By Lanre Oloyede
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has celebrated the outstanding academic achievements of two Nigerians with disabilities, Shamsiyyah Umar and Aminu Tijjani Muhammad, describing their accomplishments as powerful evidence that disability should never be equated with inability.
Isa, in a congratulatory message, said the achievements of the two scholars demonstrated the extraordinary capacity of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to excel when given access to education, opportunity and an enabling environment.
At just 27, Umar, a disability rights advocate from Nasarawa State, achieved the remarkable feat of earning a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and PhD. She obtained a BSc in International Studies with a CGPA of 3.99, an MSc in International Affairs and Diplomacy with a CGPA of 4.08, and subsequently completed a PhD in International Relations.
Her journey, however, was marked by significant challenges. Umar acquired her physical disability following a road accident as a child and later lost her mother during her doctoral studies. Rather than allowing adversity to derail her ambitions, she persevered and turned her experiences into a mission of advocacy and inclusion.
Her doctoral research examined UNICEF’s contribution to inclusive education for children with disabilities in Nigeria, while her advocacy work includes the We Are Special Foundation, which promotes opportunities and empowerment for persons with disabilities.
Similarly, Muhammad, a Nigerian scholar with a disability, graduated with First Class honours in Cybersecurity from City University Cambodia and was recognised as the Best Graduating Student in his class. His achievement has been attributed to determination, resilience and commitment to academic excellence.
Isa said the accomplishments of Umar and Muhammad should inspire young Nigerians, particularly PWDs, to pursue their dreams without allowing societal barriers to define their potential.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Presidency were proud of their achievements, noting that their success stories were consistent with the administration’s emphasis on human-capital development and inclusion.
The Tinubu administration has continued to identify education as a major component of its Renewed Hope Agenda. The President has highlighted NELFUND and other education interventions as mechanisms for expanding access to tertiary education, while the Federal Government has continued investments in education infrastructure and skills development.
Isa reaffirmed that the government would continue working to expand opportunities for PWDs and ensure that disability inclusion remains part of Nigeria’s national development agenda.
“The stories of Shamsiyyah Umar and Aminu Tijjani Muhammad remind us that sometimes the greatest barrier is not disability, but an environment that fails to recognise and accommodate ability,” Isa said.
