By Ozumi Abdul
For Madina A. Yaro, the dream of a university education at Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education in Kano State nearly ended before it began. Admitted in 2020, her initial joy quickly turned to despair as she was forced to crawl across campus just to register, enduring bruised hands and internal pain.
The physical and emotional toll was so immense that she deferred her admission, uncertain if she would ever return. Similarly, Hafsa Muktar, a determined first-year student born with paralyzed legs, faced the daunting challenge of a kilometer-long journey between the school gate and lecture halls, a distance made impossible by her parents’ inability to afford a wheelchair.
Their stories, however, took a powerful turn, not through institutional overhaul, but through a targeted intervention. The donation of wheelchairs by the Aminu Magashi Garba (AMG) Foundation. This simple act of providing mobility has ignited a quiet but profound transformation, allowing Madina, Hafsa, and other disabled students to access the education they rightfully deserve.
Sa’adatu Rimi University, like many public institutions in Nigeria, was not originally designed with accessibility the disabled in mind. Its sprawling layout meant long distances to navigate between essential campus locations like lecture halls, administrative offices, hostels, libraries, and cafeterias.
While a minor inconvenience for able-bodied students, this presented a nearly insurmountable obstacle for those with mobility impairments due to conditions such as arthritis, polio, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or limb amputations.
Before the AMG Foundation’s intervention, there was no formal support system for students with disabilities, meaning no wheelchairs, no ramps, and no structured transportation, forcing many to crawl on dusty roads and uneven terrain just to attend classes or register.
Madina’s return to the university in 2021, after the AMG Foundation donated five wheelchairs, marked a turning point. With her newfound independence and dignity, she re-enrolled and is now excelling in her second year. “Without that wheelchair, I would not be here today. It gave me a second chance at life,” she affirmed. Hafsa’s dream also materialized when a friend informed her about the AMG Foundation’s wheelchair donations. Today, she moves independently across campus, fully participates in lectures, and serves as a role model.
“I had to crawl from one office to another just to complete my registration,” she recalled. “My hands were bruised, and I suffered internal pain from dragging myself around campus. Without that wheelchair, I would not be here today. It gave me a second chance at life,” she said, smiling.
Through the donation of wheelchairs, the Aminu Magashi Garba (AMG) Foundation has begun to dismantle one of the most persistent barriers to inclusive education: mobility. Before the AMG Foundation’s intervention, there was no formal support system for students with disabilities. There were no wheelchairs available on campus, no ramps, and no structured transportation system for those with mobility needs. Many students relied on crawling, on dusty roads and uneven terrain, just to register for courses or attend lectures.
The wheelchair initiative has not only improved mobility but has also allowed these students to reclaim their agency.
Before the intervention, a simple set of stairs could prevent a student from accessing a lecture. Now, with their wheelchairs parked at the school’s main entrance every morning, students can collect their mobility devices and start their day with confidence.
Students also report that the wheelchairs have reduced their daily transport expenses. With the recent removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria, transportation costs have spiked. In response, some students now ride the wheelchairs all the way home, saving on tricycle (keke napep) fares and further asserting their independence.
Despite the success of the intervention, the current number of wheelchairs, just five is far from sufficient for a population of over 20 physically challenged students. Many still face daily challenges due to the limited number of available mobility aids.
Yet, the impact goes beyond logistics. There’s an emotional and psychological shift happening as well.
“Before the wheelchairs, I felt invisible,” one student said. “Now, I feel like I belong. I can attend group discussions, hang out with friends, and be part of campus life.”
.
Mallam Ishaq Inuwa, the AMG Foundation’s project coordinator, emphasized this point during an interview.
“Our goal was to kick-start the process of inclusion,” he said. “But we’re calling on individuals, philanthropists, and organizations to support us in scaling up. These students deserve more.”
The foundation’s Program Officer, Mallam Suleiman Umar Jalo, added that the initiative aligns with their broader mission to support inclusive education,and the fund the intervention was sourced from within the foundation.
“The wheelchairs are not just equipment, they are tools of empowerment,” he said. “They enable students to move from one lecture hall to another, participate in activities, and complete their education with dignity.”
The donation of a few wheelchairs may seem like a small gesture. But for students with disabilities at Sa’adatu Rimi University, it has opened the door to opportunity, independence, and dignity.
An inclusive educational environment doesn’t just happen by accident. It must be built , intentionally and compassionately. It requires that no student be forced to crawl toward their dreams or be left behind because of circumstances beyond their control.
Inclusion means ensuring that every student can contribute, learn, and grow, without having to change who they are or overcome unfair systemic barriers.
The AMG Foundation has taken the first step. Now it’s time for the larger community, government agencies, corporate bodies, alumni associations, and concerned citizens ,to carry the torch forward.
Because for these students, a wheelchair is not just a device. It’s the beginning of freedom.
Ozumi Abdul is strategic communication expert, a SOJO journalist and fellow of ICIR. He can be reached via abdulozumi83@gmail.com