Kaduna Govt Awards N3m to ABU Students for Developing Walking Aid for Visually Impaired

Kaduna State Government has awarded N3 million to a group of students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for developing an innovative walking aid for the visually impaired.

The students received the cash award at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry of Youth Development in Kaduna on Tuesday, 15th September 2026.

The award followed the recent Final Year Project Exhibition organised by the Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where various projects by final year students were displayed.

One of the projects, an innovative walking aid designed to assist visually impaired persons, attracted considerable social media attention for its innovative features and potential social impact.

Following the attention generated, the Kaduna State Government invited the students to present and demonstrate the walking aid at an event organised to commemorate International Youth Day in Kaduna on 4th September 2026.

Impressed by the innovation and its potential to support persons living with visual impairment, the state government pledged N3 million to the project team.

Members of the student project team include Abdullahi Misbahu Anchau, Usman Abdullahi, Sadiq Abdulmumin, Muhammad Kabir Kabir, Shamsudeen Aminu, Shehu Hauwa Modibbo, Ibrahim Khadija Musa, Adamu Aliyu, Auwal Adamu, and Mujahideen Abubakar.

The team was accompanied to receive the award by the Director, Advancement and International Education, the Head of Computer Engineering, Dr Basira Yahaya, and Dr Saminu Idris of the Department of Political Science and International Studies.

The Head of Department of Computer Engineering, Dr Basira Yahaya, described the award as a significant achievement for the students, the department and the university at large, noting that it demonstrates the potential of student innovations developed to address real-world social challenges and attract external support.