Maryam Umar sits on a chair in class, feet up. This is how she writes and also uses both legs to accomplish domestic tasks. Not to mention her dream of one day becoming a journalist.
Unlike most people, Maryam Umar was born without both arms. Now 20, she revealed how her love for news broadcasting on television strengthened her resolve to dump begging on the streets and relocate to the classroom
She now seeks for help to enable her achieve her goal of furthering her studies. “I’m tired of begging for alms,” she says sadly. “It’s not an occupation I would like to continue for the rest of my life.” Since childhood, begging has been a part of her daily activity, but now that she has grown into a woman, she feels she should instead pursue her dream.
Presently, Umar is in primary four in Jewel Academy located at BCJ in Gombe. In class, while her mates use their hands to write, she uses one of her feet. Interestingly, fellow pupils do not make fun of her and she has never had an issue with school authorities. She explains further that three years ago, “the company that produces Indomie noodles” took her to Lagos where they came to a certain arrangement with her and took responsibility for her education since then. “But now their support is dwindling, that’s why I’m soliciting for support from the general public so my education does not stop. My parents live in a village at Kaltungo local government and lack the resources to support me. At this moment, I live with a good Samaritan in Gombe city while I attend school.”
Before now, when Maryam Umar was still begging, the money she got was able to pay half of her school fees, while someone helped her with the other half. “But I’m tired of begging on the streets, that’s why I’m asking the public for support,” she says and continued: “When I round off primary school, I’ll go to secondary school and even further, so I can achieve my dream of becoming a news broadcaster or perhaps, an accountant, because I admire both.”
Presently, Umar is in primary four in Jewel Academy located at BCJ in Gombe. In class, while her mates use their hands to write, she uses one of her feet. Interestingly, fellow pupils do not make fun of her and she has never had an issue with school authorities. She explains further that three years ago, “the company that produces Indomie noodles” took her to Lagos where they came to a certain arrangement with her and took responsibility for her education since then. “But now their support is dwindling, that’s why I’m soliciting for support from the general public so my education does not stop. My parents live in a village at Kaltungo local government and lack the resources to support me. At this moment, I live with a good Samaritan in Gombe city while I attend school.”
Before now, when Maryam Umar was still begging, the money she got was able to pay half of her school fees, while someone helped her with the other half. “But I’m tired of begging on the streets, that’s why I’m asking the public for support,” she says and continued: “When I round off primary school, I’ll go to secondary school and even further, so I can achieve my dream of becoming a news broadcaster or perhaps, an accountant, because I admire both.”
Despite her challenge, Umar reveals that she washes her own clothes, bathes herself, presses her clothes, cooks and even puts on make-up. “In addition to all these, I sweep the floor with my feet and wash dishes, too. In fact, sometimes when I realise I’m running late for school, I make my morning tea, drink and take off.” She is able to do a lot of amazing things and in her exercise books are sketches, including that of a computer. She has sought for the attention of the state government, encouraged by the fact that the governor’s wife has initiated a program where physically challenged persons in Gombe are being taught skills.
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