Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has empowered a physically challenged medical student, Asmau Abdullahi Sambo, with a state-of-the-art automated wheelchair to enhance her mobility and support her academic pursuits.
Asmau, a medical student who has continued her studies despite physical challenges, was said to have inspired her colleagues through her resilience and determination. Moved by her commitment, fellow students reportedly organized a donation drive that raised ₦600,000 towards the purchase of an automated wheelchair.
The initiative later drew the attention of Professor Pate, who intervened by providing a more advanced automated wheelchair valued at nearly ₦2 million, significantly surpassing the initial target.
The wheelchair was officially presented on behalf of the minister by his Senior Special Assistant, Rabiu Shehu Gamawa, during a brief handover ceremony.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Azare, Dr. Dauda Katagum, alongside other well-wishers who commended the gesture as a strong message of inclusion and support for persons living with disabilities.
The donation, according to the Pate Media Center, reflects the minister’s commitment to social welfare, inclusive healthcare, and the empowerment of young Nigerians pursuing careers in the medical profession.
