By Yusuf Yahaya Abubakar Kumo
NB: This article is supported with pictorial evidence and focuses mainly on those who made my 2025 memorable, with a few from 2024 also included. Lengthy but enlightening.
As the year 2025 comes to an end, I return all gratitude to Almighty Allah (SWT)—the Owner of life, destiny, timing, and seasons. Truly, Allah’s plans are always perfect, even when we do not fully understand them.
This year has been one of tests, lessons, resilience, disappointments, hope, and divine intervention from Almighty Allah the most high.
It is also a year that calls for sincere appreciation of the people who stood by me—up and down—believed in me, collected my CV, spoke on my behalf, and ensured that I was included among decision-makers, particularly in the establishment of the Gombe State Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
My profound appreciation goes to His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON (Dan Majen Gombe). At a very critical moment, His Excellency included appointing me as a Member of the Board of the newly established Gombe State Commission for Persons with Disabilities.(See details https://punchng.com/gombe-gov-appoints-deaf-graduate-into-disability-commission/)
I am also grateful that His Excellency ensured the Commission was captured in the 2026 Budget, enabling it to be more empowering, employing to promote the inclusion, yearnings, and aspirations of Persons with Disabilities across the state which it already started, thanks to the knowledge, competency, capacity dedication and determination of the executive chairman Dr Adamu Ishaq and all members of the board, the government ,our partners and sister's agencies for constant support, guidance and encouragement.
I sincerely appreciate my Chairman and leader, Dr. Adamu Ishaq, the Executive Chairman of the Commission. He not only stood by me but also made deliberate efforts toward ensuring that I and many PWDs from Gombe State will secure a permanent and pensionable appointment, which by Allah’s grace will materialize at Allah’s appointed time. Since my graduation, I had worked with different media, people and organizations/agencies all on part-time basis and self-employed sustaining myself through lawful means. Alhamdulillah, Allah has always provided and guided me through.
With the knowledge, talent, and skills Allah blessed me with—acquired at Gombe State University thanks to international politics of Mass communication and through self-learning via my phone—I ventured into online media and citizen journalism. This journey paved the way for me to work with Qualitative Magazine, Inclusive News Network, Katagum Daily Post, Arawa Reporters, among others, before I established my own media platform, Inclusive Reporters. I remain in good relationship with my former media bosses, as we continue to share ideas and common goals.
It was also through self-learning via my phone that I mastered social media creation and management across Facebook, X, Instagram, and other platforms. This led to my appointment as Social Media Manager of the Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation, She further assured me that once she received a federal appointment(as minister)—an assurance she herself received from the President ,His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu 's administration—I would be part of her media team.
Preparations were already ongoing: accommodation was arranged, I early moved to Abuja in October, and we began serious media strategizing across online platforms, television, radio, and newspapers.
Unfortunately, her name was not included in the ministerial reshuffle. While the politics behind it may remain unclear, I firmly believe in destiny, fate, and Allah’s decree. Queen Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho remains one of the greatest philanthropists of our time, with national and international recognition. Through the Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation, she has touched the lives of Persons with Disabilities, orphans, IDPs, prisoners, and other vulnerable groups.(A single search about her foundation on X @QAT Foundation, or Facebook @Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation which I created and managed based on her request before, will make you see her humanitarian activities as they say seeing is believing) Had she been appointed, the PWD community would have benefited immensely—but Allah knows best. May Almighty Allah choose her what is better I pray.
When she was not appointed, I faced mockery and envy from some people suffering from pull-him-down syndrome especially those who envy our closeness or doesn't benefit from her previous phones and cash giveaway in spite of the fact that it's clear not everyone can benefit from any giveaway and she's not able to do it for everyone without being appointed she's only doing her part in supporting the government to support the needy, they didn't know that my closeness to her was divine, built on trust, hard work, sincerity, humility, and consistency. But Allah used His Excellency Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to wipe away that shame and restore my dignity.
The Gombe State Commission for persons with Disabilities Under the leadership of Dr. Adamu Ishaq and the collective efforts of board members, the Commission has already begun meaningful work, including collaborations with local, state, national, and international partners such as the World Bank and Qatar Charity, empowering PWDs—starting with persons with mobility challenges, with more interventions coming for other disability clusters, In Sha Allah. Some PWDs are already receiving grants from the Qatar charity almost every 3 months to empower them
I strongly believe in education and skills acquisition for Persons with Disabilities. I urge my fellow PWDs to focus on acquiring relevant education, vocational skills, and digital competencies needed for self-reliance. Whether with or without support from society or government, these skills will enable us to stand on our own, grow independently, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
With the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and State Commissions, qualified PWDs will increasingly be employed across MDAs. While political appointees may come and go, the commissions will remain forever, continuously touching lives.
I sincerely appreciate Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, Member representing Akko Federal Constituency, for his consistent support to Persons with Disabilities, including the donation of Sallah clothes and ₦1 million cash support, which brought relief and dignity to many PWDs.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the Honourable Minister, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, for the donation of a vehicle to the PWD community, which has significantly improved our mobility. Till today, the vehicle is still in active use for various official and community purposes.
I appreciate SSA Community Engagement (North-West), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai, for always carrying PWDs along—not only from the North-West but across all northern zone—especially through his support group, Northern Youth Professionals for Tinubu. Never there was a time he gets empowerment or anything from the federal government without reaching us to send us the list of those whom we campaigned for PBAT together and thankfully some of us benefited.
I must not forget Hon. Tolu Bankole the APC National Disabled Leader and Chairman Governing Board of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ekiti who has been a supportive of PWDs by empowering them with cash giveaway on every special moments I pray he will do more to secure inclusion of PWDs in the federal governments empowerments employment and appointments
My long-time mentor, SSA Security to His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Aminu Musa (Talban Herwagana), deserves special recognition for his guidance, encouragement, and support from his time as Commissioner for Youth to date. May Allah bless and guide him always.
I also acknowledge Hon. Musa Buba for his courage and persistence in first pushing the Gombe State Disability Rights Bill, even though it did not succeed at that time. I further appreciate the Honourable Member Shuaibu Adamu Haruna who later re-sponsored the Bill, alongside all Honourable Members who supported and ensured its passage. Special thanks go to Rt. Hon. Speaker Abubakar Luggerewo for providing the enabling leadership that saw the Bill passed and transmitted to His Excellency, who fulfilled his promise by signing and assenting to the Bill in the presence of PWDs, including our former JONAPWD leadership, the current Commission Chairman, and other PWDs as witnesses.
MY MEN (AND WOMEN) OF THE YEAR – 2025
His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON (Dan Majen Gombe) – Ubangidan Fita Kunya
Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi( The Hardworking and competent SSG)
All thanks to my sign language interpreters for facilitating communications.
My Chairman, Dr. Adamu Ishaq – Executive Chairman, Gombe State Commission for PWDs
Queen Dr. Halimat Adenike Tejuosho – My Boss and our Mommy(Uwargidar fita kunya)
Rt. Hon. Speaker Abubakar Luggerewo(
Thanks to our very own Kogunan Akko, Alh. Engr Usman Aliyu)
Hon. Usman Bello Kumo – Member, Akko Federal Constituency
Sen. Saidu Ahmed Alkali – Honourable Minister
Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai – SSA Community Engagement (North-West)
Alh. Abubakar Aminu Musa (Talban Herwagana) – SSA Security to H.E
Hon. Musa Buba
SSG & DG Media, Ismaila Uba Missilli (for being my eyes and earpiece in knowing what the government is doing considering my condition as Deaf who can't listen to radio and can't understand most television channels without subtitles or sign language interpreters)
Prof Shehu Muazu , PPS Gombe State (with appreciation to Alajijo Hammadu Shabbal)
Hon. Commissioner for Local Government & Community Development Alh .Abdulkadiri Mohammed Waiziri,(Waizirin Akko) (thanks to Alh. Garba Ubale, Kainuwan Akko)
I will never forget my mentors Ahmed Musa Hussaini, DG Research & Documentation to His Excellency, and Phil Yakubu Sarma, SSA General Duties for their unending encouragement, advice, support and guidance
I also deeply appreciate the prayers and support of family and friends, the Deaf and Disability community etc.
Many Thanks to my beloved wife and companion who has been a constant source of love, encouragement, patience, and emotional support—long before and after marriage. May continue to bless our union and keep us together now and always.
Goodbye 2025, welcome to 2026.
May Allah help and guide us all.
Young people can't achieve their future and the future of their nation without proper incentives, coaching guidance love and care~Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
About the Author:
Yusuf Yahaya kumo is a graduate of political science with Diploma in ICT. He was the pioneer President, Gombe State University Deaf Students Association, Piooner Secretary Akko Association of the Deaf, Zonal Coordinator, Gombe State Join Association of PWDs, Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Northern Youth Professional for Tinubu, Gombe State Coordinator of PWDs, Nigerian Youth Congress, Deputy Leader of Northeast Deaf APC forum Youth Leader, Gombe State Association of the Deaf and part time member of Gombe State Disability Commission, he's also the CO founder and publisher of Inclusive Reporters.
He Writes from Gombe.
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