In an emotional and inspiring interview shared by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Jacob Udayi Agba, the first visually impaired indigene from Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State to attain professorship, opened up about losing his sight and overcoming incredible odds to reach the pinnacle of his academic career.
Professor Agba, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Cross River State University, revealed that his journey into blindness began barely six months into his primary school education after he contracted measles.
According to him, local remedies at the time involved pouring fresh palm wine into his eyes every morning and evening, a practice that eventually caused the gradual loss of his vision.
“Six months into my primary school, I had measles. They did what they could at the time, pouring fresh palm wine into my face every morning and evening, and I gradually lost my vision,” Agba said.
The sudden loss of sight nearly ended his dreams of an education. At the time, he believed visually impaired persons were limited to traditional occupations like drumming, basket weaving, or petty trading to survive.
“When I lost my vision, I felt the hope of education was gone. In those days, I saw visually impaired persons mostly as drummers. I started dreaming of becoming one, weaving baskets, and maybe selling them to make a living,” he recalled.
Agba’s life took a turn after learning about a young man who, after losing his sight, travelled to Ikeja, Lagos, to train and acquire education and vocational skills at a school for the visually impaired. That man later persuaded missionaries to establish a small school for visually impaired pupils in Agba’s hometown, now known as Saint Joseph Centre. Agba became one of the first seven pupils enrolled, setting the stage for his academic transformation.
After ten years of study and perseverance, Agba gained admission to study Media and Theatre Studies, majoring in Communication. His academic trajectory was remarkable: he became a Senior Lecturer in 2014, an Associate Professor in 2017, and a full Professor in 2020.
Beyond academics, Professor Agba is a devoted family man, a husband and father of six children.
During the interview, Isaiah Etteh, a staff member at the university, urged society to show greater understanding and empathy toward persons living with disabilities, emphasizing that inclusion, support, and compassion are essential for helping them reach their full potential.