23/09/2026
From Being Defined by Disability to Defining His Own Future: Aliyu's Story
Meet our Beneficiaries.
Aliyu is 25, from Bakori LGA, Katsina State.
For years, people saw only his disability, not his ability. Opportunities were almost non-existent.
"People thought we had no value except as beggars," Aliyu recalled quietly. "No one asked what I could do, only what I lacked."
Like many persons with disabilities, Aliyu's struggle was not a lack of potential , but a lack of a chance to prove it.
That chance came when he became a part of the STRIVE II Project, funded by the European Union in Nigeria and implemented by Wadata Relief Care Initiative - WRCI in partnership with Hedayah
Through the ongoing programme, Aliyu has received four months of vocational and business skills training, alongside Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to rebuild his confidence and well-being. More than a trade, he is gaining practical knowledge and the belief that he can build a future on his own terms.
When the programme concludes, Aliyu will receive a startup kit to establish his own business centre, offering phone charging and computer services โ a step towards financial independence and becoming an essential service provider in his community.
His journey is a powerful reminder: When we invest in ability, we rewrite the narrative.