By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
In Northern Nigeria, being a woman often comes with its own set of societal challenges. Add a disability to that reality, and the barriers multiply.
Women with disabilities in this region face a unique double burden—discrimination as women and exclusion as individuals with physical impairments.
For many, their dreams of dignity, love, and economic independence are clouded by cultural stigmas and systemic neglect.
But even in the face of these obstacles, stories of strength and resilience are emerging—stories that challenge society to rethink its treatment of women living with disabilities.
The Stigma That Starts at Home:
For Maryam Umar, a 30-year-old living in Sokoto, the struggle began in childhood when she was diagnosed with a leg deformity. Instead of receiving understanding, she faced isolation, even within her family.
“People look at me as if I’m cursed. When I was younger, relatives would say my disability was a spiritual punishment. I believed it for a long time,” Umar recounts, her voice tinged with the weight of years spent questioning her worth.
Maryam Abdulhamid, 27, had anticipated a happy marital life. She had prepared her wedding ceremony with her fiancé, Zakari, an artisan. But in 2020, she had an auto crash that claimed her left leg.
“I was on my way to Guasu, North-West Nigeria, to inform some of my relations about my upcoming wedding when an incoming truck had a head-on collision with the vehicle I boarded. I lost my left leg in the process,” she explains.
Abdulhamid said at first, her fiancé was very supportive while on the hospital bed.
“He showed care and was very supportive while I was admitted at the Federal Medical Center, Gusau, until the doctor announced that the surgery done on my damaged leg was unsuccessful,” she said.
The doctor, however, suggested that the leg must be amputated to prevent further damage to the body -which was carried out.
“It was when the leg was amputated that my fiancé took a distance away from our relationship. So, I lost my leg and lost my marriage,” she said in a sober reflection.
This deep-seated belief in spiritual punishment is not uncommon. In Northern Nigeria, misconceptions about disabilities—often rooted in religious or cultural interpretations—continue to marginalize those affected.
For women, the stigma runs deeper, as societal norms often define their value through marriage, motherhood, and domestic roles.
Aisha Umaru knows this firsthand. Her engagement was abruptly canceled after her fiancé’s family discovered her mild spinal deformity.
With sunken eyes betraying deep sorrow, Umaru’s frail figure not only reveals her physical challenges but also her internal anguish after being betrayed by her beloved.
“They had been in a relationship for three years, patiently awaiting marriage, until the unexpected blow,” Sadiya, her sister, said.
“One morning in 2012, he called in a voice barely audible and shattered my dreams. ‘We can’t marry,’ he said, adding ‘My parents won’t allow it,'” Umaru recounted, her voice heavy with emotion. “It was devastating. That was after Covid-19 lockdown.”
Sadiya recalled how the news plunged her sister into illness, leading to a brief hospitalization for treatment, although her symptoms soon returned. Her condition worsened post-discharge.
“She withdrew from everyone, spending entire days alone in her room. It took a mental health professional to diagnose her depression,” said Hauwa’u, Umaru’s mother.
“They said I wouldn’t bear healthy children,” Umaru says. “I started to question my worth. Why does society treat us like we don’t belong?”
The Invisible Crisis: Disability and Mental Health:
Behind the physical and social struggles, there is a mental health crisis brewing. Dr. Danjuma Ishak, a mental health expert, says that societal exclusion and pressure contribute significantly to mental health issues among women with disabilities.
“In a culture where marriage, childbearing, and economic contribution define a woman’s value, women with disabilities face intense social pressure. When they are denied these opportunities, it fuels anxiety, depression, and isolation,” he explains.
The statistics paint a grim picture. According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), women with disabilities experience higher rates of social exclusion, financial insecurity, and depression compared to their able-bodied counterparts.
These challenges are compounded by a lack of access to education, employment, and healthcare.
The Global Trend
Umaru is just one of the estimated more than 18 million people (7% of the populace) who experience some level of difficulty in, at least, one functional domain—seeing, hearing, communication, cognition, walking, or self-care.
Globally, there are over one billion people who experience some form of disability. Just as it is globally, prevalence is greater for women than men, standing at 19 per cent compared with 12 per cent respectively.
Dr Ishak said approximately 350 million people suffer from depression, with 3.9% (around 7 million) in Nigeria. He noted that women are twice as likely to be affected as males.
“In Nigeria, 25 million people have disabilities, and 50% of them experience depression”. Dr Ishak, who works as a psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Sokoto, said.
In 2019, a survey on mental health in Nigeria by the Africa Polling Institute (API) and EpiAFRIC, showed public awareness of mental health was low.
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that women with disabilities are twice as likely to experience depression and other mental health conditions compared to others.
But mental health services in Northern Nigeria remain largely inaccessible, particularly for women from low-income families.
Abdulhamid’s experience is a case in point. She endured years of depression without realizing she could seek help.
“People would say I was just lazy or looking for sympathy. I didn’t even know mental illness was real,” she admits.
Those with mental disabilities are particularly vulnerable, as there is limited understanding, in general, of the broad range of risks to mental health to which women are disproportionately susceptible as a result of gender discrimination, violence, poverty, armed conflict, dislocation and other forms of social deprivation and belief.
Many persons in Northern Nigeria believe that mental health illnesses, including depression, are caused by spiritual afflictions or evil spirits, with some attributing the victims as possessed by Jinns – supernatural beings in Islamic mythology.
Malam Saidu Yusuf, an expert on peoples and culture, said in the Northern part of the country, apart from being possessed, it is a societal belief that some mental health illnesses are punishment from God for past sins or wrongdoing of an individual.
Contrary to his opinion, Fatima Habu, a mother of 3 from Sabaru community, Sokoto, sees depression as resulting from weakness or lack of faith.
Facing The Stigma:
Haulatu, 28, also shared her poignant experiences as a woman living with disability. Born with a physical disability, she faces stigma and rejection from prospective suitors and their families.
“Relatives of potential suitors often view my disability as a burden,” she lamented. “They question my ability to manage household chores or bear children. It’s heartbreaking.”
Haulatu’s condition has led to feelings of rejection, even by those closest to her. In an interview, she described how the absence of a supportive partner triggered her depression.
“I know my life won’t be typical, but I deserve a partner who sees me as more than a liability,” she asserted in tears. “Not fulfilling this wish has left me sleepless and deeply saddened.”
She emphasized the urgent need for inclusion, particularly among the youth and the disabled community.
“We need understanding and acceptance. Disabled individuals should support and uplift each other because we understand each other’s struggles best.”
Tunde Omolehin, a journalist who has extensively reported on issues of disability and inclusion, said women with disability will continue to suffer except there is more public awareness on the ability in disability.
‘In Nigeria, people see disabled persons as not fitting the society’s struggles, but a lot of them are making waves against all odds,” Omolehin noted.
Aishatu Ahmad Buhari, a polio survivor who married an able man, echoed these sentiments, sharing her struggles with societal stigma and misconceptions as a disabled woman seeking companionship.
“Society plays a crucial role in our mental well-being,” she asserted. She recalled a colleague’s hurtful remark about not considering a disabled woman as a partner -a comment that left a lasting impact on her.
But she was able to surmount it; she is now happily married with two children who are now in elementary school.
“It is a matter of understanding between the two partners, and how both can best know your abilities to complement each other,” she explains.
Defying the Odds; The Power of Economic Empowerment:
For some women, resilience has been the answer to stigma. Maimuna Adamu, a 35-year-old who lost her left leg to leprosy 20 years ago, refused to let society define her.
Today, she runs a successful tailoring business and employs two other women.
“When I realised that waiting for society to accept me would take forever, I decided to prove them wrong. I may have a disability, but I am capable,” she declares.
Adamu’s success is an example of how economic empowerment can restore dignity and provide independence.
Initiatives like those run by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) have been crucial in offering vocational training and support to women with disabilities. However, much more remains to be done to reach underserved areas in Northern Nigeria.
Changing Perceptions: Advocacy and Policy:
Experts agree that the path forward must address stigma through education, policy enforcement, and increased access to services.
Dr. Ishak points to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2019 as a key starting point. While the Act was a major milestone, its implementation has been inconsistent.
“We need policies that prioritise women with disabilities—from inclusive education to job opportunities and mental health support,” he says.
Religious leaders are also playing a role in changing perceptions. Imam Ahmad Jega, a cleric in Sokoto, emphasizes that Islam preaches compassion and inclusion.
“Islam teaches compassion and inclusivity. It is not a sin to be disabled, and our communities must stop perpetuating this false belief,” Imam Jega says.
In addition to advocacy, mental health programs must be expanded. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like CBM Global are working to provide free counselling services for individuals with disabilities, but their reach is limited. Scaling these initiatives is critical for women like Abdulhamid and Umaru.
Despite the challenges, Adamu’s story offers a glimmer of hope for disabled women. She defied societal norms by getting married to a local fairly-used clothes dealer, Umaru Ado,who was killed during one of the communal crises that occasionally convulsed Jos, Plateau state, North-Central Nigeria.
She did not give up after the death of her husband as she found love again. This time around, with an able person.
“We wanted to sustain our family with dignity,” Adamu explained proudly.
A Collective Responsibility:
The road to inclusion is not a solitary one. Government institutions, NGOs, community leaders, and society as a whole have a role to play in breaking the barriers holding women with disabilities back.
Ya’u Muhammad, Sokoto state Commissioner for Social and Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized the government’s commitment to creating inclusive environments for people with disabilities.
“Inclusion begins at home and school,” Commissioner Muhammad affirmed. “We are changing the narrative by integrating disabled students into mainstream education, ensuring they are not marginalized.”
The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, an NGO in Sokoto, plays a crucial role in supporting disabled women through programs aimed at promoting mental well-being.
“Our initiatives focus on sensitizing disabled women about mental health through awareness campaigns and engaging activities like sports and skills acquisition,” explained Mr. Jeremiah Ameh, Program Officer at the Leprosy Mission.
“We don’t need your pity—we need opportunities to prove our worth. Disability doesn’t make us any less human,” says Adamu, whose journey symbolizes the resilience of countless women across Northern Nigeria.
Their voices, stories, and struggles remind us of the collective action needed to dismantle stigma and create a more inclusive society.
With targeted interventions, education, and policy enforcement, women with disabilities can lead lives filled with dignity, independence, and hope.
*This article was produced by the Africa Women’s Journalism Project (AWJP) with the support of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) as part of the Bourse Reportage pour les Journalistes Femmes en Afrique Francophone.
