'I was tortured and lost my hand' - one student's struggle to get an education in Nigeria

At the age of 13, Ovey Friday was accused of witchcraft by his stepmother and taken to a traditional shrine in the central Nigerian state of Nasarawa, where he was tortured. When police intervened, the damage was irreversible.

Friday recalls the harrowing moment, The herbalist brought charcoal, put something on my hands, tied my hands with my leg, put pepper there inside the charcoal, then covered me with a bedsheet. After being sedated and operated on, he woke up to find his left hand amputated, and his right hand,, which bore scars, was left partially functional. I cried and I cried, he shares.

Despite facing ridicule in public for his appearance and suffering trauma from his past, Friday found a steely resolve to overcome his circumstances.

However, two years ago, as he prepared for Nigeria's university entrance exam, he encountered a significant barrier: the biometric fingerprint process, essential for the exam, could not register his damaged thumb or the fingers that were scarred. With the help of disability rights campaigners and supportive guardians, he was able to offer a toe print instead.

Today, Ovey Friday studies English and literary studies at a university close to Abuja, becoming the first in his family to attend higher education. He states, Not everyone has someone to push for them; some people will just stop trying.

His story resonates not just with those pursuing education amid adversity but also emphasizes the need for systemic changes that support individuals with disabilities. As the number of Nigerians living with disabilities grows, so does the demand for a more inclusive society that can provide essential educational resources and opportunities for all.