Armless student bags Economics degree after N1.68m ASUU scholarship

Twenty-six-year-old Maryam Umar, who was born without arms and writes using her toes, has officially graduated from Gombe State University after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) stepped in to fund her education.

Maryam’s university journey almost ended before it even began. In 2022, she scored 182 in her UTME and secured admission to study Economics. However, she nearly lost the opportunity because her parents could not afford the N81,322 registration fee.

Her situation changed in 2023 when a news  by The PUNCH reported her financial struggles. The national leadership of ASUU saw the story, verified her admission, and awarded her a N1.68 million scholarship to cover her entire four-year degree program.

ASUU provided special assistive tools, including a laptop, a voice recorder, and a customized desk and chair, to ensure she could study comfortably. The union also supported her with a N130,000 allowance every semester for her feeding and daily upkeep.

Dr. Suleiman Jauro, the former ASUU chairman at Gombe State University, praised Maryam’s resilience and used her success to encourage others.

“I want to encourage people with disabilities to believe in themselves…Maryam, with her disability, believes that what she wants is education and she is doing everything to pursue her dream”, Jauro.

Maryam, who celebrated her successful graduation over the weekend, thanked ASUU and everyone who made her academic journey possible.