Hudu Isah Kebbe Thirty-three-year-old Hudu Isah Kebbe is visually impaired but he is not in any way letting his condition stop him from aiming to hit the zenith of academic pursuit.
“I am targeting to be a professor, Insha Allah,” he says with much enthusiasm and belief.
The physically challenged man, who hails from Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, is the first visually impaired indigene of the state to graduate from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University.
Presently the Vice Principal (Administration) of Adisa Raji Special School, Sokoto, he has always been a shining star as he emerged as one of the best students in secondary school, had an excellent result at the College of Education, as well as a Second Class (Upper Division) in English Language from the university.
Born in Kebbe town on February 12, 1987, Isah attended Yakubu Muazu, Model Primary School, Sokoto from 1994 to 2000 and Sultan Bello Secondary School, Sokoto (2000-2002).
He did this while he still had his sight. Though he was not born blind, an unfortunate accident at the age of 11, took his vision.
“I was playing with one of my brothers when a tree fell and hit my eyes. I underwent many treatments here and abroad; unfortunately, it was destined to be like this, and I accepted it,” he said. In 2002, he gained admission into A.A Raji Special School, Sokoto following the visual problem.
He said the visual impairment presented a lot of challenges, but the massive parental support he received enabled him to weather the storm.
“I must appreciate my family because they gave me maximum support to be who I am today,” he said. Kebbe completed secondary education in 2006 in flying colours. He scored six ‘As’ and three ‘Bs’ in the West Africa School Certificate examination and an equally excellent result in the National Examinations Council (NECO) to emerge the best student from a public school.
“I gained admission into the Shehu Shagari College of Education in 2006, where I read English/Social Studies and graduated in 2009. I waited for my result for a year and got admission to read English Language at Usman Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto. I started from 200-Level because of my good results. “I graduated in 2013, and by 2014, the Teachers Service Board, Sokoto employed me and posted me to Adisa Raji Special School as a teacher,” he said.
Five years later, he was promoted to the position of a vice principal in July 2019. Kebbe, whose hobbies include reading, travelling and writing, has presented a lot of papers at various fora. He is in the process of applying for a master’s degree programme.
Kebbe got married three years ago to a woman who is not physically challenged and he is grateful for the journey so far with his better half.
“Before I met my wife, I had opposition from the families of the other women I wanted to marry. On one occasion, I even travelled to Niger State for the marriage issue, but in the end, the family rejected me. I went to Minna, Niger State, not knowing anybody, just because of that girl. But now, Alhamdulillah, I am getting the reward. I have no problem with my wife; she is very loving and caring.”
The visually impaired, who is the first male child of his parents, also said, “If every physically challenged person has a father like mine, he or she could reach any height. He stood against all the odds, and now he is proud of me.”
He stressed the need to ensure that the rights of the physically challenged are adequately protected. He lamented that generally, physically challenged persons are not shown love, which he said goes a long way to dampen their self-confidence.
“We are not given the right to participate, except when we fight for this right. The society should show us love and support, we want to be recognised. And we want to contribute to the development of the nation,” he said.
For Kebbe, nothing gives him greater joy that seeing that his success story is inspiring many parents who have taken a cue and showing more interest in training their physically challenged children.