Visually Impaired Woman Becomes Journalist
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 01/24/20
Many have the luxury of clear vision. But for Imuetinyan Ugiagbe, being visually impaired isn't a disability. It is a gateway to self-discovery and liberation.
Imuetinyan was born with a poor eye condition called Cataracts. “[Cataracts] is the clouding of the lens in the eyes,” she explained. As she grew up, her mother noticed that when Imuetinyan made eye contact, her eyes never looked directly at someone.
She recalls one day when her father came home with a newspaper, and read an article about Funmilayo Rasome-Kuti—the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car. Imuetinyan was so intrigued by the woman that she picked up the newspaper and attempted to read. As her uncle flipped the pages, she remember only seeing dots. For the first time, at 5 years old, Imuetinyan realized that she couldn’t see well.
At the age of 6 she had her first eye surgery. She was continuously punished in school for not being able to see the blackboard. By the time Imuetinyan turned 8, her mother ran out of ideas to assist her is reaching academic success. She kept failing classes and eventually had to stop going to school.
“My mother is my hero. She respected me and listened. She was there for me emotionally, mentally and physically. When she didn’t have answers, she would pray for me. “ Imuetinyan expressed.
When the power went out, Imuetinyan and her neighbors sat under the moonlight and shared stories. Although she had a blurry vision that hindered her from succeeding in school, her mind was sharp. She was good at story telling.Her heightened senses allowed her to tap into her creative power. When they gathered under the moonlight, she always came up with the most entertaining stories.
At 12 years old, she got her second surgery done and left Nigeria at age 14. Imuetinyan, her motther, and siblings moved to the Bronx in 2002 to reunite with her father. “For me, this was a second chance and I was enrolled in school even though I was still virtually illiterate,” she said.
At 16 years old, teachers were concerned about her vision and recommended seeing a specialist.
“My ninth-grade social studies teacher took a particular interest in me. He took me to an eye specialist in Manhattan and that was where I learned the first surgery had been botched: The surgeon in Nigeria had not placed an artificial lens in my eyes after removing the ones I was born with,” the journalist said.
“I also found out that the vision in my left eye was far worse than the right. I couldn’t see out of it at all. This was devastating news, though it explained so much about my struggle. Strong prescription eyeglasses and a hand-held magnifier were given to me. With great effort, I could now read the small print,” she added.
Her first job after college was at Rite Aid. She couldn’t keep a job because of her poor vision. This left her financially and emotionally unstable. She would pray and beg God for a miracle. One day, Imuetinyan picked up a book called “A return to Love.” The book talked about self-acceptance and a miracle being a shift of mind. That’s when she understood that the miracle she craved lies in shifting her mind to embrace her disability.
She is grateful that her siblings have assisted her over the years, but recognized that she still had the face her reality. She earned her bachelor’s in accounting because society deemed it worthy. But in the process of pleasing everyone, she learned that she could never please them. Deep down she knew that what fulfilled her was storytelling.
Once Imuetinyan accepted her disability, she was able to eliminate all the jobs that were not in alignment with the path she was trying to embark on. She taped into her gift and went for a career in journalism. “It felt like wearing the perfect dress,” she said.
At 27 years old, she decided that she would tell stories for the rest of her life. With the ability to talk to anyone, she set out to interview others with disabilities. She’s since interned at Voice of America, and produced her first television story “What You See.”
Chelsey Cox says, "I first met [Imue] at Georgetown University when we were enrolled in the same graduate-level journalism course. I complimented her on her dress and we became friends afterwards. she is focused, goal-oriented, and innovative in her approach to her career goals."
Although Imuetinyan is visually impaired, she has soul that is alive, and the drive to change the world with kindness. Her story empowers all to never make excuses, and to keep pushing regardless of the challenges that come forth.
Welcome to Imuetinyan’s World
“Kindness is my religion. Kindness is the thread that weaves all of us.”
“A strong woman has the ability to think for herself and doesn’t put that on anyone. Whatever she’s here for, she has the power to do that.”
“My eyes are weak, but my intuition is so strong!”
“Success is going to sleep at night knowing that you’ve done your best.”
“We all have fire in our souls. We can either pour gasoline and make it burn even more and make the fire spread. Or it can be extinguished. Words are powerful. You can use them to uplift others or dis empower them.”
“People shouldn’t settle. Live out what you’re here to do!”
Watch Imuetinyan Interview the Owner of Suya Spot
Connect with Imuetinyan:
Facebook: Imuetinyan Ugiagbe
Instagram: @imueugia
Email: imue.ugia@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTEskoVj7ZFubpgs5VResFw
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.info/blog
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