just hearing my voice or sighting me from a distance. This gave me a new life and also gave me an opportunity to understand what people faced with similar life threatening disease such as HIV/AIDS and/or survivors of other social ills go through regarding stigma and discrimination in the society. I understood how much loneliness, rejection and shame these people go through on a daily basis in their immediate environment.

Therefore, I believe that my experience can be channelled positively to inspire hope and empower these marginalised individuals to lead a fulfilled, productive and hopeful life. I believe I can create the change I want to see. I envision a Nigeria where people living with HIV/AIDS and/or survivors of other social ills are embraced by the society to lead a positive life; a society where they will be proud of who they are regardless of their present challenges or circumstances. I want to see a Nigeriawhere the health facilities are adequately provided for mostly in rural communities. This is the birth ofJustCare Initiative, a Social Venture that aims to reduce the level of stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS and/or survivors of other infectious diseasesin Nigeria. We do through campaigns, workshops, life skill trainingand entrepreneurship training.

I am currently working on a project that encourages people to give their neatly used cloths, books, food-stuffs, etc to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) mostly in rural communities. Before the death of my late fiancee, she was so much in love with children and as a matter of fact; was once working in a paediatric Hospital where she had a vision to work with children. However,her dream was short-lived by her sudden demise. OVC are children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS and in most communities/homes, they are not well taken care of. Therefore, this project will provide a quick and convenient means for people to give their neatly used cloths, books, food-stuffs etc to OVC at the comfort of their home.

Finally, I welcome a handful support and collaboration from interested and passionate individuals on this platform to make this vision a reality. I am very open to constructive feedbackfrom you.Thank you very much.