When others like me beg at bus stops, I walk into the Governor’s Office.
Those are the searing words of Habeeb Soliu Babaoloye, a man who, despite losing his sight as a teenager, refused to lose his vision for a meaningful life. His story is centered around how he defied blindness to find purpose.
Instead of roaming the streets with plates and sticks or sitting in a wheelchair pushed by a chanter who collects alms on his behalf, Habeeb Soliu Babaoloye walks into the Kwara State Governor’s Office with pen in hand, purpose on his shoulders, and a mission burning in his heart.
Habeeb Soliu Babaoloye, a native of Dandakare compound in Okelele, Ilorin, was born into a loving and supportive family . He is the son of Dr. Soliu Akanbi Dandakare and Alhaja Hassanat Imam Soliu. Like any other child, he began life with sight, dreams, and a future full of promise.
But fate struck a devastating blow during his time in Senior Secondary School (SS2) at Banni Community Secondary School, Ilorin. Without warning, Habeeb’s world began to dim. Within just three days, total darkness fell, first on his left eye, then the right. He became completely blind. Just like that, his world changed forever. But instead of surrendering to despair, Habeeb chose to fight.
At the time, Habeeb was living with his parents in Kotonkarfi, a town that was then part of the old Kwara State but now lies in Kogi. At age six, his father’s job transfer brought the family back to Ilorin, where Habeeb enrolled at Okelele Primary School, eventually earning his First School Leaving Certificate.
As his eyesight deteriorated, his family sought urgent medical intervention moving from one hospital to another.
His words, “I was taken to General Hospital Surulere in Taiwo. The illness had affected my whole body. Despite treatment, my eyes remained open, but I couldn’t see a thing.”
After exhausting several options including trips to hospitals in Ilorin, Kaduna, Kaiama, and other centres , hope seemed to fade. It felt like I was disappearing from the world I once knew”.
Then came a turning point, a suggestion that changed everything. Someone recommended the School for the Handicapped, now known as the School for Special Needs in Ilorin. When his father asked if he’d be willing to attend, Habeeb, undeterred by stigma or fear, said yes. Yet from that abyss, he found his light not in what he could see, but in what he could believe.
That decision marked the beginning of his rehabilitation journey. Enrolled in 1997, Habeeb began to rebuild his life with new tools, new skills, and unshaken determination. In 1999, he advanced to the Nigerian Vocational Training Centre for the Blind in Ikeja, Lagos, where he learned vital vocational skills that would help him live independently.
Upon completing his training, he secured a position at the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture, where he began to integrate into public service.
While many in his shoes were pitied, sidelined, or at worse forgotten, Habeeb was driven by a deep determined to compete on equal footing with the able-bodied. He wanted more. And so, he turned to politics. A bold move for anyone, but especially for someone society often underestimated. His political journey, which began as early as 1988, would go on to define his future.
He said, “I joined politics in 1998, but even before then —l, between 1990 and 1993 , I was already following politicians around under the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he recalled.
“In 1998, I became more actively involved through the All Peoples Party (APP), and I remained with the party until 2003, when it was eventually overtaken by the PDP.”
Habeeb said that by 2004, he had begun engaging in conversations about the need for an appointment of a special assistant on Disability at the state level. Though the efforts didn’t immediately yield results, there was a breakthrough years later.
“I was encouraged when I saw governors like Senator Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State appointing special assistants on Disability in 2018. That move gave me renewed hope that change was possible.”
He continued: “In 2018, the APC held a congress, and I was privileged to emerge as one of the state executives . A member of the working committee under Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa..
“In 2019, after our party’s primaries, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq became the governorship candidate. We went into the general election, and by God’s grace, he won and became the executive Governor of Kwara State.”
According to Habeeb, it was during one of the APC forums that he raised the long-standing issue again , the need for a special assistant on Disability.
“I made the case directly and passionately, and the governor accepted the proposal. That was how the appointment was approved,” he said.
In 2021, his long years of advocacy bore fruit when Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, known for his inclusive governance, appointed him as Special assistant on special Needs, a historic moment for the disability community in Kwara State.
“That appointment meant everything. It wasn’t about me alone. It was a recognition of the abilities within disability.”Habeeb recalls
In that role, Habeeb didn’t just sit behind a desk. He pushed for inclusive education policies, accessible infrastructure, and greater political representation for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). His tireless work earned him a reappointment in 2023 proof that his leadership wasn’t symbolic, but impactful.
But perhaps the most touching part of his journey is the gratitude he holds. “I owe everything to my parents. Their love and belief in my education made all the difference.” he stated.
Now, Habeeb uses his voice to remind others of their worth:
“Disability is not inability. Every child, blind or not, deserves to dream. Education is the most powerful equalizer.”
His life is a testament to what’s possible when society invests in potential rather than pity, and when individuals choose perseverance over pain.
Today, as Habeeb steps into political meetings, drafts memos, and speaks at public forums, he does so not just as a public servant, but as a symbol of what Nigeria can become: a country where no one is left behind.
“I encourage everyone , whether living with a disability or not to prioritise quality education, be it Islamic, Western, or vocational. Education is the foundation of true empowerment. My journey proves that with determination and the right support system, anyone can rise above their challenges and make meaningful contributions to society.
“My journey is a beacon of hope. Let it remind the world that greatness doesn’t begin in sight. It begins in vision.” he concluded.
