Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, appointed 27 legislative advisers, including 49-year-old physically challenged Abdulsalam Kamaldeen, a man whose story serves up so much for all to learn from.
Abdusalam was appointed as the Speaker’s Special Assistant on Special Needs And Equal Opportunities.
He first piqued Gbajabiamila’s interest in 2017 and started to generate headlines almost daily ever since when the then house majority leader invited him to the floor of the Green Chamber for special recognition due to his striking story of long-suffering, perseverance, hope and victory.
NAN learnt that Abdusalam, a practising lawyer became physically challenged at the age of three (3) due to polio infection. He lost his mother a year after he lost his legs to polio. Abdulsalam started primary education at age of 8 in 1978 at Erin-Ile, kwara state where he hailed.
He started street begging same year due to financial constraint. Thereafter he finished his primary school in 1993 and came to Lagos, where he found himself on the street begging for alms and sleeping under the Dosunmu bridge at Idumota.
After his secondary school education, he then started evening classes. He gained admission to study political science in UNILAG in 2006 and graduated in 2010.
In his determination to become a lawyer he sat for JAMB exams and gained admission to study law at the University of Lagos in 2010, (same year he graduated in political science).
He finished in 2015. Abdulsalam proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, passed all his papers at first sitting and was called to bar in 2016.
The full list of the legal aides as presented by the Speaker’s spokesman, Lanre Lasisi
1. Special Adviser – Administration – Odofin David Seun
2. Special Adviser – Political Matters – Olanrewaju Smart
3. Special Adviser – Special Duties – Badmus Olufunmi
4. Special Assistant – Legal Matters – Osazee Melody Ogundijie
5. Special Assistant – Legislative Matters – Hon. Raphael Nnana Igbokwe
6. Special Assistant – Gender Equality– Fatima Kakuri
7. Special Assistant – IDPs – Hamza Baba Ibrahim
8. Special Assistant – Special Needs /Equal Opportunities – Abdulsalam Idowu Kamaldeen
9. Special Assistant – Employment and Job Creation – Hadiza Abubakar Talba
10. Special Assistant – Budget and Finance – Lukman Oyewole Lawal
11. Special Assistant – Former Members Affairs – Hon Bassey Ewa
12. Special Assistant – Policy and Inter-Parliamentary – Princewill Tabia
13. Special Assistant – Executive Relations – Hon Ibrahim Mohammed Baba
14. Special Assistant – Anti-Corruption – Akin Ogunlola
15. Special Assistant – Niger Delta / Oil & Gas – Hon. Daniel Reyenieju
16. Special Assistant – Research and Public Policy – Dubem Mogalu
17. Special Assistant – Members’ Affairs – Dunkwu Nnamdi Chamberlain
18. Special Assistant – SDGs – Shehu Saleh
19. Special Assistant – Youth Matters – Ibrahim Alli-Balogun
20. Special Assistant – Intergovernmental Affairs – Adaku Apugo
21. Senior Legislative Aide – Adim Akpapunam
22. Special Assistant – Political Matters (North East) – Hon Sadiq Ibrahim
23. Special Assistant – Political Matters (South West) – Hon. Ayodeji Joseph
24. Special Assistant – Political Matters (North West) – Hon. Bashir Baballe
25. Special Assistant – Political Matters (South East) – Hon. Anayo Nnebe
26. Special Assistant – Political Matters (North Central) – Hon. Adamu Chika
27. Special Assistant – Political Matters (South South) – Hon. E. J Agbonayinma
