Jakusko, Yobe State – May 2025 — In a landmark gesture aimed at promoting mobility, empowerment, and inclusion for girls with disabilities, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called on local government authorities and key stakeholders across Nigeria to mainstream disability inclusion into their governance and development agendas.
The call came during a symbolic distribution of specially designed small tricycles to girls with disabilities in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe State. The initiative, championed by the North East Youth Initiative Forum (NEYIF) and funded by the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), seeks to enhance independent movement, access to education, and social participation for girls with disabilities who often face compounded discrimination and mobility challenges in underserved communities.
Representing Hon. Abba Isa at the event was Haruna Tata, Yobe State Special Assistant on New Media (North East) to the Presidential aide on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities. Tata delivered the message of the Presidency with heartfelt passion, emphasizing the need for inclusive and compassionate governance at the grassroots.
“Local governments are the closest to the people and must be at the forefront of championing policies and programs that uplift persons with disabilities,” Hon. Abba Isa said through his representative. “Today’s intervention is more than just a mobility project—it is a signal that disability inclusion is no longer negotiable, but necessary for national development.”
Supporting Girls With Disabilities: A Step Toward Real Inclusion
The distribution event brought together government officials, community leaders, disability advocates, and beneficiaries in a heartwarming atmosphere of hope and solidarity. Dozens of girls with disabilities smiled with joy and gratitude as they received mobility tricycles that would transform their ability to access schools, health centers, and other public spaces.
“This tricycle will help me go to school every day without depending on my siblings,” said 14-year-old Falmata, one of the beneficiaries. “I feel like I can now chase my dreams just like other girls.”
Hon. Abba Isa commended NEYIF for its forward-thinking approach to humanitarian service. “By focusing on girls with disabilities, NEYIF is not only breaking barriers but also demonstrating what inclusive humanitarian action looks like,” he said.
Yobe’s Governor Leading by Example
The initiative aligns seamlessly with the inclusive vision of Yobe State Governor, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, who less than a month earlier had distributed over 500 tricycles to persons with disabilities across the state’s 17 local government areas. The state-wide intervention, according to Governor Buni, was to support school attendance and improve access to opportunities for PWDs.
Governor Buni’s gesture, like the one in Jakusko, echoes the call of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the inclusion of marginalized groups, especially persons with disabilities, in national development.
Local Government Pledges Continued Support
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of Jakusko Local Government, Alhaji Ali Goni, expressed deep appreciation to Hon. Abba Isa for his commitment to disability inclusion and for recognizing the importance of local representation by appointing Haruna Tata as part of his media team.
“We are proud to be part of this historic effort to uplift girls with disabilities,” the chairman said. “Jakusko Local Government stands ready to support further initiatives aimed at promoting equality, dignity, and opportunity for all our people.”
He pledged continued partnership with federal authorities and civil society organizations to build an inclusive and compassionate local governance structure.
A National Model for Disability-Inclusive Development
The Jakusko intervention is being hailed as a replicable model for inclusive governance, especially at the grassroots. Experts in disability rights advocacy argue that small but targeted interventions like this can significantly change lives when designed with empathy and implemented with accountability.
According to Haruna Tata, “this is only the beginning. Our team under the leadership of Hon. Abba Isa is committed to engaging with local governments nationwide to ensure that disability rights are not just protected on paper, but enforced in practice.”
Disability rights organizations have also welcomed the initiative, calling it a practical demonstration of the growing political will to address the barriers faced by persons with disabilities—especially women and girls—in rural Nigeria.
A Renewed Hope for Inclusive Nigeria
As Nigeria continues its journey toward inclusive governance, the distribution of mobility tricycles in Yobe represents more than a charitable event—it signals a paradigm shift toward equitable access, representation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Hon. Abba Isa’s consistent advocacy, backed by responsive state leadership and active civil society engagement, is breathing new life into the national disability inclusion agenda. If replicated across the country, such initiatives could be the building blocks of a truly inclusive and equitable Nigeria, where no one is left behind.
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