In a heartwarming show of compassion and commitment to inclusive education, Dr. Musa Muhammad Maikaya, Chief Executive Officer of the Maikaya Development Foundation and a 2027 governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended humanitarian support to physically challenged students at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).
The gesture took place during a program organised by the National Association of Special Education Students, NSUK chapter, at the S.B. Mohammed Auditorium, School of Postgraduate Studies, on Friday.
Dr. Maikaya, who served as chairman of the occasion, led the distribution of food items to students with special needs, aimed at cushioning the economic hardship affecting the student community. He was accompanied by prominent figures, including former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Comrade Dogo Shammah, and the Chief Operating Officer of the Maikaya Development Foundation, Comrade Shuaibu Sani.
Speaking on the theme, “Breaking Barriers and Promoting People with Special Needs Inclusion in Higher Institutions,” Maikaya reiterated his foundation’s dedication to equitable education, youth empowerment, and value-driven inclusion across tertiary institutions in the state.
“The theme speaks directly to the heart of our mission at MDF,” he said. “We believe in education that leaves no one behind—not the underserved, not the overlooked, and certainly not people with special needs, whose resilience and creativity deserve recognition.”
He lamented the numerous visible and invisible barriers preventing students with special needs from accessing quality education, calling on government, institutions, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate in ensuring inclusive academic environments.
“Imagine a brilliant student who cannot enter a lecture hall because there’s no ramp, or a visually impaired learner without access to study materials in Braille. These systemic and structural issues must be addressed,” Maikaya noted.
The APC governorship hopeful also highlighted his foundation’s achievements in offering scholarships, renovating schools, introducing digital learning tools, and now expanding support to students with disabilities.
Comrade Shuaibu Sani, Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Student Matters, praised Maikaya’s gesture, noting its alignment with the current administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and educational advancement.
In a paper presentation, Prof. Babudoh and Dr. Akawu Monday from the Psychology Department emphasised the global recognition of persons with disabilities and the urgent need to mainstream their inclusion in all societal affairs.
The event also featured the official presentation of food items by Dr. Maikaya and the conferment of a humanitarian service award on him for his longstanding support to vulnerable groups and commitment to educational development in Nasarawa State.
