In a country where sign language remains unfamiliar to most, and interpretation services are costly and inaccessible, millions of Nigerians living with impairment of speech face daily isolation and marginalisation. But in Bauchi State, a young engineering student is working to change that—one finger at a time.
Muhammad Habib Husaini, a 200-level student of Computer and Communication Engineering at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has developed a prototype device that could revolutionise how people with speech disabilities communicate.
The NHED Smart Glove, as he calls it, is a wearable device that translates sign language into speech using pressure sensors and audio output.
“With the NHED Smart Glove, we are not just building a device,” Mr Husaini said, “we are also restoring dignity and bridging the gaps in communication.”
Yet, professional sign language interpreters remain out of reach for many. On freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, hourly interpretation costs are high, and even local professionals charge rates many cannot afford. One interpreter, according to SuperProf.ng, charges ₦5,000 per hour.
The high cost leaves many unable to access communication support, deepening feelings of exclusion and frustration. Micah Shabbi, the executive director of a research centre for persons with disabilities, says Africans’ disposition to people living with disabilities remains troubling.
“In Africa, people pay more attention to the disability they notice in a person, than on the ability or what that person has to offer,” he said.
This environment leaves many with speech impairments feeling invisible and voiceless. “Deafness cuts you off from people,” wrote Jack Ashley, a famous deaf Member of Parliament. “You can be very isolated and alone at times.”
According to a report published on Minority Africa, Abdulqudus Jimoh, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said:
“I was struggling to speak. I understood what I wanted to say but couldn’t get it out. Sincerely, I felt pain, discouraged, disappointed, and embarrassed.”
This was the same emotional barrier that inspired Mr Husaini.
“The inspiration behind my innovation is actually my immediate younger sister,” he said. “My immediate younger sister has a special ability—she doesn’t speak. And being my sister, I find it difficult to communicate with her.”
“I don’t have this brother-sister bond because of the bridge in communication. Sometimes, if I call home and speak with our mum, instead of asking my sister directly how she is, I have to ask my mum how she is.”
“It breaks my heart, and I thought about making something that can help—bridging the gap of communication between me and my sister.”
Moved by his sister’s experience, Mr Husaini sought a solution through technology.
His glove, entirely built from scratch using locally sourced components, uses pressure sensors embedded in each finger. When the wearer signs a word or phrase, the sensors detect movement and send data to a microcontroller (ESP32). The data is processed via an SD card module, which triggers pre-recorded audio output for each gesture. The result: real-time speech for the speech-impaired.
The glove is rechargeable, portable, and “everything is built from the scratch,” said Mr Husaini.
In 2018, the total number of people with disabilities in Nigeria, according to the Nigeria National Population Commission, was estimated at about 19 million, putting the percentage of people with disabilities at 9.6 per cent approximately. However, the president of the Network for the Advancement of People with Disabilities stated in December 2018 that no fewer than 27.3 million Nigerians are living with various forms of disabilities.
With these varying estimates, one is not very sure of the extent of disability in Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria’s National Population is expected to measure and capture disability statistics accurately in the next population and housing census.
Mr Husaini believes his innovation can play a role beyond his family—it could become a tool for systemic inclusion.
“I see this glove changing the life of mute individuals in Nigeria by essentially bridging the gap between communication. Because people living with disability in Nigeria are not considered as they should be considered—I feel like they are living in isolation.”
His innovation aligns with a broader call for inclusivity in Nigeria’s tech and policy spaces. He believes the NHED Smart Glove can be a model for affordable assistive technology in developing countries, where people with disabilities are often left behind.
At a time when the tech ecosystem in Nigeria is gaining global recognition, innovations like Mr Husaini’s stand out for their focus on social impact over profit. While the device is still in its early stages, it has already sparked interest among disability advocates and technology stakeholders.
Backed by the innovation-friendly ecosystem at ATBU, Bauchi—which brands itself as “Technically Ahead”—Mr Husaini’s dream may not be far off.
The success of this prototype could pave the way for mass production, with the potential to serve millions of people across Nigeria and beyond.
As Nigeria grapples with issues of inclusion, accessibility, and equity, this young engineer’s homemade glove offers more than a voice—it offers hope.
