My name is Nafiu Uba Garba, popularly known as Indabawa Uba Nafiu. I am 38 years old and proudly from Indabawa Quarters in the Kano Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria.
I was born with full hearing ability but tragically lost my hearing in 1996 due to complications from meningitis, allegedly caused by a Trovan injection(a vaccine) administered during a drug trial by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. That moment changed my life forever, but it didn’t break me. Instead, it pushed me toward a path of strength, resilience, and self-reliance.
I started school at Kofar Dan’gundi Special Primary School and later moved to Tudun Maliki Special Education School in 1997, where I completed both my primary and secondary education. In 2008. Determined to continue my education despite the challenges, I proceeded to Bayero University Kano (BUK), where I first completed a one-year remedial science programme and subsequently gained admission to study B.Sc. Chemistry. I successfully graduated in 2015, making me the only Deaf student to graduate in that field at the university without any interpreter support. I completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna State from November 2015 to October 2016.
After service, I actively sought employment, attended numerous interviews. Despite earning my degree a decade ago, I have faced continuous challenges in securing stable employment, largely due to societal barriers and discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs). Most recently, I participated in a recruitment process at NAFDAC, including an aptitude test and interview in Abuja. Although I was contacted for follow-up information, the process stalled without further communication. Still, I haven’t given up.
Currently, I am managing with a teaching role at an inclusive private school in Kano, where I continue to serve and support children with diverse learning needs. I’ve also completed a Cisco Networking program at Digital Bridge Institute, sponsored by Sightsavers, and I am awaiting the result.
In addition to my academic and professional pursuits, I’ve served my community with dedication. In 2012, I was the Treasurer of the Kano State Association of the Deaf for two terms and was elected Secretary in 2021 of the same association, with my tenure ending this September 2025. Beyond these roles, I’ve worked with numerous local NGOs, advocacy groups, and disability inclusion programs, lending my voice and experience to push for equal rights and better opportunities for PWDs across Kano State..I have dedicated myself to disability advocacy and community leadership.
Being Deaf has taught me resilience, patience, and perseverance. It has shaped how I see the world, not through limitation, but through opportunity. One of my proudest moments was learning my rights as a person with a disability and realizing the power I hold to demand equality and justice.
My proudest achievement is Graduating with a chemistry degree without interpretation or special assistance, a feat that symbolizes both struggle and victory.
What keeps me going on tough days is the belief that I am not only working for myself, but also paving the way for others. The dream of a more inclusive world is what fuels me.
My greatest passions lie in advocacy, education, and genuinely connecting with people. I love reading, traveling, and being part of conversations that lead to tangible change. What makes me unique is my unwavering patience, work ethic, and ability to keep moving forward even when doors are repeatedly shut in my face. I hope to uplift my community, particularly Deaf individuals and persons with disabilities, through education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion. I dream of a society where PWDs are not only visible but are recognized leaders, innovators, and role models.
If I had access to funding, mentorship, or resources, I would immediately create dedicated programs to support Deaf and disabled youth, helping them access education, vital vocational skills, and small business opportunities. I want to be a living bridge between raw potential and progress for the most vulnerable. To every person with a disability who currently feels unseen or discouraged, I say this: go to school. Get an education. Knowledge is your strongest weapon, it is the absolute backbone of every success.
I am constantly inspired by people who build others up, those who empower others to succeed. That is the kind of leader I strive to be every day. I want the public to understand that being Deaf is not a disease or a curse. It is simply a different way of experiencing the world. We are capable, intelligent, and highly resilient. The real problem is not our disability; it’s the artificial barriers society places before us.
If I could change one thing, it would be to ban all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities. We need equal access, equal opportunity, and equal respect. I urge employers to understand that when persons with disabilities are given equal chances, we can excel and even outperform expectations. What we need is opportunity, not sympathy, because the truth remains: “Deaf can do everything except hear.”
What makes me smile most is empowering others and helping them become entirely self-reliant, that is the true joy of my life. This is why initiatives like the Empowerment Hub and the DADE Initiative matter so deeply. They have the power to transform lives, to lift PWDs off the streets and directly into schools, corporate offices, and leadership roles. This kind of platform can open tightly shut doors, permanently shift public perception, and build a better, genuinely inclusive society.
I was born with full hearing ability but tragically lost my hearing in 1996 due to complications from meningitis, allegedly caused by a Trovan injection(a vaccine) administered during a drug trial by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. That moment changed my life forever, but it didn’t break me. Instead, it pushed me toward a path of strength, resilience, and self-reliance.
I started school at Kofar Dan’gundi Special Primary School and later moved to Tudun Maliki Special Education School in 1997, where I completed both my primary and secondary education. In 2008. Determined to continue my education despite the challenges, I proceeded to Bayero University Kano (BUK), where I first completed a one-year remedial science programme and subsequently gained admission to study B.Sc. Chemistry. I successfully graduated in 2015, making me the only Deaf student to graduate in that field at the university without any interpreter support. I completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna State from November 2015 to October 2016.
After service, I actively sought employment, attended numerous interviews. Despite earning my degree a decade ago, I have faced continuous challenges in securing stable employment, largely due to societal barriers and discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs). Most recently, I participated in a recruitment process at NAFDAC, including an aptitude test and interview in Abuja. Although I was contacted for follow-up information, the process stalled without further communication. Still, I haven’t given up.
Currently, I am managing with a teaching role at an inclusive private school in Kano, where I continue to serve and support children with diverse learning needs. I’ve also completed a Cisco Networking program at Digital Bridge Institute, sponsored by Sightsavers, and I am awaiting the result.
In addition to my academic and professional pursuits, I’ve served my community with dedication. In 2012, I was the Treasurer of the Kano State Association of the Deaf for two terms and was elected Secretary in 2021 of the same association, with my tenure ending this September 2025. Beyond these roles, I’ve worked with numerous local NGOs, advocacy groups, and disability inclusion programs, lending my voice and experience to push for equal rights and better opportunities for PWDs across Kano State..I have dedicated myself to disability advocacy and community leadership.
Being Deaf has taught me resilience, patience, and perseverance. It has shaped how I see the world, not through limitation, but through opportunity. One of my proudest moments was learning my rights as a person with a disability and realizing the power I hold to demand equality and justice.
My proudest achievement is Graduating with a chemistry degree without interpretation or special assistance, a feat that symbolizes both struggle and victory.
What keeps me going on tough days is the belief that I am not only working for myself, but also paving the way for others. The dream of a more inclusive world is what fuels me.
My greatest passions lie in advocacy, education, and genuinely connecting with people. I love reading, traveling, and being part of conversations that lead to tangible change. What makes me unique is my unwavering patience, work ethic, and ability to keep moving forward even when doors are repeatedly shut in my face. I hope to uplift my community, particularly Deaf individuals and persons with disabilities, through education, economic empowerment, and social inclusion. I dream of a society where PWDs are not only visible but are recognized leaders, innovators, and role models.
If I had access to funding, mentorship, or resources, I would immediately create dedicated programs to support Deaf and disabled youth, helping them access education, vital vocational skills, and small business opportunities. I want to be a living bridge between raw potential and progress for the most vulnerable. To every person with a disability who currently feels unseen or discouraged, I say this: go to school. Get an education. Knowledge is your strongest weapon, it is the absolute backbone of every success.
I am constantly inspired by people who build others up, those who empower others to succeed. That is the kind of leader I strive to be every day. I want the public to understand that being Deaf is not a disease or a curse. It is simply a different way of experiencing the world. We are capable, intelligent, and highly resilient. The real problem is not our disability; it’s the artificial barriers society places before us.
If I could change one thing, it would be to ban all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities. We need equal access, equal opportunity, and equal respect. I urge employers to understand that when persons with disabilities are given equal chances, we can excel and even outperform expectations. What we need is opportunity, not sympathy, because the truth remains: “Deaf can do everything except hear.”
What makes me smile most is empowering others and helping them become entirely self-reliant, that is the true joy of my life. This is why initiatives like the Empowerment Hub and the DADE Initiative matter so deeply. They have the power to transform lives, to lift PWDs off the streets and directly into schools, corporate offices, and leadership roles. This kind of platform can open tightly shut doors, permanently shift public perception, and build a better, genuinely inclusive society.