Abdulrashid Tangaza, who recently graduated from the Sokoto State University, tells ANIMASAHUN SALMAN about his struggles and how he was motivated to pursue his dream despite losing his ability to work at the age of two
You recently graduated from Sokoto State University, despite your disability. What will you say is your strongest motivation?
My name is Abdulrashid Tangaza. I am an indigene of the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. I attended primary and secondary schools in Tangaza town specifically at Al-Lizamiya Primary School and Government Secondary School in Tangaza. I left secondary school in 2014. I was inspired by what I used to see while growing up as a kid in primary school. I used to see people holding their certificates as university graduates. Back then in primary and secondary school days, none of the pupils who had a disability was able to go beyond secondary school.
I happen to be the only one who was determined to get a university education. I took up the challenge when I realised that I was not doing anything at home and I had the opportunity to study beyond secondary school. So I told myself that I would not sit down doing nothing, and know what is ahead of me. I don’t know whether I will be able to use my university degree to secure a job, but I wanted to become a graduate, and that was why I was able to push myself to this level.
What did you study at the university?
I studied Biology.
Were you born with the disability or was it the result of an accident?
Hmm. Based on my interactions with my mother, she said the problem started when I was about two years old. In a nutshell, I have not been using my legs for many years.
Did the disability expose you to discrimination?
Honestly, I did not face any form of discrimination from any of my friends or lecturers. They were all very nice to me, and always happy to see me.
How did you cope as a child among your peers?
Sincerely speaking, it always saddened me that I could not join them during playtime. Just about a few weeks ago, we had a departmental football competition which involved all the departments in the school, I wished I could be on the field with my friends. When my department lost out, I thought that if I could walk, I could have saved the team. There are many other things I felt I could have been part of to show my skill but unfortunately, due to my condition, I could not do anything.
What were some of the challenges you faced while growing up?
One of the challenges I faced was not getting appreciated by some people for who I am. They don’t wish to come in contact with me except it is compulsory or necessary to do so. When I greet some people, they just look at me as if I don’t matter. I experienced that even in university. I remember hearing someone asking his friend while referring to me, what a disabled man was doing at the university. That statement hurt me to the point that I wanted to confront him for insulting me but I changed my mind because they were on a motorcycle while I was in my wheelchair. But I thank God that I did not face that in my department throughout my stay. I give God the glory.
What type of social life do you have?
I don’t have any social life. After attending lectures, the next thing I did was to return to my room, cook my food, and eat after which I had some rest for about an hour or two before going out to study on my own. I do that to get away from distractions and not to let anyone look down on me.
Do you have any plans to get married?
Definitely. What is on my mind now, if God will make it happen, is to get married, but since I can’t do it myself, only God knows what is next. If possible, I wish to get married.
Are you currently in a relationship with a lady you wish to marry?
No, I don’t have anyone now due to a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders while in school. And I don’t want to mix leisure with my education.
Do you also intend to study for a postgraduate degree?
That is the second plan I have in my mind and I believe even if I get married today, it won’t stop me from achieving that dream. If I have the opportunity to study for my master’s degree after marriage, I will use it.
Do you get the right love and support from your parents and other family members?
Yes, my parents gave me total support. They always push me to do my best. However, I lost my father in 2017 while seeking admission to the university. My mother, who is also into petty trading, took over from where my father stopped. I have seven siblings at home. I am the second child of my mother and the first to be educated and become a graduate in my family.
You lamented the discrimination you face at the university. Did it affect your academic performance or discourage you from completing your academic programme?
It never for once crossed my mind to quit. Even if I quit, what would I do at home? What would happen to my dream? What would happen to my future? How would my mother feel? I always tell myself that I must endure the stress and enjoy the moment till I am done so that one day, I will appreciate it. I never thought of quitting.
Did you interact with other students living with disabilities at the university?
Yes, I know someone now who is in the 200 level. I encouraged him not to get distracted and to be focused on what brought him to school. A few days ago, he told me he wanted to go for a few days but I encouraged him not to always go home. I told him to stay and read his books and not to just go home frequently, I told him the breaks were not for him to go home but to read for exams.
What do you think the Sokoto State Government can do to provide support for people with disabilities in the state?
My call to the government is to liaise with the school management in making provision for disabled students, especially in the area of transportation. It may interest you to know that throughout my stay in school, I never made use of the school bus because the drivers kept telling me that there was no space to keep my wheelchair. I am sure you know the distance between the school and the town. I had to use my wheelchair or bicycle from the school to get to town by holding onto a motorcycle which pulled me on the highway. So, the government should please help us by providing a spacious vehicle that can accommodate wheelchairs as against the one in use now. I also want the government to care for disabled people like me on campus and provide job opportunities for us after graduation. If we know we have a job offer on the table, it will encourage us to be more serious with our studies.
