By Fathiu Jimoh
Every morning, while many Nigerian undergraduates head to lectures thinking about assignments, tests and examinations, some students begin the day confronting a different challenge—simply getting to the classroom.
For students living with disabilities, university education often involves navigating inaccessible buildings, inadequate support systems, financial hardship and social stigma before academic work even begins.
Although many universities promote inclusion and equal access to education, students with disabilities say they remain largely overlooked within Nigeria’s higher education system.
Across campuses, they describe daily struggles that affect not only their mobility but also their academic performance, mental wellbeing and overall university experience.
A daily battle for access
At Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Ayilara Ishaq Opeyemi, a 400-level Computer Science student with a physical disability, says his greatest obstacle is simply moving around campus.
Without a wheelchair and unable to walk long distances comfortably, he often pays for transportation just to attend lectures.
“My greatest challenge is mobility. Sometimes I spend money just to get to class because trekking long distances is difficult for me,” he said.
The challenge becomes more daunting when lectures are scheduled upstairs.
“I usually struggle to climb the stairs because there is no alternative, and I don’t always have someone to help me.”
Hundreds of kilometres away at the University of Abuja, another student, Hafsat Sulaiman, faces similar difficulties.
Living with a physical disability, she says moving between lecture halls is exhausting because many buildings lack ramps and accessible pathways.
“The university admitted me, but accessibility remains a challenge. Sometimes I arrive at lectures already exhausted because of the effort required to reach the venue.”
She explained that her health condition sometimes prevents her from arriving for classes on time despite her determination to keep up academically.
“It’s not easy for me, but I keep trying my best.”
For students like Hafusat, inaccessible infrastructure is not merely an inconvenience—it directly affects attendance, learning and wellbeing.
Denied education before university
For Salihu Abbas, now a medical student at the University of Ilorin, the struggle began long before he entered university.
Growing up, he watched his younger siblings attend school while he remained at home because some family members believed his disability made education pointless.
“All my younger brothers and sisters were going to school while I stayed at home,” he recalled.
His fortunes changed when a relative questioned why he had been denied the same opportunity.
Given the chance, Abbas excelled academically, becoming Head Boy during his secondary school years before eventually gaining admission to study medicine.
His story reflects the experiences of many persons with disabilities in Nigeria, where discrimination often starts within families and communities long before formal education begins.
Learning without accessible materials
For visually impaired students, the challenge extends beyond physical access.
At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Abdulrasheed Lukuman, a 200-level Law student, says accessing lecture materials remains one of his biggest hurdles.
While his classmates can easily read textbooks and lecture notes, he depends on assistive technology, audio materials or classmates willing to help.
“Sometimes getting study materials in accessible formats can be difficult. You have to depend on people for assistance,” he said.
According to him, delays in obtaining accessible materials become even more problematic during examinations and other academic assessments, leaving visually impaired students at a disadvantage.
Despite the numerous obstacles, many students refuse to allow disability define their future.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a Political Science student at Bayero University, Kano, supports himself by making shoes while studying.
Coming from a low-income family, he learnt the trade to finance his education.
“My condition did not stop me from believing in myself. I decided that I must complete my education no matter the challenges.”
His determination mirrors that of many students with disabilities across Nigeria who continue pursuing their education despite limited institutional support.
Experts blame inaccessible environments
Disability rights advocates argue that the biggest obstacle is not disability itself but environments that fail to accommodate diversity.
Professor Halimah Sarkinfada, a disability inclusion advocate in the Department of Medicine at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, says inaccessible infrastructure remains one of the greatest barriers confronting students with disabilities.
“Individuals with physical disabilities often encounter barriers to accessing lecture halls, lecturers’ offices and examination venues because many facilities are not disability-friendly,” she said.
According to her, meaningful inclusion requires more than admission into universities.
She argues that institutions must provide accessible buildings, assistive technologies, specialised learning materials, transportation support and inclusive policies that guarantee equal participation.
Although Nigeria enacted the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, implementation across many tertiary institutions remains inconsistent.
University responds
Responding to concerns raised by students, the Dean of Student Affairs at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Professor Zayyanu Usman, said the institution has taken steps to improve accessibility for students with disabilities.
He said the university considers accessibility whenever new facilities are constructed or existing ones renovated.
According to him, security personnel are stationed at the university’s Prometric Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre to assist students with disabilities during examinations.
He also disclosed that the university is constructing specially designed hostel accommodation to improve accessibility for students with disabilities.
“We are constructing a specially designed facility within one of our hostels to make it easier for students with disabilities to access their rooms comfortably and independently,” he said.
Professor Usman added that students with disabilities are also prioritised whenever scholarships, intervention programmes or welfare opportunities become available.
“We recognise the unique challenges they face and remain committed to promoting their welfare and ensuring they enjoy equal opportunities within the university community.”
As Nigerian universities continue to expand, students with disabilities say access—not admission—remains their greatest challenge.
For them, the barriers are rarely academic but physical, institutional and social.
