Sometime ago, a young man living with disability, known on Facebook as Baye Mii, who regularly shared his struggles and appealed for assistance online, attracted the attention of the Founder of My People First Foundation, Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade.
As someone who has consistently shown concern and support towards vulnerable people through her foundation, Hajiya Aishat was deeply moved by his situation and the difficult circumstances he presented. Out of genuine compassion, she requested his account details and personally facilitated the support of ₦500,000 to him.
The purpose of the support was not to encourage dependency, but to give him a new beginning and help him move towards a more stable and independent life.
However, weeks later, Baye Mii returned online again seeking food assistance. This became a concern for the foundation’s founder, who believed that a permanent solution was more important than repeated temporary relief.
In line with the vision of My People First Foundation, which focuses on empowerment and sustainable support, Hajiya Aishat offered another opportunity by asking him to submit a genuine business proposal that could be supported with ₦1 million to establish a means of livelihood.
The intention was simple: to help him build a future where he could earn with dignity and reduce his dependence on daily begging.
The foundation believes in teaching people how to create opportunities for themselves, not just providing endless temporary assistance.
Unfortunately, instead of embracing this opportunity, Baye Mii continued with another online appeal for help, leading many people to question why he was not taking advantage of the empowerment opportunity provided to him.
More disappointing was his public statement on 27th June 2026, where he directed words towards his benefactor, saying he did not need her money and asking her to stop encouraging him to move away from begging.
This action has generated disappointment among many who believe that such a gesture from a well-meaning individual deserved appreciation and seriousness.
It is also important to state that this is not the first time Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade has shown support towards persons living with disabilities. It is on record that she has been a friend and supporter of the disability community. Sometimes last year, she provided an electric wheelchair worth about ₦800,000 to a woman living with disability in Ebira land, demonstrating her consistent commitment to improving the lives of people facing physical challenges.
This situation is therefore not about one person alone, but about the importance of changing the mindset around disability support. Assistance should be a bridge towards independence, not a reason to remain permanently dependent.
We are using this opportunity to call on the Ebira community, the people of Kogi State, Nigerians, and international disability organisations to look into this matter, as the actions displayed in this case have raised concerns about whether some members of the disability community truly desire empowerment or have become comfortable with daily begging as a means of survival.
The actions and decisions of one person should not define everyone living with disability, but the message from this situation is clear: empowerment opportunities must be embraced and used to create a better future.
The vision of My People First Foundation remains unchanged to empower people, restore dignity, and create sustainable solutions that allow individuals to stand on their own.
My People First Foundation, changing lives beyond temporary relief.
– Hamza Adeika writes from Okene.
