In a recent interview with PUNCH, this graduate of International Law and Diplomacy, Miss Toyosi Akinrele who stands at a height of 81.3cm narrates how her small stature has been a blessing to her.
At what age did your parents discover that you stopped growing?
I actually don’t know. My dad would tell
better if he was alive, because he measured me all the time and kept
the records. I didn’t stop growing. My growth was not static, it was
just slow. When I started school, I was over two years. But I was
looking small and the headteacher thought I was not ripe for school. She
refused to admit me. But after a while, she reluctantly said I should
write an aptitude test. When I spelt my name and was halfway to
pronouncing my surname, she quickly agreed that I should start and said
even the ones that started before me could neither spell their names nor
write properly.
better if he was alive, because he measured me all the time and kept
the records. I didn’t stop growing. My growth was not static, it was
just slow. When I started school, I was over two years. But I was
looking small and the headteacher thought I was not ripe for school. She
refused to admit me. But after a while, she reluctantly said I should
write an aptitude test. When I spelt my name and was halfway to
pronouncing my surname, she quickly agreed that I should start and said
even the ones that started before me could neither spell their names nor
write properly.
How did your parents feel at that time?
God gave them the grace to accept what
they could not change. I eventually became my dad’s favourite. I was a
brilliant child and we had birthmarks in the same place. We had some
things in common. My brilliance helped my family not to think of my
challenge, rather, they encouraged my ability. I was shown extra love
and I almost became a spoilt brat. The love from both my nuclear and
extended families made other children jealous of me. My family accepts
me the way I am and encourages me. They have been very supportive.
they could not change. I eventually became my dad’s favourite. I was a
brilliant child and we had birthmarks in the same place. We had some
things in common. My brilliance helped my family not to think of my
challenge, rather, they encouraged my ability. I was shown extra love
and I almost became a spoilt brat. The love from both my nuclear and
extended families made other children jealous of me. My family accepts
me the way I am and encourages me. They have been very supportive.
Is there anyone with same challenge in your family?
No. There is none. I am the only one.
Members of my family from both sides, both nuclear and extended, are
either tall or of average heights. It is usually detected during
pregnancy if a child will be small but mine was not detected. Sometimes,
I forget I am small because of the kind of family and friends that
surround me.
Members of my family from both sides, both nuclear and extended, are
either tall or of average heights. It is usually detected during
pregnancy if a child will be small but mine was not detected. Sometimes,
I forget I am small because of the kind of family and friends that
surround me.
It is believed that people with your kind of challenge often have ear infection. Have you experienced such?
No. I have never experienced such. I
know that some people with my kind of challenge have spinal issues, ear
infections, breathing problems or hunch back. But I have none. I am
medically fit. I have never had any sickness that can be attributed to
my challenge.
know that some people with my kind of challenge have spinal issues, ear
infections, breathing problems or hunch back. But I have none. I am
medically fit. I have never had any sickness that can be attributed to
my challenge.
I do not see myself as being challenged.
May be because of my personality, I believe that it is the way one
presents himself that he will be addressed. In Africa, when people have
height challenges, they attribute it to something spiritual. Some see
such persons as gods. They just do not think it is natural. And
medically, it could be genetic, but my parents are tall. I think it is
the way God wants it.
May be because of my personality, I believe that it is the way one
presents himself that he will be addressed. In Africa, when people have
height challenges, they attribute it to something spiritual. Some see
such persons as gods. They just do not think it is natural. And
medically, it could be genetic, but my parents are tall. I think it is
the way God wants it.
Have you ever been embarrassed on the street?
Except on few occasions, the only
embarrassment I can think of is when I walk on the street and someone
suddenly sees me, exclaims and backs off. For me, when I walk on the
road and people look at me, I do not feel it, except when I was growing
up, but as time went on, it stopped bothering me. Sometimes when I go
out, people compliment me, some admire me, some will walk up to me and
say “you look beautiful” and I will say “thank you.” I have received
more compliments than embarrassments.
embarrassment I can think of is when I walk on the street and someone
suddenly sees me, exclaims and backs off. For me, when I walk on the
road and people look at me, I do not feel it, except when I was growing
up, but as time went on, it stopped bothering me. Sometimes when I go
out, people compliment me, some admire me, some will walk up to me and
say “you look beautiful” and I will say “thank you.” I have received
more compliments than embarrassments.
Do you feel bad about your height?
No. I do not feel bad in anyway. I do
not see being small as bad. Actually it has been a blessing in disguise.
If I can come back to this world again, I wouldn’t mind being small. I
think I have enjoyed some privileges most tall people don’t enjoy.
not see being small as bad. Actually it has been a blessing in disguise.
If I can come back to this world again, I wouldn’t mind being small. I
think I have enjoyed some privileges most tall people don’t enjoy.
I had an experience during the 2011
general elections. Youth corps members were being recruited for the
elections as ad hoc staff. I really wanted to do it but I was scared
that I would not be taken. I went with a friend to the office of the
Independent National Electoral Commission to register. When I told my
friend that I had a feeling that my name was cancelled, she doubted it
and said we should go there. We discovered that my name was actually
cancelled and I was angry. My friend was angry too. The INEC officer who
intervened promised that my name would be re-included. But it was not.
That was one of the instances when I felt my self esteem was threatened.
And I felt really bad. Another instance was when I went for a job
interview. I knew I did well in the interview but I was not offered the
job.
general elections. Youth corps members were being recruited for the
elections as ad hoc staff. I really wanted to do it but I was scared
that I would not be taken. I went with a friend to the office of the
Independent National Electoral Commission to register. When I told my
friend that I had a feeling that my name was cancelled, she doubted it
and said we should go there. We discovered that my name was actually
cancelled and I was angry. My friend was angry too. The INEC officer who
intervened promised that my name would be re-included. But it was not.
That was one of the instances when I felt my self esteem was threatened.
And I felt really bad. Another instance was when I went for a job
interview. I knew I did well in the interview but I was not offered the
job.
What has been your motivation?
One thing that motivates me is my
confidence. I can respond to anything and I am able to express myself. I
cannot be intimidated. I am educated too. I believe in God. I believe
in Psalm 139 verse 14 and Jeremiah 29 verse 11 that say “I am fearfully
and wonderfully made ’, ‘Marvelous are thy works and that my soul
knoweth right well.’ There were moments I used to ask ‘God why me?’, but
at a point, I started asking, ‘Why not me?’ If it was not me, would I
have loved it to be my mum or my siblings?
confidence. I can respond to anything and I am able to express myself. I
cannot be intimidated. I am educated too. I believe in God. I believe
in Psalm 139 verse 14 and Jeremiah 29 verse 11 that say “I am fearfully
and wonderfully made ’, ‘Marvelous are thy works and that my soul
knoweth right well.’ There were moments I used to ask ‘God why me?’, but
at a point, I started asking, ‘Why not me?’ If it was not me, would I
have loved it to be my mum or my siblings?
What experiences did you have during your university days and service year?
I was not discriminated against in
school. My height stood me out in school and made me popular. The only
thing was the kind of look I got from new students in school. But they
later got used to seeing me. They would pretend not to be looking at me,
but when I turn to look at them, our eyes would meet. I was friends
with the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, registrar and
lecturers. I had fun and I enjoyed my stay in orientation camp. The camp
commandant gave me more attention. I participated in the drills, I made
a lot of friends and more especially, I re-united with some of my old
friends. My camping was in Iseyin, Ibadan, but I redeployed to Abeokuta.
My place of primary assignment was the Ministry of Women Affairs and
Social Development. I attended seminars, conferences, carried out some
social works, and visited motherless babies’ homes.
school. My height stood me out in school and made me popular. The only
thing was the kind of look I got from new students in school. But they
later got used to seeing me. They would pretend not to be looking at me,
but when I turn to look at them, our eyes would meet. I was friends
with the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, registrar and
lecturers. I had fun and I enjoyed my stay in orientation camp. The camp
commandant gave me more attention. I participated in the drills, I made
a lot of friends and more especially, I re-united with some of my old
friends. My camping was in Iseyin, Ibadan, but I redeployed to Abeokuta.
My place of primary assignment was the Ministry of Women Affairs and
Social Development. I attended seminars, conferences, carried out some
social works, and visited motherless babies’ homes.
How will you encourage short people?
I want to change the way they present
themselves. For example, in movie production, they do not give them the
roles of rich people, except in the cases of ‘Aki and Pawpaw.’ It is
either they make them beggars, clowns or give them other funny roles.
Sometimes, they are on the streets doing funny things, or manufacturers
employ them to promote their products on the streets. When they take up
these funny roles, they are actually encouraging people to laugh at them
the more. The fact that they have physical challenges does not mean
they cannot do better things.
themselves. For example, in movie production, they do not give them the
roles of rich people, except in the cases of ‘Aki and Pawpaw.’ It is
either they make them beggars, clowns or give them other funny roles.
Sometimes, they are on the streets doing funny things, or manufacturers
employ them to promote their products on the streets. When they take up
these funny roles, they are actually encouraging people to laugh at them
the more. The fact that they have physical challenges does not mean
they cannot do better things.
They should not see being small as a
challenge. They should turn it into an ability. They should get
educated, get a job and engage in things that would not make people
think less of them than who they are.
challenge. They should turn it into an ability. They should get
educated, get a job and engage in things that would not make people
think less of them than who they are.
Do you have ‘small’ friends like you?
No. It is not because I do not see them
but I have not had the courage to approach them. I am sure they have an
association. I had an encounter with some of them sometime. One evening,
I was in the car with my brother along Maryland, he was driving past
them while they were selling movies. One of them got closer to the car,
peeped in and saw me. Then he beckoned on the rest of them to come and I
was screaming. My brother said I shouldn’t be scared and wound the
window up. I haven’t had the courage to mingle with them. The only
person I got a bit close to was a small girl in my secondary school.
but I have not had the courage to approach them. I am sure they have an
association. I had an encounter with some of them sometime. One evening,
I was in the car with my brother along Maryland, he was driving past
them while they were selling movies. One of them got closer to the car,
peeped in and saw me. Then he beckoned on the rest of them to come and I
was screaming. My brother said I shouldn’t be scared and wound the
window up. I haven’t had the courage to mingle with them. The only
person I got a bit close to was a small girl in my secondary school.
Are you in a relationship?
Yes, I am in a relationship. I am dating someone but he is not a small person like I am.