Nigerian Woman Overcomes Challenges, Bags PhD From UI Despite Being Blind

A woman, Ifeoma Bibiana Okoli, has graduated with a PhD from UI despite her visual impairment thereby setting a record as the first visually-impaired person to get a PhD in UI and the first from her home state, Anambra.

Her story has inspired people on social media as many praised her determination in the face of strong disability. Despite being visually impaired, the woman bagged her doctorate degree from the prestigious University of Ibadan (UI)

Her sister, Nnena Okoli, shared photos of the graduands on Facebook as she gave all the glory to God for Ifeoma’s achievements. In the photos she shared, Ifeoma could be seen in her graduation gown. Nneka said that her sister Ifeoma has proved that being disabled is no excuse to stop one from reaching a personal goal.

Ifeoma who was nurtured at the St Joseph Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, Rivers state had a disease called retinitis pigments to which she battled with failing eyesight for a long and later lost her sight completely in secondary school during her final examinations.

With the required skill she made a resolve that she was going to do the best she could be academically and she succeeded. One would describe her case as a case of someone who defiled the odds and conquered it all.

Many Nigerians have as usual reacted to Ifeoma’s story which indeed is a motivation to many as they took to the comment section to congratulate and acknowledge the great success she has recorded.