Meet Nanasco, the physically challenged who wants to be like Anas.

Despite being physically challenged, 26-year-old Nakoja Bismark has defied all odds to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist.

After sitting at home for 2 years after completing Senior High School in 2018 due to financial difficulty, the ever-determined Bismarck gained admission to pursue a diploma in a journalism course at the Tamale Learning Center of the Institute of Business Management and Journalism.

It was half-past 8 on Friday morning, when I arrived at Bismarck’s hostel at Kanveli Tunayili in Tamale.

By the time the news team arrived, Bismarck had already prepared and was ready for lectures. After exchanging greetings with him, he climbed onto his bicycle which was parked outside and off he left for lectures.

From Bismarck’s hostel to the school is some 15 minutes walk.

We arrived at his school and he got into the lecture hall.

The lecturer was yet to report for his lesson so I took advantage to engage Bismarck.

Nanas, as he is affectionately called by his course mates, hails from Kpassa in the Oti Region.

He told me after completing Senior High School in 2018, he could not further his education due to financial difficulty.

He had to engage in farming for two years to mobilize money to further his education.

While at home farming to gather money, Bismarck developed interest in journalism after watching one of the exposé’s of award-winning investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas on YouTube.

I asked Bismark why of all the professions in this world he decisively chose to be a journalist.

“I chose to do journalism because I believe I can also make an impact just as my mentor Anas Aremeyaw Anas.”

But does he feel intimidated by his friends per his condition?

“I don’t see myself as a disabled person. Even though I move about in a wheel chair, but I can do everything for myself.”

One of Bismarck’s friends, Dakpanaa Cyril, sees Bismarck as a different person with a disability.

He said Bismarck epitomizes the saying; disability is not inability.

Mahama Nuhu, a lecturer at the school told the news team, the school recognizes the difficulties Persons With Disability go through in accessing educational institutions.

He indicated the school has trained over 10 persons with disability which is an indication of its readiness to provide equal opportunity for all.

He shared his experience with Bismarck.

“IBM&J as an institution provides equal opportunity for all manner of persons and Bismarck is one such example.”

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals explicitly include disability and persons with Disabilities 11 times.

Although the word ‘disability’ is not cited directly, it is relevant to ensure the inclusion and development of persons with disabilities.

Like Bismarck, many other persons with disabilities are striving to chase their long-lived ambitions.

Perhaps, Bismarck will need the support of the general public to get himself gadgets including cameras to make his dream of becoming the second Anas Aremeyaw Anas a reality.