Following the report of The PUNCH Newspaper, the Academic Staff Union of Universities has given a N1.6 million scholarship to Maryam Umar.

Also, the union provided Umar with a laptop, a specialised table and chair, a voice recorder and an additional N130,000 per semester to offset feeding, transport and other academic expenses.

Umar was born armless, but her story became prominent after our correspondent featured her in an article pleading for help with her registration fees after she secured admission into Gombe State University.

President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, lauded PUNCH for bringing the plight of the indigent person with disability to the limelight, noting that after an investigation into Umar’s background, the union settled to assist her.

The Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone, Professor Lawal Abubakar, who was in the company of chairpersons in the zone, while representing the ASUU president, said, “ASUU National got the information and directed the Chairperson ASUU GSU to investigate and confirm the information.

“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.


“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, Chairperson of the GSU branch, Dr Suleiman Jauro, urged PWDs not to give up on themselves, adding that they should draw inspiration from Umar, who refused to give up.

“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.”

Speaking further, Jauro commended PUNCH, explaining that the scholarship includes “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.

“It was The PUNCH Newspaper 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 added.

Source: https://punchng.com/after-punch-report-ASUU-gives-armless-gombe-girl-n1-6m-scholarship/

Laudable

Kudos. Do we have schools for people with special needs? Such Would benefit her the most.

Good