Ayuba Gufwan Burki is the founder of Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Center in Jos, Nigeria. He is the reason that Wheels of Hope was created, and an inspiration for tens of thousands of polio survivors in Northern Nigeria. Hear from Ayuba as part of this video: Ayuba’s story
Ayuba contracted polio when he was four years old. He survived, but it left him without the use of his legs. His family sent him to a special school to teach him to walk with his hands, which was a common approach at the time. But his legs were never fully functional, and by third grade, Ayuba’s father told him it was a waste of money to keep paying school fees for a boy who walked on his hands.
When he was 18 years old, Ayuba’s uncle built him a wheelchair. This newfound mobility allowed him to return to the fourth grade. Through determination and perseverance, Ayuba finished high school, teachers’ college, and the Law School Faculty at the University of Jos.
Ayuba recognized that without the wheelchair, his opportunities would have been non-existent. His ability to attend school, work, and contribute to society relied on being mobile. “The gift of a wheelchair restores your hope, restores your dignity,” says Ayuba. He wanted to share the same gift with others.
In 1999, Ayuba began creating wheelchairs that fit the needs of polio survivors and managed the rough terrain better than a traditional model: hand-crank chairs made from spare bicycle parts. By the mid-2000, the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Center was created, with help from many supporters. The center has built and delivered over 20,000 wheelchairs to polio survivors in the region. The facility employs individuals with disabilities, and they obtain materials from local sources, eliminating the need to rely on international supply chains both for building the chairs and for repairing them.
In founding Beautiful Gate, Ayuba started a movement. His organization functions as infrastructure for supplying the tools for mobility, and his success has raised awareness. He serves as a champion for recognizing the needs of polio survivors, advocating for government support to improve accessibility for all disabled people in Nigeria.
He is a Rotarian, is married, and has five children. He was named honorary Chief for his selfless work on behalf of polio survivors.