Rotary donates N1.5m electronic wheelchair to polio survivor

Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, District 9125, yesterday, in Abuja, donated a N1.5 million electronic wheelchair to a 42-year old polio survivor, Festus Aziken.

The beneficiary, who has been crawling for the past 32 years, is a graduate of Federal Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State and works with Bwari General Hospital.

The District Governor, Goddy Nnadi, while making the presentation, said the donation was part of club’s commitment to adding value to lives of the vulnerable in the country.

He said: “Look at this gentleman, for more than 32 years, he has been crawling on the floor because of the impairment on his limbs.

“But with the help of the this club today, he can now use his motorised wheelchair to move around independently.
“Before now, his wife had to support him to do most things. The club selected him and donated the wheel chair worth N1.5 million, as it will bring a turnaround in their lives.
“Rotary for us is giving back what God has given to us. The only difference between us is the opportunity God has given to us, not because we are the best or the richest.”

In his remarks, President, Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Yusuf Alli, observed: “The essence of today’s fellowship is to present the electronic wheelchair to a polio mellitus survivor.
“As a club, we decided to assist him. He has been crawling and challenged in the last 30 years.
“We conducted due diligence and we found him worthy. He is not a beggar on the street, he has a job and all he needed was assistance from us.”

Responding, Aziken appreciated the club for the donation, adding that his prayers had been answered.

Married with three children, he said his wife and children have been his pillars of support for the past years.

The beneficiary added: “I was nine years when all this happened to me and when I was taken to the hospital, it happened to be that I had polio mellitus and I am a survivor today.

“I have met so many persons, who I thought will do this for me, but I could not get it.
“It takes me time to get to some places, but right now, this is like my legs, which I lost so many years ago.
“Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama is like my second god and I want to urge them to keep doing good.”