Simeon Djagbo hails from Ughelli South
Local Government Area in Delta State. His
story is amazing, a perfect reason that no
young person has any excuse for failing in
life. He was born without fingers and palms.
Rather than allow the physical limitation of
this congenital deformity to seize his
destiny, he reached deep into himself and
understood the true meaning of the biblical
passage that says, ‘I’m fearfully and
wonderfully made.
From a very young age set about
overcoming the seeming obstacle posed by
his not having fingers, in the process,
Djagbo developed ability to do many things
that would even make people with complete
set of fingers green with envy.
His ability to play musical instruments is
simply incredible and leaves you giving
thanks to God. He swims, cooks and writes
with his feet. Now wait for this: he has
bagged a degree in Library and Information
Science and is currently running a Master’s
degree programme.
With determination and great courage,
Djagbo has risen above his deformity and is
enriching his life, buoyed by a strong belief
that God has a reason for letting him be
born without palms and fingers. By the time
Simeon was almost five years old, his
musical talent had become noticeable. As he
now says, his musical talent is “a gift to
showcase God’s wonders and be a blessing
to others who feel hopeless.”
His guitar artistry has endeared him to the
hearts of countless number of people. One
of Simeon’s fans says he is one of the
wonders of the world. Though he started
out as a drummer, it was one incident in his
life that led to his playing the guitar. He
recalls it this way: “My church brought a
man to teach the guitar to others. I was in
the drum section just watching as he was
teaching a lady to play a progression on a
particular song. I watched the way the lady’s
fingers were moving on the strings and I
was capturing it in my head. When she
dropped it, I picked the guitar up and played
it exactly the way she was taught and
everybody was shocked, because I was not
taught how to play it. Although, I was
always sneaking to play the guitar because
some concerned people felt I would injure
myself. I kept at it and became better. I feel
God divinely directed me to the guitar.”
When Simeon was asked whether life has
treated him fairly considering the congenital
‘amputation’ of his palms and fingers, he
wasted no time to say there is a reason God
created him the way he is. Rather, from the
parents, siblings, and relatives who loved
and supported him to the schoolteachers,
classmates, and peers that inspired him, his
gratitude is like the melodic tune from his
guitar.
“My parents never gave up on me and
treated me like a king; they supported me
financially and prayerfully. I wanted to enroll
in a primary school, but the school
administrators rejected me because they felt
I could not write. They also felt that my
physical defect would scare off children
from the school. My parents got information
about a school owned by a white woman,
St. Lukes Nursery and Primary School in
Warri, Delta State. From there I moved to
Sure Success College, Warri for my secondary
education. I later gained admission into
Delta State University, Abraka where I read
Library and Information Science. For the
mandatory National Youths Service Corps
(NYSC) scheme, I served in Okrika Local
Government Area, Rivers State and I am
presently running my Masters programme in
the same University,”
After the national service, he remained in
Port Harcourt to seek employment, a quest
that led him to apply to INTELS, a major IT
service provider to oil and gas companies.
But it was an unsuccessful effort. The
company didn’t employ him because of his
physical condition.
“I submitted my CV to INTELS in Port
Harcourt through a friend who believed in
my ability despite my challenges, but the
Human Resources Manager who had initially
promised to help later said he doubted my
competence because I had no fingers,”
Djagbo says, recalling the pain of that
rejection. But being a person with an
unstoppable spirit, he simply dusted off the
disappointment and continued as if nothing
happened.
For anybody tempted to curl into a corner
and sulk because of a disappointment,
Djagbo has this advice: “I want to say the
greatest challenge that a man can have is a
handicapped mind and not physical
challenges. I believe that God who created
me like this has a reason and a bigger and
better plan that will take me to an expected
end. Any challenge I face is a process to fire
me up to become a better person in this
world. No one is physically disabled except
your mindset is. And I believe that it does
not limit you from being who you are
destined to be in life. Everyone is born with
at least a talent. It is your duty to discover
and make use of it. Like the Bible says in
Proverbs 18:16 ‘A man’s gift maketh room
for him and bringeth him before great men.’
Trust me, no one has any excuse.”
He counsels that faith is critical in the
journey of life, saying, “The fact that Jesus
lives means I can face tomorrow. I wake up
praising Him because He owns my future,
and I know I am a great child of destiny. I
am inspired knowing that I am a friend of
God and that even the angels are envious of
me. God is alive and I see that the future is
so bright for me.
Apart from the fact that many have
confessed that Simeon’s talent has given
them a sense of hope and possibility, he is
determined to pursue his aspirations and
get to the next level. “I hope to become one
of the most sought after gospel bass
guitarists both in Nigeria and abroad. I also
want to be a blessing to people and put
smiles on their faces,” he says with so much
aplomb.
His dexterity in playing the guitar has taken
him to places he never dreamt of and met
different people, including famous artistes.
“I believe the money will come too,” he says
with infectious confidence.


Source: Sunnewsonline.com

1st to comment. Great 4 him. Am bak. Hop it makes fp.

look @ Simeon! haven't seen him in ages
we attended same Church (Church of God mission)

y'all need to see him eating EBA, so interesting