I became paralysed at 6, says man who went viral over Davido’s N20m grant

Adebisi Michael, the disabled man who went viral after applying for Davido’s grant, has opened up about his condition and life’s struggles.

In March, Davido had announced he was setting aside N20 million for 20 Nigerians with the best business ideas.

In reaction to the singer’s giveaway announcement, many Nigerians had pitched their business plans and shared their hustles with the Afropop star.

Joining the fray, Micheal had shared photos from a football viewing centre he opened. He had said if given the grant, he would use it to grow the business.

In a chat with BBC Pidgin, Michael said he was born like every normal person but became paralysed at the age of six.

The graduate of industrial chemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) said his parents took him to “different hospitals and even herbalists but the situation still remains the same.”

“Most people would be wondering why I am in this kind of condition. It started when I was six years old. My mum told me that one day, I woke up from sleep paralysed,” he said.

“I wasn’t born this way and I did not suffer polio. I was taken to different hospitals and even herbalists but the situation still remains the same.”

Michael said he decided to go into business after he couldn’t get a job after his graduation from the varsity.

The entrepreneur said finding love has been difficult for him due to his condition.

He also said only 10 out of 100 ladies would agree to marry people like him.

“Getting girls that would like people us is always difficult. Some of them (the girls) are only after our money. That is the situation those in my condition find themselves in. But I believe that one day, I will marry,” he added.

Michael thanked his family and Nigerians for supporting him. He added that since his request for Davido’s grant, his life has experienced significant progress.

“People sent me a lot of things that I started asking myself, are we still in Nigeria? I didn’t expect that. It was part of what was donated to me that I used to complete the roofing of this viewing centre,” he said.

It remains to be seen if he was eventually selected for Davido’s N20 million grant.