Sports Kid Of The Year 2012 : A True Brother and Sportsman

Check out this inspiring video and see the power of love.

Standing Strong Years After Polio

29 year old Kelechi Uhegwu is from Abia State. The oldest child of 3 kids, Kelechi’s passion for life and her zest has made her story more a miracle than anything else. Diagnosed with polio when she was a little over a year old, Kelechi has had to pull herself through life despite all the difficulties that are associated with disabilities in Nigeria. Besides having a degree from the University of Lagos, Kelechi loves art and she expresses it through make -up.  BN enjoyed chatting with Kelechi and we hope that you enjoy reading her story.

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Kelechi Unveiled
I was born in Agbor in Delta State and then we moved to Lagos and stayed in  Ojota and later, Satellite Town. I had my primary education at Mictec International School in Ojota, Lagos and at Holy Child International School in Satellite town. I had my Secondary School at Navy Town Secondary school in Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos. A little after my 1st birthday, my parents travelled to Lagos, leaving me with my grand mum in Agbor. I fell ill and was admitted into the General Hospital, Agbor in Delta State where the doctors thought I had malaria or measles. I was injected for some days and this led to pains in my legs after which I could stand but was unable to walk and then I could not walk anymore. I had poliomyelitis (paralytic scoliosis).

My Childhood Post-Diagnosis
My parents were informed and only returned to meet their beautiful and first child paralysed. Naturally, they were devastated, but they had to take the next positive step which was to have me treated in Lagos.
Polio limited my ‘movement’ but it didn’t limit ‘the person in me’. I learnt how to walk with leg braces and crutches. I played like every other kid, I had my fair share of being bullied too.

All my life was school, home, church and the hospital. I was over-protected by my parents as a child. I was not allowed to play outside with other kids because they thought I was fragile but for the adventurous person that I am, when my parents go out, I would device a way to get out of the house with my younger brother to play with other kids, even with the knowledge of the punishment that awaited me.

Kelechi with her mom and sister

Constant Hospital Visits
I had a minimum of two visits a week to the hospital and each visit was hell. I mean ‘Physiotherapy’. I was always in the hospital and it was extremely painful.  I had my treatment at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. The experience wasn’t an interesting one, trust me.

Highs and Lows so Far
My highest moment in my growing up years was when I could ask for ‘anything’ from my parents and they didn’t say ‘No’. Everything in the world seemed to be at my beck and call. My lowest moment was on the 8th of March, 2000 when my dad passed on from renal failure. It was the final year of my secondary school and that was when I understood the meaning of the Word – ‘Responsibility’.

A life changing experience was when one of my friends Jane Ogbe wrote a story about me and I was nominated for the ‘Survival Against All Odds Awards, by the Aart of Life Foundation in 2006. It was featured on-air, people voted for me and it was a really exhilarating feeling. I came 1st Runner up eventually. It also helped me become a stronger person because people kept stopping me to say they watched the program and they were inspired by my story. I felt good that I was an inspiration to someone.

University Life
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Lagos in 2008. My entry into the University was a miracle. I had battled with JAMB for two years so I struggled and bought a Diploma form in the University of Lagos, passed the entrance examination and though I did not have the money to pay my school fees. Another challenge was transportation to school from Satellite town to Akoka because Diploma students weren’t given accommodation in school.

Being the very optimistic person that I am, I took the risk of waking up every morning without a dime and then I would get a ride by strangers to half way my journey or directly to school. I met the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academy) of my time to tell him about my challenges. When he met me, he was pleased with my zeal to be educated despite my physical and financial challenges and he gave me an approval to write the exam. I eventually wrote the exam and came out with good grades with which I gained admission by Direct Entry to study a degree course in Zoology and my debt was erased. How I made it through Diploma was amazingly miraculous.

Getting about without Proper Infrastructure for Disabilities
My everyday experience in school got so tough over time as my classes were held at third floor and underground at the Faculty of Science. I couldn’t go for all the classes as my human energy couldn’t carry me. So, I either stayed for all the lectures that would be held at third floor or downstairs throughout a day. I couldn’t shuffle going for classes but ‘I still made it to class’.

My Friends
I have loads of friends who are extremely supportive. I’m someone who’s very vibrant and energetic so I always have positive people around me. I have admirers like every regular girl. Walking with crutches has not influenced my relationship with anyone, people are attracted to my personality and relate with me as a ‘Person’, not as a ‘Challenged Person’.

Ray of Hope in the Horizon
I found a hospital in Nottingham, England where I could undergo corrective surgery. It is an anterior surgical release and posterior stabilisation with rods and screw as well as fusion of the spine with a 2-stage procedure and have an opportunity to walk unaided again. It costs way more than what I can afford as an individual considering my present financial status.

Surround Yourself with Positive People
I write poems, read books, listen to good music, invite friends around. That’s what I do to keep the fire burning. If you have a disability and you live in Nigeria, this is what I’ll say: stay strong, look good, smell good, surround yourself with positive people, dream big, take a Leap and you will achieve your goals!

Culled from BellaNaija.com

Marriage Is A School

Marriage is a school where you get the certificate before you start.

A school where you will never graduate.

A school without a break or a free period.

A school where no one is allowed to drop out.

A school which you will have to attend every day of your life.

A school where there is no sick leave or holidays.

A school founded by God:
1.On the foundation of love.
2.The walls made of trust.
3.The door made of acceptance.
4.The windows made of understanding.
5.The furniture made of blessings.
6.The roof made of faith.

Before you forget, you are just a student not the principal. The Almighty is the principal.

Even at times of a storm, don't be unwise and run outside.

Remember this school is the safest place to be.

Never go to sleep before completing your assignments for the day.

Never forget the C-word, communicate, communicate, communicate with your classmate and with the Principal.

If you find something in your classmate (spouse) that you do not appreciate, remember your classmate is also just a student not a graduate. The Almighty is not finished with him/her yet, so take it as a challenge and work on it together.

Do not forget to study, study, study the Noble Book (the main textbook in this school).

Start each day with a sacred assembly and end it the same way.

Sometimes you will feel like not attending class, yet you have to.

When tempted to quit find the courage and continue.

Some tests and exams may be tough but remember the Principal knows how much you can bear.

Still, it is one of the best schools on earth; joy, peace and happiness accompany each lesson of the day.

Different subjects are offered in this school, yet love is the major subject.

After all the years of being theoretical about it, now you have a chance to practice it.

To be loved is a good thing, but to love is the greatest privilege of them all.

Marriage is a place of love, so love your spouse but remember: "This class doesn't involve a person who is not permitted into it"! If you invite your mother or father or your friends to this class, or anyone who is not allowed to be there, you will fail the exam.

It is you who should attend and it is you who will pass.

Its your choice today: "Build it or Break it"

May the Almighty bless us all. Amen

Its Not Always How It Looks

Two Angels were on a long journey and decided to rest when they got tired. They stopped at a rich man's house to rest, they were given a bad hospitality and sent to the basement to spend their night.
At night, the older Angel repaired the broken walls in the basement, and younger one didn't like it. The next day, they continued their journey, they happened to rest again, but this time it was in a poor man's house who was a farmer, they rested in. But this time, they enjoyed the hospitality and was given a better place to sleep.
At night the farmer's cattle died and the farmer wept bitterly. But this confused the younger Angel as He asked; "Its quite unfair that the man who didn't welcome us properly you repaired the holes in his basement and now you didn't do anything about this man's cattle who treated us well." To this the older Angel answered;
"Its not always how it looks. I sealed the walls in the rich man's basement where he stored his wealth, he can't reach them anymore. But in the farmer's house, the Angel of Death came in the night to wipe the entire family and I diverted it to the cattle." 
...... 
In every bad situation, just believe that God has prevented a worse situation.
....... 
I know, why didn't He prevent it with a good situation, could be your question.
...... 
But my question is, "How would He know the size of our Faith in Him, if we are not tested?"

Hope Your Weekend Was Blissful? Have a lovely week ahead!

The Hardest and Toughest Job In the World

I love you mum! God bless you real good!!!

Here & There

The fact that you are "HERE" (where you are now) is a proof that you will get "THERE" (where you aspire to be). The only difference between "HERE" & "THERE" is the "T" which stands For "TIME".

Just persevere and you'll get THERE...

Love and Marriage

A student asks a teacher, "What is love?"The teacher said, "in order to answer your question, go to the wheat field and choose the biggest wheat and come back.

But the rule is: you can go through them only once and cannot turn back to pick."

The student went to the field, go thru first row, he saw one big wheat, but he wonders....may be there is a bigger one later.

Then he saw another bigger one... But may be there is an even bigger one waiting for him.

Later, when he finished more than half of the wheat field, he start to realize that the wheat is not as big as the previous one he saw, he knows he has missed the biggest one, and he regretted.

So, he ended up went back to the teacher with empty hand.


The teacher told him, "...this is love... You keep looking for a better one, but when later you realize, you have already miss the person...."

*"What is marriage then?" the student asked.


The teacher said, "in order to answer your question, go to the corn field and choose the biggest corn and come back. But the rule is: you can go through them only once and cannot turn back to pick."

The student went to the corn field, this time he is careful not to repeat the previous mistake, when he reach the middle of the field, he has picked one medium corn that he feel satisfied, and came back to the teacher.

The teacher told him, "this time you have brought back a corn.... You looked for the one that is just nice, and you have faith and believe that this is the best one you can get.... This is marriage."

You can never know what will happen in marriage...it takes the grace of GOD to accept someone with all your heart!