A 31-year old Albino, Ibigbami Damilola , has begged the governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose and well-meaning Nigerians to save her from being killed by cancer of the nose.

Ibigbami, whose fate is now hanging in the balance would need one million naira to undergo surgery , after her parents had expended over four hundred thousand naira to make her stay alive since the ailment began a year ago.

The Economics/Social Studies graduate of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, said the sickness started like a boil a year ago, after which further diagnostic steps revealed that it was nose cancer, which had ruptured the affected area into lobes.

Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Ibigbami disclosed that she had visited more than four hospitals, with each of them failing to heal the wound and make her bounce back to normal life.

“As I am now, I can’t breathe through the nose. The pain is much and threatening my life. I want to appeal to Nigerians to come to my aid. I have to go through surgery and radiotherapy to be able to live a normal life, the cost I can’t afford.”

Her 59-year old father and retiree, Mr Samuel Ibigbami, expressed regret that albino were being treated like outcast in their own country.

Mr Ibigbami added that government and corporate organizations have not been fair to them in terms of employment, welfare and other critical areas that can ease their existence.

“I think the Albinism association must advocate for the establishment of a commission through which they can channel their grievances. They are sidelined, neglected and they have become hopeless in their own country.

“As a retiree, I’m being owed 12 months pension arrears and I can’t afford the cost. My family is now in disarray. To eat is not easy. We are agonized and we beg Nigerians for help”.

The Chairman of the Albinism Association in Ekiti, Comrade Abegunde Muyiwa, accused the federal government of neglecting them, saying it was quite unfortunate that his members were being treated like second class citizens in their own country.

In a letter dated October 13, 2015 and addressed to Fayose by Albinism Association by Com. Abegunde , albinos said Nigeria with over 40% of albinism cases globally ought to place high premium on the well-being of the members.

“We are the most neglected, most stigmatized and most discriminated against among the vulnerable groups. We are not being considered for employment benefits, even among these groups

“The skin cancer treatment was free before, but today it has been scrapped and our members, which fall within the most poverty-stricken are the worst victims of these ailment.

“We are pleading with government to reverse the action and make lives comfortable for us. There so many jobs that could be of help that we cannot do because of the ocular impairment .We can’t be okada riders, neither can we go into tailoring among others. Government must save us from dying in penury”, he stated.

Interested members of the public can send their donations to Zenith bank account number 2080733605 under the name Ibigbami Damilola M.