Shaidatu Abubakar, 19, is unlike many of her peers. Born without hands, she has demonstrated that there is ‘ability in disability’.
She paints, draws and designs with her feet. But her dream is to set up her own studio,
With ease, she picked the drawing pen between her toes. From sitting, she stretched her leg to the pad and began to draw. Soon, a pattern emerged. The audience cheered. But she was not done yet. This time, an National Gallery of Art (NGA) staff member, Hadiza Muazu, volunteered to be her model. The artist did not waste time in putting an intricate design on the back of her palm known asHenna in Hausa, which is quite popular with women in the North. The design is akin to Uli in the Southeast.
For those at the Sixth National Visual Art Competition and awards organised by the (NGA at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, that Thursday, the feat was a marvel from a 19-year-old girl born without both hands, who chose to rise above her defects. The attention of the management of NGA was drawn to her special talent during the competition. For this, a Special Award was given her. As the DG, NGA, Abdullahi Muku, put it: “Abubakar has demonstrated that there is ability in disability. If she is encouraged to set up a studio, she can become an employer.”
But for the teenage artist, it has been a life of tenacity, doggedness and never-say-die. A native of Lapai, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Abubakar was born on September 23, 1996 to the family of Ndeji Abubakar. She attended Bani Primary School, Lapai, passing out in 2009. Thereafter, she proceeded to Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Lapai where she obtained her National Examination Council (NECO) Certificate in 2014.
According to Ezekwesili Mgbemene, the NGA Curator in Niger State, who traced her to her 44, Bani Road, Lapai modest home, “though born without hands, Shaidatu is a practising artist, who draws, designs and writes with her feet. She has in no way resigned to her physical challenge as can be seen with many in this part of the world, but she is always busy drawing, designing, browsing on her lpad and making phone calls; giving words of encouragement to other people. Daily, she does Kwinchi henna beauty designs on female clients who patronise her at her home. Her ambition is to own an art studio and to be a renowned artist.”
Shaidatu has a good command of English language and she is a good conversationalist; what she lost in hands, she has more than made up in words and feet.
At the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, promised to use his office to assist the artist.
Observers said what Shaidatu needs are artificial arms. She awaits succour to come to her through well-meaning Nigerians? For now, Shaidatu paints on with her feet.
She paints, draws and designs with her feet. But her dream is to set up her own studio,
With ease, she picked the drawing pen between her toes. From sitting, she stretched her leg to the pad and began to draw. Soon, a pattern emerged. The audience cheered. But she was not done yet. This time, an National Gallery of Art (NGA) staff member, Hadiza Muazu, volunteered to be her model. The artist did not waste time in putting an intricate design on the back of her palm known asHenna in Hausa, which is quite popular with women in the North. The design is akin to Uli in the Southeast.
For those at the Sixth National Visual Art Competition and awards organised by the (NGA at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, that Thursday, the feat was a marvel from a 19-year-old girl born without both hands, who chose to rise above her defects. The attention of the management of NGA was drawn to her special talent during the competition. For this, a Special Award was given her. As the DG, NGA, Abdullahi Muku, put it: “Abubakar has demonstrated that there is ability in disability. If she is encouraged to set up a studio, she can become an employer.”
But for the teenage artist, it has been a life of tenacity, doggedness and never-say-die. A native of Lapai, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Abubakar was born on September 23, 1996 to the family of Ndeji Abubakar. She attended Bani Primary School, Lapai, passing out in 2009. Thereafter, she proceeded to Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Lapai where she obtained her National Examination Council (NECO) Certificate in 2014.
According to Ezekwesili Mgbemene, the NGA Curator in Niger State, who traced her to her 44, Bani Road, Lapai modest home, “though born without hands, Shaidatu is a practising artist, who draws, designs and writes with her feet. She has in no way resigned to her physical challenge as can be seen with many in this part of the world, but she is always busy drawing, designing, browsing on her lpad and making phone calls; giving words of encouragement to other people. Daily, she does Kwinchi henna beauty designs on female clients who patronise her at her home. Her ambition is to own an art studio and to be a renowned artist.”
Shaidatu has a good command of English language and she is a good conversationalist; what she lost in hands, she has more than made up in words and feet.
At the event, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, promised to use his office to assist the artist.
Observers said what Shaidatu needs are artificial arms. She awaits succour to come to her through well-meaning Nigerians? For now, Shaidatu paints on with her feet.
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