Twenty-six-year-old Maryam Umar, who was born without both arms has graduated from the Department of Economics, Gombe State University, after the Academic Staff Union of Universities awarded her a N1.68m scholarship following a PUNCH report on her plight.
Maryam, who writes and performs household chores with her toes, had in 2023 appealed to public-spirited Nigerians, government agencies and non-governmental organisations to assist her to complete her registration for admission into Gombe State University.
She had secured admission to study Economics after completing her secondary education in 2022 and scoring 182 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
However, she said financial constraints threatened to prevent her from taking up the opportunity, as her parents could not afford the N81,322.50 required for her registration and school fees at the time.
The PUNCH had published her story after verifying her admission letter and learning of her struggle to raise the funds needed to commence her university education.
Speaking at the time, Maryam said, “My parents reside at BCGA, Gombe. I completed my secondary school in 2022. I scored 182 in the UTME and I already have four credits, including English and Mathematics, in NECO.
“But I don’t have money for registration to study Economics at the Gombe State University. My parents don’t have money and I’m appealing to public-spirited individuals to support me so that I don’t waste this opportunity,” Maryam had stated.
Following the publication, the then Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone of ASUU, Professor Lawal Abubakar, who was accompanied by chairpersons of the union in the zone while representing the ASUU President, said the national leadership directed the Gombe State University branch to verify Umar’s situation.
According to him, the intervention followed the publication of her story in The PUNCH.
“ASUU National got the information and directed the Chairperson ASUU GSU to investigate and confirm the information,” Abubakar said.
“This was after the news was sighted in The PUNCH; information was instantly verified to be true and the ASUU National promised to make Maryam Umar its daughter and shoulder all the responsibilities of her studies,” Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone of ASUU said.
He explained that the scholarship was designed to cover her academic and welfare needs throughout her university education.
The professor further explained, “ASUU National Scholarship covers her feeding, transport and academic allowance, including her yearly registration fees for the period of her studies. We granted a scholarship to her to the tune of N1,680,000, covering the four years period of her studies.”
Also speaking on the intervention, the former Chairperson of the ASUU GSU branch, Dr Suleiman Jauro, urged persons living with disabilities not to give up on their dreams, describing Maryam as an example of determination and resilience.
“I want to encourage people with disabilities to believe in themselves. Believe in what you can do. Maryam, with her disability, believes that what she wants is education and she is doing everything to pursue her dream, and ASUU is doing everything possible to ensure she achieves everything,” Jauro said.
He also commended The PUNCH for bringing Umar’s situation to public attention, noting that the intervention would not have happened without the publication.
He said the scholarship went beyond payment of school fees to providing some of the assistive items Umar required to pursue her studies.
“It was The PUNCH Newspapers publication that caught the attention of the President of ASUU and ours to begin the processes; without seeing that publication, we wouldn’t have known that there exists such a lady that needs assistance. We appreciate your efforts for good journalism,” Jauro recalled.
According to him, the support package included “some of the items she needs for her studies based on her own disability, things like a voice recorder, specialised table and chair, laptop and for every semester until her graduation, the union will be giving her a stipend of N130,000 per semester to cover her feeding and academic expenses.”
Years after the intervention, Maryam has now successfully completed her Economics degree at Gombe State University.
In a post obtained by Arewa PUNCH on Sunday, marking the successful completion of her degree programme, the elated graduate expressed appreciation to her family, friends, ASUU and others who supported her throughout her university journey.
She said, “I’m grateful to those who made this dream a reality. I thank you all from ASUU, to others numerous to mention for standing by me this past years. May your Allah reward you all with paradise.”
Our correspondent reports that Maryam’s journey from a young woman who was worried that poverty could end her university dream to a university graduate has highlighted the impact of journalism, institutional intervention and determination in opening opportunities for persons living with disabilities.