JAMILU Sa’ad, a 15-year-old physically challenged Primary Four pupil of Demonstration Primary School, Kawo, in Kaduna, says he was brought to Kaduna to beg for alms, but he has abandoned begging to acquire education.
Sa’ad stated this in Kaduna while receiving a donation of a tricycle for the disabled from a non-governmental organisation, Hope for Communities and Children Initiative.
“My parents are all dead, and being a cripple and an orphan, I was brought to Kaduna to beg for alms. But I (admire) seeing children in my area going to school every morning.
“After a while, and against all odds, I decided to abandon begging to acquire education.
“I bought a tricycle with the little amount I raised from begging to ease my movement, but it got spoilt after a while and I could not fix it,” he said.
Sa’ad noted that as a physically challenged person, acquiring education is almost impossible, especially if one’s parents are dead.
“But with courage and resilience, I want to acquire education so that my life could change for the better. And thanks to Hope for Communities and Children Initiative for supporting me in achieving my dreams.
“I will study till I acquire at least a National Diploma. I assure all those who believed in me that I will not let them down,” he added.
He said the director of the NGO saw him crawling to get to school and offered to help him get a tricycle, “and today she has fulfilled her promise. I am so thrilled and grateful,” he said.
The executive director of the NGO, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, explained that the NGO provided the tricycle for Sa’ad to ease his movement to school and enable him socialise with his peers.
“I was deeply touched when I saw him crawling to get to school. I felt duty-bound to assist in my own little way to encourage him and others like him who are passionate to acquire education.
“If he is this zealous without help, he would do better when supported, no matter how little,” she said.
She called for a concerted effort toward educating children with special need, adding that government at all levels and relevant stakeholders must work together to make a headway.
She noted that there are thousands of children like Sa’ad who cannot attend school because they are physically challenged, with no one to help or encourage them.
“Such children often end up in the streets begging for alms instead of going to school.
According to her, children with special needs deserve the same free and appropriate education that all children receive.
Also speaking, the executive chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Malam Nasiru Umar, thanked the NGO for the gesture.
Represented by the Deputy Director School Services in the board, Malam Yahaya Khalid, Umar said that the gesture would help the state achieve inclusive education.