She is young, full of life and has a right to her dreams. So you will assume., like all young persons, that she could plan for her own version of paradise. She worked hard enough and she had a right to fall in love. We all dreamed that the living happily ever after was a right and an expected entry into your own paradise.
This paradise is however stolen, by bigotry, prejudice, deceit, betrayals of the deepest and most painful….Love.
There is a painful exception to this dream, for no fault of yours, you are physically challenged. It was not from a hereditary malfunctioning of a chromosome or a set of organs, but for the sheer ignorance and stupidity of medical personnel. In my country, challenged persons will tell you this story endlessly. That was why immunisations, vaccines tended to have such impacts in our society.
However, I am not writing about such things today but about the humanity of a society who should also be given a vaccine for the ignorance with which we treat challenged members of the society.
For some of the challenged members, they have rejected the option of being beggars, have chosen to be educated, get a job and try to be a success in their chosen fields. Unfortunately, the members of the society we live in are more handicapped by tradition, ignorance, and sheer paucity of human compassion and understanding.
I have read Stolen Paradise, I am numb from all the unnecessary pain and heartache this young vibrant lady has been subjected to. She had the options, to be dependent on a loving supportive family, but she chose to walk on her own.
Stolen Paradise is a story of the incompetence’s of our society to see beyond a physical challenge and admire a hard-working, strong female mind.
Stolen Paradise is about perseverance, faith, and a creative compassionate soul faced with the bigotry of a prospective mother in law turning down a love affair between her son and a physically challenged writer, poet, presenter, and songstress.
Permit me to introduce, to Centerspread our guest Ms Folajogun Akinlami
1. Please introduce yourself to us
*Am Folajogun Akinlami, a Radio and Television Presenter, CEO Differently Abled Foundation, and Vice President Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association Nigeria.
2. When did you first sense that you were going to face the challenges of being different?
* When I was in Part 1
3. Did you ever discuss your physical disability with your mom or siblings in a personal way in respect to how you might handle romantic relationships?
* No way, am supposed to be studying hard or having boyfriends
4. Why were you attracted to the media?
* My father was an ace broadcaster before he died. He died when I was seven years old and I didn’t get to know him that much. But people who knew him would not stop singing his praise anytime they see us. I guess I just didn’t want the name to die, and I wanted became curious about his profession.
5. You wrote a beautiful song and it became your soundtrack for your first film, share your thoughts
* Ariwo Oja is about not paying attention to people who castigate you or berate you because of your disability. Ignore them and focus on the journey ahead. It’s a romantic song that fully expressed how I felt at the time.
6. Why did you write ‘Stolen Paradise’?
* I wrote Stolen Paradise to unburden myself of some deeply seated pains. I felt if I didn’t push it all out at the time I did. I might sink into depression.
7. What do you hope your new ebook will do for you?
* I hope it helps women like me accept themselves and then stay strong through all the pains their condition may have tossed their ways. I hope it challenges people who ain’t challenged to be less myopic and I hope they draw the strength of not giving up from the pages of “Stolen Paradise”.
8. Who are your role models?
* Oprah Winfrey
* Muniba Mazari
* Mercy Akinlami (Mum)
* Biola Olatunde
9. If you could change anything about you, what will it be and why?
* My initial really low perception of myself, once I saw and accepted me for who I was and what I represent. Things changed!
10. Share a typical day with our readers
* Day is mostly boring, wake up around 5am, pray, get ready for work, leave work around 4pm or 6pm or midnight depending on my shift. I have a few friends, I chat them up before bed and it begins again.
11. What will you like similarly challenged persons to take away from your story?
* The strength to keep pressing on, keep moving forward. Keep being you. Just go ahead no matter the pains and remember “Success is the best revenge ” ignore revenge mission instead invest in yourself. Keep moving ahead.
12, Please share how we may get copies of your ebook
*https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/stolen-paradise-2
13. What has been the response?
It’s been a bit encouraging. We bless God but it sure can do better.
14. How soon can we expect the hard copy?
* As soon as possible
Thank you for chatting with us on Centerspread.
