"Chimezie, come to the house " that how brief the call was. It was some minutes past 4pm on monday, June 12, a day before IAAD17. I tidied up my things in the library, ate a delicious meal of amala and ewedu with some ẹran wẹ́wẹ́ at one of my favorite amala spots and left for" the house ".45  minutes later I walked into the house and met a delightful gathering of some of the brightest brains I have met. Oge from Ebonyi, Samuel from Anambra, Daniel from Akwa Ibom and Susan from Delta, Onome had flew in from Rivers State too. For more than 4 hours we talked and lit up the home of the Okagbares with our banter and discussions. What did we have in common?

We are all People With Albinism!

It is said that globally, 1 in every 17,000 people have albinism. Sometimes just the eyes are affected. Sometimes there is not pigment and hair and skin are white and pale. Sometimes there is some pigment, but not what is typical for a specific race. There are multiple types of albinism, but many more misconceptions about PWAs. Tuesday 13 June was the International Albinism Awareness Day. A day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in November 2014 to draw more attention to the stigma and discrimination faced by Albinos all over the world especially in Africa. The OAM Foundation co founded by Onome and Akinlo Majaro held a very special event at the Catholic Lay Apostolate Centre in Yaba, Lagos to mark that day.In her opening statement at the event, Onome who is married to Akinlolu said;

Dear future wife,

I know the wait won't be much longer but you should please come quickly. If for nothing so that some people can see that persons living with Albinism do get married, bear children and lead normal lives. I trust that when you come you won't join the bandwagon of those who think that person's with Albinism are abnormal people. You see, for me, the question isn't what can I do, but what can't I do especially to make you happy and comfortable.

My love, on 13 June, 2017 we celebrated the International Albinism Awareness Day as approved by the United Nations General Assembly in November 2014 which started in 2015. You know I am Albino and proud to be one because it doesn't mean I am disabled or deformed, it only means I lack melanin which aids pigmentation. 

Ụtọ m! People with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide. Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalisation and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination. Such as the question asked if we do get married. in some case bae, Albinos are hunted like prized gazelles.

Nnem, Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth. In almost all types of albinism, both parents must carry the gene for it to be passed on, even if they do not have albinism themselves. The condition is found in both sexes regardless of ethnicity and in all countries of the world. Albinism results in a lack of pigmentation (melanin) in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light.

Babym, from family and friends you hear of how great a guy I am with a profound regard for family values. Together we will build more geniuses in our world and show that we are #BeyondTheComplexion yes#AlbinismIsBeautiful we are #NotGhosts and of course#AlbinismNotDisability

I cannot wait to start making babies, cleaning and changing diapers, and also, teaching them to grow in the Lord. Please come quickly. And Oh, I can eat well. I love Nkwobi, so be prepared!