HOW I OVERCAME: Halima Shehu Musawa: I Refused To Be Stopped By Spinal Cord Injury

Halima’s life is a testimony to the power of education, not as a slogan, but as a force that can change the direction of a human life.

She sits at her desk as a civil servant in Katsina State, confident and composed, carrying out her duties as any other professional would. Yet, her presence there tells a deeper story, one shaped by determination and grounded in the opportunities that education made possible.

Halima Shehu Musawa, a civil servant in Katsina State, was born in Kano State and hails from Musawa local government area. She has been in a wheelchair for years following a spinal cord injury, an experience that changed her life, but did not define her future.

A graduate of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, Musawa says “Education is basic because you have to be educated to find yourself where you want to be.”

For her, those words are not theoretical; they are lived reality.

Long before she found her place in the civil service, her journey had been marked by challenges.

Living with a spinal cord injury meant her path would never be the same as that of many of her peers. There were physical barriers, social attitudes and structural limitations that could easily have pushed her to the margins.

But education gave her something stronger than those barriers; it gave her direction.

School became more than a place of learning; it became a bridge between limitation and possibility. Through education, Halima gained not only knowledge but also the confidence to see herself beyond her condition. It equipped her with the tools to speak, to engage and ultimately, to work.

“Had I not been educated, I would not find myself here speaking or working in the civil service,” she reflects.

That statement captures the essence of her journey. Education did not just improve her life; it defined it.

With her family’s support, Halima was able to pursue her studies and build a foundation that many others in similar circumstances never get. That foundation opened the door to public service, a space where she now contributes meaningfully while representing a group that is often overlooked.

Yet, even as she sits in that position, Halima remains aware that her story is not the norm.

She speaks about others living with disabilities who were not given the same opportunities. Many, she explains, lack access to education, family support, or even basic care. For them, survival often comes before ambition.

“No one is opportune like me,” she admits. “I went to school, my family is supportive and I was given an education.”

It is this awareness that shapes her perspective on issues like street begging among people with disabilities. Rather than judging, she understands. Some, she explains, cannot even meet their daily needs, let alone afford essential medical supplies. In such circumstances, begging becomes less about choice and more about necessity, a last resort in the absence of opportunity.

Halima’s life stands in contrast to that reality, and she knows exactly why. Education gave her options. It gave her a voice. It gave her dignity.

Today, she is not only working but also advocating, particularly for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, especially spinal cord injury survivors.

Her belief in education extends beyond her personal experience; it forms the core of her vision for a more inclusive society.

She hopes to further her education, preferably abroad, where systems are more accommodating and inclusive. In such environments, she notes, accessibility is not an afterthought but is built into everyday life, from transport systems to buildings and public facilities.

Back home, she believes more needs to be done, but even in that reality, her hope remains unshaken. “I consider the future to be bright,” she says, with conviction.

Halima’s story is not one of extraordinary luck. It is a story of what becomes possible when education meets determination and support. It is a reminder that behind every empowered individual is often a simple but powerful foundation, the chance to learn.

And in Halima’s case, that chance did more than educate her. It lifted her, shaped her and positioned her to become a voice for others still waiting for the same opportunity.