Polio: Saving Lives Through Traditional Influence
A traditional leader takes on the role of a mobilizer and an advocate to save children in his community from Polio, drawing inspiration from his personal battle with the deadly virus.
GUSAU, 23 June 2025 – In Gusau, Zamfara State, the fight against polio finds an unusual and enthusiastic champion in Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, Wakilin Marafan Tudun Wada, the District Head of Tudun Wada. His commitment to eradicating the disease is deeply personal, rooted in the experience of his eight-year-old granddaughter, Hauwau Umar—a survivor of polio.
Hauwau, fondly called Ummi, is the first daughter of her parents and one of the first granddaughters in the family. Named after her maternal great-grandmother, she holds a special place in the heart of her grandfather Alhaji.
"She was born healthy and brought so much joy to our family, We named her after my late mother, Hauwa. But as she grew, she fell ill and was later diagnosed with polio. It affected her right leg and hand, and since then, every day, life has been a struggle for her"
A personal tragedy inspires a lifelong mission
Since Hauwau’s diagnosis, her grandfather turned a tireless advocate for polio eradication.
“Ever since my granddaughter got infected with the virus, I have felt compelled to fight it to the finish,” he says with conviction. “What happened to my family must never happen to any other family within my influence.”
True to his word, Alhaji Umar has taken on a frontline role in mobilising his community, not just within his 14 neighbourhoods of traditional authority, but across the Gusau Local Government Area to receive the vaccinations as per protocol.
A Grandfather to All
His approach combines authority, empathy and lived experience. Alhaji Umar currently supports vaccination teams who drive the nationwide Polio Outbreak Response Campaign, supported by GAVI, GPEI, among other partners. He is a mobile advocate, using his traditional influence to reach households and dispel taboos and misinformed fears surrounding such vaccine interventions.
“To me, every child in this community is my grandchild,” he explains. “That gives me both the right and the responsibility to ensure they are vaccinated. Sometimes, when parents resist, just hearing that I am coming, changes everything. I simply ask them to bring out their children. I am their grandfather—I only bring them good”, adds the traditional leader.
Championing Acceptance through Experience
His personal journey has not only deepened his empathy but also equipped him to tackle community resistance head-on. “Having gone through this with my own granddaughter gives me the courage to face anyone who opposes vaccination. I have convinced many families to vaccinate their children.”
In his words, “In this area under my authority, vaccination acceptance runs through our family history. We accept them, and we influence others to do the same.”
A National Effort with Big Champions
Nigeria is currently witnessing the second round of the nationwide Polio Outbreak Response Campaign, supported by GAVI, GPEI, and other partners.
For onsite Polio Outbreak Response Campaign workers Alhaji Umar is no ordinary crusader. His conviction to save young lives comes from a deep sense of pain, a personal loss he can never compensate for his beloved granddaughter Ummi. For this grandfather, convincing his people to become proactive in this battle against the Polio virus is a lifelong commitment.
It is through the dedication of local champions like Alhaji Umar Ibrahim that these much-needed vaccination efforts are gaining traction and saving lives.
