Mrs Balogun Deborah Mojisola (nee Oduyebo) is an indigene of Ikorodu and also an educationist and multiple skilled woman who desired to acquire as many skills as possible for the purpose of training other people with disabilities and make them independent. She recently retired as Principal from Community Junior Secondary School, Bayeku in Igbogbo/Bayeiku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) . She is a Doctoral student and recently completed a short course in Catering Services at the Hon.SOB Agunbiade/ Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Skill Acquisition Programme held in Ikorodu. She discussed her family, education, career and dreams with Kunle ADELABU, the Publisher/Reporter-in-Chief, THE IMPACT Newspaper in this exclusive interview. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: Can we meet you ma?
Mrs Balogun: My name is Balogun Deborah Mojisola (nee Oduyebo).
THE IMPACT: Can you please tell us about your background in brief ?
Mr Balogun: I am a daughter of late Pa Ashafa Oduyebo of Itun-meko in Ikorodu and his wife Mrs. Abigail Oduyebo who loved vocational work very much and made me developed interest in it. My father added farming, goat and pig rearing to his teaching profession and this made me interested in rearing of rabbits and goats. I became blind when I was seven years. I think that’s all for my background.
THE IMPACT: Kindly tell us about your academic background?
Mrs Balogun: I moved from Salvation Army Primary School, Ikorodu, to Pacelli School for Blind, Surulere, Lagos. Thereafter, I moved to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, and later to Aberystwyth Mid, Wales, where I trained as a teacher of History and Biblical Studies and English as a second language. I went to University of Lagos, Akoka, for Masters of Education Foundation and later I became a Counselor. I also have Masters in Communication in Learning Disabilities at the University of Ibadan and right now, I’m doing my Doctoral programme in Learning Disabilities.
THE IMPACT: What about your working career ma?
I taught History and English Language at Odogunyan Grammar School and later, English Language and Christian Religious Studies at the Junior and Senior Section of Ipakodo Grammar School. I became a Vice Principal of Community Junior Secondary School, Bayeku, for three years and 10 months and retired in May 2017.
THE IMPACT: Despite your rich academic qualifications, you have just concluded a vocational training in Catering Services in the just concluded Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade’s 4 Weeks Vocational/Skills Training Programme. Can you explain what you intend to do with the skill you have learnt?
Mrs Balogun: One, while teaching, I could not monitor any private business of mine, so, after my retirement, I made up my mind to go into vocational work. I learnt soap making, perfume, etc. Two, I put in for catering at the Agunbiade/WAPA’s program so that I can teach fellow blind women and men as well as blind students and those with learning disabilities who dropped out of school, basic food production and house keeping.
THE IMPACT: Can you share with us what your experience was like during your training at the Agunbiade/WAPA Vocational programme?
Mrs Balogun: Well, it was tedious because I was coming on motorcycle alone and going back on motorcycle which was scaring and frightening. But the environment was peaceful, noise free and clean.We also had knowledgeable instructors and very cordial group mates. It was indeed a rare opportunity provided by Hon. Agunbiade for the people of Ikorodu. Through this training, many will start charting new course of action in their lives.
THE IMPACT: How are you feeling after the training?
Mrs Balogun: I feel like an achiever doing new things and avoiding monopoly. It is an answer to my prayer.
THE IMPACT: What would be your advice to those out there with disabilities and others that are without job or skill?
Mrs Balogun: My advice is that all those who have dropped out of school, the retirees, unemployed, and those looking for ways to augment their income should go to the WAPA office in each of the Local Governments in the division and know the programmes that they are offering. The programmes are dividends of democracy.
THE IMPACT: Lastly ma, what will you say to the government concerning sustenance of skill acquisition programme and to Hon. SOB Agunbiade who usually facilitates the training every year?
Mrs Balogun: I say kudos to the government that cares for its people. When they come back in 2019, I wish this program will be every 6 months or twice in a year to give others more opportunity. I also pray the government increases its efforts on agriculture and transportation. I am proud of the lake rice and BRT initiatives. And to Hon. Agunbiade, he is truly the people’s representative. It is very thoughtful of him to have facilitated this programme for the benefits of hundreds of people in Ikorodu and outside. I wish he could continue his quality representation beyond 2019.
