Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the former Governor of Kano State, has expressed concern that the oversight of individuals with disabilities has contributed to a substantial number of beggars across Northern Nigeria. He has consequently called upon state governors, development organizations, and philanthropists to enhance their support for persons with disabilities as a means to reduce the prevalence of begging in the region.
Ganduje, who recently concluded his tenure as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made these remarks in Abuja on Friday during the tenth anniversary celebration of Let’s Talk Humanity (LTH), an organisation dedicated to the educational needs of deaf and blind individuals.
He remarked, “In the northern part of this country, people with disabilities are so much relegated to the background. That’s why we have an array of beggars across the northern part of this country day and night. Some sleep under bridges, some sleep on the road, this is a sorry story but looking at what we saw this afternoon, you can see that there is a silent revolution if what we have seen could be adopted by our executive governors, development partners and by various philanthropists, there’s no doubt there will be a big change in our society.
“Yes, they are neglected because they are physically challenged. This has affected their psyche, motivation and they cannot even think they are human beings like other beings but unveiling this kind of programme we are making them to be like any other human being in our society.”
Also present was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard Doro, who emphasized that assistive devices and technologies should be conceptualized with persons with disabilities integrated from the initial design phase.
Doro highlighted that inclusivity is not an optional add-on but a fundamental design principle. He stated, “We must recognise that for the global community of persons with disabilities, different is often the difference between isolation and independence. For a student with a visual impairment, a screen reader isn’t just a software, it is their sight. For a learner with a motor disability, eye tracking technology isn’t just an address, it is their house. For the neurodivergent with adaptive interfaces are not just features, they are the quiet focus environment they need to thrive.
“Inclusion is not an option, it is not an act at all, it is a design imperative. And I like what one of the contributors said earlier in today, that when we design assistive devices, or when we develop assistive devices or technology in general, this has to be done with people living with disabilities in mind at the design stage, you don’t wait until you do it before you begin to adapt it for people to use, and I believe it is an important point to make,” Doro added.
He further explained the necessity of transitioning towards a future where accessibility is inherent in design, moving away from retrofitting solutions to building universal platforms that serve everyone from the outset, stressing that dignity must remain a primary consideration.
“Technology should empower individuals to navigate the world on their own terms, reducing the friction of daily life and education barriers are deconstructed, and that is very important. Whether it is a lack of captions for the hearing impaired or non navigable websites for those using assistive technology. These are not personal disabilities, they are societal design features that technology has the power to fix.
“Empowerment happens when we stop seeing disability as limitation to the market, and start seeing it as a perspective that drives innovation. When we design for the margins, we end up making better tools for everyone. Let us ensure technology starts as the ultimate equaliser, transforming the landscape of education into a space where every unique ability is recognised as a strength, as we discuss today.”
Ms. Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi, the Founder of the Initiative, shared that a vision initially conceived has materialized into a tangible reality, evidenced by a 500 percent increase in tertiary education enrollment originating from Tundu Maliki Special School in Kano. She indicated that their statements are now backed by concrete evidence rather than mere hope.
She elaborated, “Today is a deeply personal moment for me, because this event, in a lot of ways, feels like I’m introducing a child, one I have kept protected for a very long time, one I have nurtured, guided and believed in, even in moments when the path I had felt uncertain for a long time.
“This vision lived quietly. It grew in conversation, in classrooms and in small but meaningful conversations. It was shaped by the people we met, the stories we heard, and the gaps we could no longer ignore. We have a blueprint, not just an idea, not just passion, but a model that has been tested, refined and proven. We have seen what is possible when intention meets action, and more importantly, we are confident in the scalability of what we have built.”
Ajimobi also revealed that the organization has generated a significant impact over the past decade, including providing training for some of the students and teachers at the institution. She noted that the school now graduates over 1,000 students annually, encompassing primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary levels on a single campus.
“Most importantly, I will say that the greatest level of impact is providing our centre and our model of education as another solution, as another alternative to what we have presently going on, which is the almajiri crisis that is plaguing the northern country, northern side of the country. We believe that our ICT Centre is a great model that has been proven, and it has been tested,” Ajimobi concluded.
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