Nigerian polio survivor explains his charity work to Arlington Hts. students
Nigerian polio survivor Ayuba Gufwan, who started the charity Wheelchairs for Nigeria, spoke Friday with the fifth-grade class at Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights about his life and his work.
He has a personal connection to the school through its former principal and namesake, Mary Stitt, now almost 90. She spent 25 years as principal at the school, which was named for her when she retired. Since then, she has traveled the world working for good causes, including with Rotary International for the eradication of polio. On one of her trips, she met Gufwan.
Gufwan, who lives in Jos, Nigeria, got his first wheelchair at age 17 from his uncle, who said in return he wanted Gufwan to go to school and make something of himself. This was at a time when little was done to aid polio victims, and they often ended up on the streets begging for a living.
Gufwan eventually got a college degree and became a lawyer. He began making wheelchairs from bicycle parts, giving them to polio survivors with the understanding that they too would use them to make a better living.
His charity has given thousands of wheelchairs to polio survivors. Stitt has helped raise money to pay for the wheelchairs. And several years ago, the Rotary Club in Arlington Heights contributed to a project to purchase a truck and parts.
In addition to his visit at Olive-Mary Stitt School, Gufwan will visit at a number of Rotary clubs while in the Chicago area.