Gone are the days when Nigerians living with disability were not given opportunities to execute their God-given potential.
Nigeria is beginning to realize that there is ability in disability with the likes of Rita Ofili who is ready to represent Nigeria in Miss Wheelchair World Mexico 2022.
Rita Ofili said that she is out to change the mindset of Nigerians towards persons living with disabilities and those in wheelchairs
Miss Wheelchair World is an International initiative that embraced an inclusive beauty contest of women on the WheelChair from different countries of the world.
It is a platform to change the image and attitude that a person with a disability cannot contest in a Beauty Pageant.
How did you get into the competition?
I got into the competition 2022 through the internet, through Facebook, precisely, was supposed to participate [ 2017 but there were no funds to participate.
For this one, during the corona period we have a virtual competition and we were about seven Nigerians that entered the competition and i happened to win and I emerged the winner to represent Nigeria.
What were the things that made you stand out?
- First of all, its exposure
- confidence
- having the love of your family. Despite my disability, they stood for me. I believe they gave me the best
- Education and
- God himself. All this actually made,e stood out and I applied and I emerged the winner to represent my great country Nigeria.
Now that you have this platform, how do you plan to advocate more about, Rights and Conditions that will make life easier?
Everywhere in Nigeria, there is a representation and I have come to tell Nigerians and Africans that queens reign from the chair.
It’s just a mobility aid that helps us to move from point A to B and me being a representative of my great community of people with disability, is for them to know that we live, we exist, and have come to voice. We are all joining hands to say, yes we live and there’s no limitation.
Speaking for my community, I will speak out and request recognition, equality, respect, accessibility, and inclusion rights in every organization and company. This must be put in place.
Forget the fact that you see them on wheelchairs or challenged, rolling on the floor, etc but in as much as we live, there must be adaptability to aid the people leaving with disability.
What are some of the things you won with the crown?
I got a cash price of 250 dollars. I was also able to put some things together. If we all make it possible I will be able to go to Mexico.
Rita Ofili is a graduate of the University of Lagos, the First Miss Nigeria WheelChair, and presently Nigeria representative for Miss WheelChair World Mexico 2022.
