Blind banker needs N1.5m to see again

Onyeneke Edward was born like all normal children over 43 years ago. Life was promising for him until he noticed that he didn’t normally see well in the daytime and the case always became tense when night was approaching. At a point in time, he consulted the experts and he was told that he was suffering from night blindness. It is a condition that usually affects the vision of those suffering from it when night is approaching.
Onyeneke said he was able to device a means of conquering it in the night through the aids of flashlight. Flashlight became his companion throughout his primary, secondary and tertiary education.
After his university education, he got his first job with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in February 1999, as a protocol officer in charge of the German U-20 team during that year’s FIFA Under 20 World Cup, tagged: Nigeria ’99.
In June, 1999, he got another job with Standard Trust Bank, as a marketer. He was lucky, as he used to close for the day before nightfall. During his stint with Standard Trust Bank, he also performed well with the aid of the flashlights.
Said he: “When I got my job with Standard Trust Bank, I was posted to the marketing department. I worked there for three years. I was able to survive there because banking job was a daylight job, by 5:00pm if I closed from my office, I would quickly start going home.”
In August 2002, he got another job with the New Nigeria Bank. He also worked with the Trust Bank of Africa, which later merged with other banks to form Sterling Bank. In 2006, he crossed over to Oceanic Bank. It was at the Oceanic Bank that the eyes started deteriorating. He would need to move closer to the computer before he would be able to identify what was on the screen.
Later he went to Eyes Foundation on Isaac Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos. He underwent series of tests, where they confirmed to him that he was suffering from retinitis and he would need N900, 000. In 2009 the situation became very bad. That was when he lost his job. He got another job with a Microfinance Bank, but he could not cope and was retrenched again in 2010. He spent everything to restore his vision to no avail
He said: “In January 2011, my wife just packed the remaining things in the house and left. She said what she packed were her own share of the property. From that time, I couldn’t pay for my house rent anymore. The last time I was in the hospital because of this problem was 2014. The doctor I met then said my problem would require Laser operation and that the only hospital he would recommend is in Kano State. They said the machine that would be used for my problem only exists in two places; Kano and in Lagos here. The machine is called Retina Laser Surgery. They said the problem is with my retina.”
Onyeneke Edward is appealing to kind-hearted Nigerians to help him raise N1.5 million for him to be able to see again.
Edward may be reached on 08033011950.