Twenty-two-year-old Maryam Umar from Gombe State, who was born without arms, tells CHIMA AZUBUIKE how she has been able to secure admission to a university despite her disability and other challenges
Are you through with secondary school education?
Yes, I’m done with secondary school; what I’m faced with at the moment is the desire to proceed to tertiary institution. In this case, Gombe State University.
When did you complete your secondary education?
I rounded off my secondary education last year, 2022.
How difficult was it attending school?
It was very tedious, but I thank God for the level I have attained so far. I faced the struggle to read, write and pass examinations like normal people do without leaving any room for special consideration. What was most challenging was the need to get basic requirements such as books and other school materials. So, I had to devise ways of cushioning the financial barriers by seeking alms from people around public areas in order to meet my needs at school.
Where are your parents?
My parents are in BCGA here in Gombe State.
How many children do your parents have and what is your position in the family?
They have eight children and I’m the third child in the family.
Among the eight children, how many children are physically challenged in the family?
I’m the only one with this type of disability at home. I was born without arms. The rest of my siblings don’t have any deformity.
Did it make you feel dejected at any point in time?
No, I defied everything that would make me to be sad. However, I chose to see strength, potentiality and blessing in my condition. My family shows me love in the best way possible. For my father, he provides almost everything that I need. The few he couldn’t provide, God usually used people to provide them for me. My siblings show me care, acceptance to the best of their ability. If I must add, I have chosen to rise above what I see, perceive and look beyond them. So, when I get helped, I appreciate it; when I don’t, I do it myself. There is nothing a complete human being does that I can’t do with my legs. No room for feeling dejection; I don’t even allow it to happen.
At what age did you learn to use your legs to write and do other things?
I learnt how to use my toes naturally. It was God that taught me how to use my leg to write. I began to use my leg to write when I was three years old, no one taught me to utilise my toes. I feel it is God that taught me how to make use of my legs. I can use my legs to wash clothes, rub cream, brush my teeth, perform ablution as a Muslim lady and apply make-up to beautify my beautiful self.
Have you heard of Nicholas James Vujicic, an Australian American Christian Evangelist and Motivational speaker? Will you like to be like him?
Someone showed Mr Nicholas James Vujicic to me just once. So, I can say I have seen what he looks like through his videos and how he has been doing exploits despite living with disability. But that’s all I know of him, nothing much. I admire his strength, intelligence, delivery skills and abilities.
What was the medical condition ascribed to your being without arms?
Gaskiya (honestly), as far as I know, there was no known reason that my parents were given for my condition. But as you know, in a usual African setting, many will attach supernatural meaning to it. Some will gossip that someone or something got somebody possessed, but that is for God only to tell. I’m sure science will term it as an abnormality. In the olden days, people born with such disability were treated like outcast, rejected, dumped, but that’s not my case. My family saw it as an act of God, one that is unquestionable.
How do you feel that you are able to do one or two things despite your condition?
I’m very happy. This is because whatever anybody can do with his or her hands, I can do with my legs. My situation is a blessing in disguise; so, I can’t feel shy. This is because I’m a normal human and there is nothing extraordinary about me. I have made myself to realise that I’m not less of myself or anyone. I’m intelligent, neat, God-fearing and dutiful. I usually remind myself of how special I’m, how many people can apply make-up with the toe, pick and make phone call with toe, perform ablution (Islamic cleansing with water before prayers), write legibly on the same 40 leaves and 60 leaves books that people use hands to write on and many more. Sometimes, I know people will be envious of what I do and how I do it but that is not for me to be afraid, as I always see the things I do as the act and power of God.
How well did you pass your examinations?
I had 182 in Joint Admission and Matriculation Board Unified Matriculation Examination and made eight credits in National Examination Council, English and Mathematics inclusive. It was a dream come true to have a score that could qualify me to have a space with other undergraduates.
Now that you have gained admission to Gombe State University, why haven’t you resumed since you gained admission?
I wasn’t able to resume because I couldn’t pay the registration fee. The economic situation of the country is biting really hard. My parents and guardian were unavailable to raise the needed sum for the registration. That was the reason for the many appeals (for fund) that we embarked upon.
Have those who gained admission the same time with you resumed lectures?
I only know that most of them have paid the registration fee; I don’t know if lectures have commenced. However, for them to have registered, they can be called any time soon without some people like us who have yet to accept the provisional admission to Gombe State University.
What course did you apply for?
I applied for Accounting, but I was admitted to study Economics. However, I’m still glad that I have an opportunity to showcase that I’m unlimited.
Are you saying that you will do well regardless of the change in your course of study?
Yes, I am very sure that I will have impressive results. I, Maryam, now have a unique privilege to acquire tertiary education. I can’t take it likely; I’m full of gratitude to God for the rare opportunity to be admitted.
So, why didn’t your parents pay the registration fee?
My father doesn’t have the money.
What does your father do?
My father is a farmer; he does small scale agriculture for a living.
How many wives does your father have?
He has only a wife, which is my mum.
How do you feel that you gained admission but can’t afford your fees?
I feel bad that I gained admission but can’t afford the fees. I wish I will be able to pay before the registration closes, because it will be a waste to gain admission and not use it.
Amongst your older siblings, is there no one that can help you pay your fees?
None of them; this is because the oldest son is a farmer, while the second one is an okada rider and the other ones are my younger siblings.
So how have you been surviving? Who has been taking care of you since your parents don’t have money?
I have been surviving through the help of people; some people see me and give me money, and my parents try their best to give me everything I want as long as they can afford it.
People claim to see you regularly around town. At 22, what type of work do you do?
I go around begging for alms in order to gather some money.
How do you feel that you are going through this instead of being in school?
I seriously don’t feel happy about it, but I feel it helps me reduce some problems because I go out and I see that people don’t stigmatise me. So, I’m able to go around. I use the little money I get from begging for alms to buy little things within my capacity for myself. The ones I can’t do, my parents always help out.
So, if you are to be helped, what kind of help do you need?
I need the type of help that will make me to stand on my own. University is not a small place; it is one of the schools where you spend so much money, especially someone like me with special needs. For instance, I can’t write on a desk because it’s too high for me. I need provision for a special seat. So, if I’m not buoyant enough, I can’t afford them. If I can be given a scholarship or any help that can see me through school, I will be grateful.
What will you want to be in future?
While in primary school, I would say I want to be a banker, but now everything has changed, even with the course I was given, everything is now digital; I now want to be a very successful businesswoman.
Who is your role model in the business world?
I want to be like Aliko Dangote, so I can create employment opportunities for people and also create scholarship opportunities for people with special needs.
Do you think that going to school and earning education will help you and enable you to stop begging?
I will definitely stop begging because I really don’t like begging, but I don’t have a choice at the moment. If I am able to go to school, I will be busy with school activities. When I graduate and God provides me with a good job or a very successful business, I will not have any reason to beg; I will just work hard so that I can be known around the world. I have dreams and being born armless is not going to stop me. I have all the abilities I need in my disability because there is nothing I don’t do by myself. I wash my clothes, pick phone calls, dress myself and even cook with my legs.
At your age, has someone come to ask for your hand in marriage?
We all have different perspectives to life. With the way life is going now, you need to pause to understand. I can’t just wake up now and say I’m going into marriage based on my condition. I don’t have any business or job. I have come to understand that without getting the necessary qualification, you will only be a liability to your spouse. That is not my desire. I won’t want to be a liability to any man.
How many children do you want to have when you get married?
I want to have eight children, just like my parents did. I will love to bequeath them with comprehensive education to make them better and self-reliant in life.
Which means you love children?
Yes, I do. Children are a source of joy. Also, my reason is that when I grow old, I will have people to take care of me.
If you want to call on all influential people in Gombe State and outside, like the governor, senators or even Aliko Dangote like you mentioned earlier, what will you tell them?
First of all, I will call on the Governor of Gombe State; Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; he is a man that helps different people. I know God has made it so; many go to him. He should please help me and other people that have needs. I also wish to appeal to all the big people, business people, if they can help me, they should not hesitate to do so. With what God has given them, they should help me. I am standing with my legs, I feel complete like every other person out there, I saw myself like this, I don’t have any problem.
You are always seen with one man; who is he to you?
He is Mr Abdon Balanga, my guardian. I have known him for almost 10 years now.
Tell us more about Balanga?
I was able to struggle through the support from Nigerians and particularly my guardian, Mr Abdon Balanga, who have been doing his best for me. He made me to sit for my Senior Secondary Examination in 2022. I have nothing to say to Baba order than to appreciate him and pray that God Almighty will help us. Baba wants to see someone that will help and carter for me or most importantly establish me. Baba wants to see me go to school. That is his agenda. I want to thank him for everything he has done for me; even my father hasn’t done what Baba has done for me. Since I was in primary school, Baba has been struggling to see that someone helps me. Baba has been going to television and radio stations to see if someone will help me; he came into my life to help me.
Since your story broke through Sunday PUNCH, and with your account details published, what has happened so far?
The impact has been tremendous. On the day the story was published, the Chairman, Gombe State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr Suleiman Salihu Jauro, called me to tell me that they wanted to help me. They came to my house, met my family members; maybe they wanted to see me face to face and verify my story. After discussing, I was invited to come to the university on Tuesday to meet him. When I got to the school on Tuesday, he said ASUU will pay for my registration process. I am grateful to the union, PUNCH Newspaper and other media houses that have shown interest in my story. May God reward them.
Besides that, I have always been receiving anonymous credit alerts. I’m grateful. Above all, I will be eternally grateful if I can get full sponsorship that will aid schooling that will carter for my writing supports, feeding, transportation so that I won’t go back to the streets in an attempt to fend for myself as a student. Such sponsorship will turn my life around.
