I am from Nigeria, where insecurity is a part of daily life. An event of my life changed everything forever. It happened when I was 20, carefree, riding my motorcycle. I was traveling from Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, to a town called Sheria. Along the way, I stopped to look at a motorcycle lying on the ground. Before I could make sense, a man emerged from the bushes, pointing a gun at me. The sound of a gunshot shattered the air before I could react. I survived after multiple surgeries. But I had lost my leg—a harsh testament to the insecurity in my country and perhaps a reminder that I was meant to walk a different path. My name is Adamu Ibrahim and this is my story.
My dream had always been to work in construction and pursue a career in electrical engineering. However, the accident forced me to reconsider my future.
Refusing to let my disability define me, I set small, achievable goals throughout my rehabilitation. While these accomplishments may seem minor to some, for someone like me, living with a disability, they were monumental.
Each success strengthened my determination to embrace life with my new prosthetic leg. Accepting this new reality was not easy, and I struggled to share my story.
I wish someone had told me that vulnerability and authenticity are strengths, not weaknesses. I am grateful to have learned this lesson along the way. Sharing my experiences not only helped my healing but also opened my eyes to a world I had once overlooked—a world built for some but not for everyone, especially not for persons with disabilities.
Feeling a deep need to speak about this challenges, I began searching for my voice as a writer.
In 2024, I began a new chapter as an Online Volunteer through UNV's United Volunteer Platform. I worked with the Global Welfare Association (GLOWA), an organization dedicated to supporting child trafficking survivors affected by conflict in Cameroon. My contributions included rebranding efforts, designing graphics, creating animated content, and developing a training manual for new volunteers.
This experience led me to take a role as an Online Volunteer with SimukaAfrica, serving as a Brand Ambassador, Disability Inclusion Contributor, and Inclusion Writer. During my time with SimukaAfrica, I authored articles such as Breaking Barriers: Disability Inclusion for Young People, SDG 4: Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Writing allowed me to advocate for inclusive youth environments and deepen my understanding of global disability rights.
Alongside my work with SimukaAfrica, I collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya, where I supported the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and AI Skilling Project as an Outreach and Advocacy Online Volunteer. My responsibilities included developing campaign posts, creating and sharing infographics, scheduling daily content, engaging with followers, and promoting campaign hashtags.
I also contributed to enhancing digital engagement for the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub in Africa. Furthermore, I served with UNDP Liberia as an Online Volunteer, working as a graphic designer for an awareness campaign against gender-based violence during 16 Days of Activism. I designed social media cards featuring these messages, which were then shared across platforms to raise awareness among students and society at large. In addition, I supported Zambia’s Ministry of Community Development for International Volunteer Day campaign.
My journey has taught me that adversity spares no one. Persons with disabilities, whether born with them or affected by life’s unpredictable events, should never be stigmatized.
Life is often beyond our control, especially in countries like mine, where security remains uncertain. What happens to one person could easily happen to another. This difficult path has shaped me into the person I am today, teaching me resilience and the importance of collective efforts.
Though the road has been challenging, I know I am fortunate. Compared to so many others, I am alive and for that, I feel a profound responsibility to speak up.
I hold onto the belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this conviction continues to guide my writing.