NAPVID – The Giant Behind My Success Story

Living with a disability does not mean the end of one’s dreams. What truly limits persons with disabilities is not the disability itself, but the lack of opportunity.

My journey is proof of this.

In the year 2000, after being promoted to Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3), I suddenly became disabled. The reality of my new condition forced me out of school, and I dropped out. It was a painful, lonely experience. Every morning, I would watch my younger siblings and other children in the neighborhood leave for school or to learn a trade, while I was left behind with nothing to look forward to. I believed my disability had brought an abrupt end to my bright future.

But with time, I realized something deeper: it was not disability that made me a school drop-out; it was lack of opportunity. I knew within myself that if given the same opportunities as others without disabilities, I could succeed just as well—or even better.

I remained out of school for thirteen years (2000 – 2013). Then, in 2013, a life-changing moment came: I was introduced to the Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), a non-governmental organization based in Benin. NAPVID gave me the second chance I thought I had lost forever. They enrolled me back in secondary school, despite my 13-year absence. I started again from JSS 2, and by 2017, I graduated. That same year, I gained admission to the University of Benin to study Law.

In 2023, I proudly graduated with my law degree. I proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, in 2024 and successfully completed my studies in 2025. Today, I stand tall as a lawyer—a dream that once seemed impossible.

NAPVID was there for me every step of the way. They sponsored my education from secondary school through university, and even supported me at the Law School. Beyond academics, they also stepped in at different times to pay my medical bills. For more than twelve years, NAPVID has stood beside me, unwavering in their support.

My story is not just about personal triumph—it is about the power of opportunity. Without NAPVID, my future could have been a shattered dream. Today, I am living proof that when persons with disabilities are given equal access to education and support, they can achieve greatness.

NAPVID is truly the giant behind my success story.

Thank you, NAPVID, for helping me turn my dream into reality.

— I. K. Idahosa, Esq.