Rising Begging in Northern Nigeria Sparks Debate Over Neglect of Persons With Disabilities

(Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State. photo by facebook)
Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, expressed concern on Friday about the growing number of beggars in Northern Nigeria, linking the trend to the region's long-standing neglect of people with disabilities.

Ganduje spoke in Abuja at the 10th anniversary documentary screening of Let's Talk Humanity, an organization dedicated to meeting the educational needs of the Deaf and Blind.

The event gathered together disability education professionals, government leaders, staff, alumni, and scholars from Tudun Maliki Special School to commemorate a decade of advocacy and intervention in inclusive learning.

In his goodwill letter, Ganduje bemoaned the North's structural marginalization of people with disabilities, noting that the repercussions can be seen in the growing number of street beggars in major cities.

He stated, "In the north, people with disabilities are relegated to the background." Seeing is believing, without a doubt. That is why there are so many beggars in the northern portions of the country at all hours of the day. Some people sleep beneath bridges, others on the side of the road. This is an unfortunate sight.

"But looking at what we have here this afternoon, you can see that there is a silent revolution unfolding. If what we are seeing could be implemented by our respective governors and agencies, there is no doubt there will be a big positive change in our society.

“Yes, they are relegated because they are physically challenged. This has affected their psyche and motivation. They cannot even think of themselves as human beings like others. However, by unveiling these kinds of programmes, we are teaching them to be like any normal human being in our society.

"Finally, I urge government officials and development partners to work together to make significant progress, particularly among people with disabilities. Although many of these physically challenged people can't stop begging, they can be developed to the point where they become employers of labour."

Ganduje also commended the organization's creator, his daughter, Fatima Ganduje Abiola-Ajumobi, stating her passion to humanitarian work was clear from a young age.

Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, also spoke and praised the project, emphasizing the need of intentionally including people with impairments in technological advancement.

"When developing assistive gadgets or technology in general, we must include people with disabilities. You don't wait until you've completed it before you start adapting it for others to utilize, which I believe is an essential point to make.

"We must move towards a future where accessibility is by design, moving away from retrofitting tools towards building universal platforms, digital must be the priority here, technology should empower individuals to navigate the world on their own terms," the Minister stated.

In her remarks, Abiola-Ajumobi revealed that the agency had empowered over 1,000 individuals over the previous decade, reflecting on its path and impact. 

She stated, "Seeing the faces of alumni, members of staff, and supporters of Tudun Maliki here today takes me back to the very beginning 10 years ago—when you trusted me with something so important: the future of your education, and the possibility of change through technology."

While advocating for deeper collaborations and continued activism, she voiced confidence in the organization's ability to expand its impact in the next years.

"Our projection for the next 10 years is to be able to have a national resource centre for those with sensory impairment to be able to tap into the international resources available in the developed world when it comes to special needs," she said. 

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, characterized the documentary as touching and asked state governments to duplicate similar programs countrywide.

"I found the documentary to be really poignant. This is something I believe the Governors' Forum should address and promote.

"If we had this in every state, our society would be a better place to live." Thank you for your compassion, kindness, and humanity; it is what makes the world go round. "You can count on my support," she said.