Offiong Okon Foundation

16/08/2025

Be kind to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs); life can change for anyone at any time. If it hasn’t reached you yet, it doesn’t mean it has passed you by.

12/08/2025

Leave no one behind...

01/10/2024

03/10/24 is the date...

26/07/2024

The aftermath of Protest results to 1% rate of Disability. Think!

18/07/2024

THANK YOU
I feel truly blessed to have friends like you.
Thank you for your amazing birthday wishes.

17/07/2024

I declare unto Comrade Offiong Okon as he sails in his new age, "that as he lifts up his eyes until the hills, from whence cometh his help. His help shall come from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth. The Lord his God will not suffer his foot to be moved: He that keepeth you will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Isreal shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord shall be thy Keeper: the Lord shall be thy Shade upon thy right hand. Comrade Offiong Okon the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord God shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord God shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore".

Amen.

Happy Birthday to myself! I have made it through Christ Jesus; a new age!

05/07/2024

PORTRAITS OF SHAME

In the market you find a poor woman with a baby at her back, you lower your car window and with a military rough command voice you asked her:

"How much are you selling those onions and bananas?

The poor seller politely replies,
"₦1,500.00 for a bunch of bananas and ₦1,000.00 for a pack of onions."

With pride you demand the bunch of bananas at ₦800.00 and the the pack of onions at ₦700.00 or else you will leave.*

The poor seller resigns to fate and replies, "take them at the price you want. *I have not made any sale today, at least I have something for supper now."

She has made a loss but she goes further to buy a plastic bag for you to pack the two items you have just bought.

You order her to hurry up otherwise you may change your mind. She apologises and with a smile, she gives you the items and she blesses you for patronizing her.

You literally throw the money at her and you sped away leaving behind a cloud of smoke and dust which causes a bit of discomfort to her and the baby. She is coughing while securing her little money. Her poverty has left her with no choice.

You have now arrived at the 5-star restaurant where you are to meet friends and you ask them to order food and drinks of their choice.

They order expensive food and the leftovers are more than the food they have eaten.

The total bill is ₦65,000.00 and you pay without bargaining, you gave a tip of ₦5,000.00 appreciating the waiter for a delicious meal....which you didn't eat even half of.

This incident might seem quite normal to you but it's inhumane...

THE POINT IS:

Why do we always show that we have the bargaining power when we buy from the poor?

Why do we become arrogant when buying from the poor?

Why do we become stingy when buying from the vulnerable?

Why do we show generosity to those who do not even need our generosity?*

*Why do we become polite when buying from the rich who view our money as mere change?

Why do we channel money to a sea of money?

Please buy simple goods from the poor people at high prices....do it deliberately.

Sometimes, pay extra for the items you buy from poor women...you are only blessing them in your little way.

Please where possible buy items from local markets.

To everyone reading this, please, everytime you see them in traffic, taxi parks, bus stops, on the streets....just buy!

Don't bargain. They are not looking for money to buy expensive clothes or mansions or cars, but to feed their children back home and pay school fees.

PLEASE let's support the less privileged🙏🏽

29/06/2024

Dear Potential Supporter,

We at Offiong Okon Foundation are deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities. Every first Thursday of the month, we come together in faith and solidarity to fast and pray for their well-being, empowerment, and inclusion in society.

This event is more than just a gathering; it is a community of love and support that provides sustenance, both spiritual and physical, to our beloved brothers and sisters with disabilities. However, we cannot continue to do this without your help.

We kindly appeal to you to support us in any way you can, whether it be through financial contributions, donations of food or transportation fare, or simply by spreading the word about our mission. Your support will enable us to continue providing this vital service to those who need it most.

For more Details:
Rev. (Mrs.) Mercy K. Akpan
Project Coordinator
08028239289

For your Donations:
2002042249
FCMB
Offiong Okon Foundation

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities and create a more inclusive and compassionate world.

With gratitude,

Offiong Okon Foundation

26/06/2024

Yesterday, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, I participated in a Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue focused on Rebuilding Trust in the Electoral Process and Elections. The event took place at Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, and was organized by the International Press Centre (IPC), sponsored by the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) under Component 4: Support to Media.

As the Founder/CEO of the Offiong Okon Foundation for Physical Disability, I was invited to contribute as a Key Stakeholder in the efforts to rebuild trust among Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process and elections in Nigeria.

I described the challenges experienced by Persons with Disabilities and then highlighted several crucial areas that need to be addressed to ensure inclusivity, accessibility, and fairness.

The key strategies are:

1. Accessibility Improvements: Implement measures to make polling stations and electoral processes more accessible for PWDs. This includes providing ramps, wheelchair-accessible facilities, tactile ballots for visually impaired individuals, and sign language interpreters for deaf individuals. Conduct accessibility audits of polling stations and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

2. Inclusive Policies and Practices: Develop and enforce inclusive electoral policies that cater to the specific needs of PWDs. This involves providing training to election officials on disability rights, ensuring the availability of assistive technologies and materials, and creating voter education programs tailored to different disabilities.

3. Consultation and Representation: Actively involve PWDs in the planning and decision-making processes related to electoral reforms. Establish mechanisms for consulting with disability organizations and representatives to ensure their perspectives are incorporated into electoral policies and practices.

4. Awareness and Education: Conduct targeted awareness campaigns to educate PWDs about their voting rights, registration procedures, and the importance of participating in elections. These campaigns should be accessible and use formats such as braille, audio recordings, easy-to-read materials, and sign language.

5. Addressing Discrimination and Stigma: Combat discrimination and stigma against PWDs in the electoral process through advocacy, sensitization programs for election officials and the general public, and legal measures to protect against discrimination.

6. Ensuring Security and Safety: Implement measures to ensure the security and safety of PWDs during elections, including protection against harassment, intimidation, and violence. Train security personnel on handling situations involving PWDs sensitively and respectfully.

7. Monitoring and Accountability: Establish mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of disability-inclusive electoral measures and holding electoral authorities accountable for ensuring accessibility and fairness. Encourage PWDs and disability organizations to report barriers and issues they encounter during the electoral process.

8. Partnerships and Collaboration: Foster partnerships between government agencies, civil society organizations, disability rights groups, and international organizations to leverage resources, expertise, and advocacy efforts in promoting disability-inclusive elections.

9. Legal and Policy Reforms: Advocate for legal reforms and policy changes that strengthen the rights of PWDs in electoral processes. This includes amendments to electoral laws to explicitly address disability rights and ensure their full participation.

By implementing these strategies, Nigeria can begin to rebuild trust among PWDs in the electoral process, promote their active participation in elections, and uphold their rights to political inclusion and representation. Continuous engagement, feedback mechanisms, and ongoing improvements are essential to ensuring sustained progress in achieving disability-inclusive elections.

01/05/2024

If men were God, they would have acted like scientists whose creations have loopholes; even the world will be a boring place to live by now.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Power Authority and threatened to cut away lives like electricity.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Water Corporation and there would be blessing shortage.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Postal Agency and delayed answers to prayers.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Airport Authority and would have restricted many by weather reports.

If men were God, they would have acted like Medical practitioners and would only be able to render help or avoid mistakes based on mood swing.

If men were God, they would have acted like Law practitioners and be bias or sentimental in their judgement.

If men were God, they would have acted like the communication networks and would have been unreachable due to network loss.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Banking sector and accounts will be on red for indiscriminate debits.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Labour force and embark on strike for right and entitlements’ deprivation.

If men were God, they would have acted like politicians, who promise during campaign manifestos and fail in their portfolio.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Force Authority that take people’s choice for granted by bringing them under duress.

If men were God, they would have acted like Apex Bank and out of anger stop rainfall and cease sunshine like cash flow.

If men were God, they would have acted like Tycoons and only be concerned about their gain rather than people’s welfare.

If men were God, they would have acted like citizens that enjoy criticism from morning till night without a positive contribution.

If men were God, they would have acted like the rich and bought or invested anything invaluable including the air in store for unborn children at the detriment of the poor.

If men were God, they would have acted like the Government and imposed taxes on everything from which we derive advantage.

If men were God, they would have acted like Nepotists who are too emotional and alter their agenda in favour of their own.

If men were God, they would have acted like Magicians who would bring to existence only their selfish wish or interest.

If men were God, they would have acted like warriors and dealt with all their enemies.

© Tuyi Ola
If men were God, they would have acted like teachers, to punish students that never appreciates their efforts.

Non-Governmental Organization for Physical Disability