Social Work and the Problem of Beggary Among Disabled Persons in Zaria, Kaduna State

Persons with disabilities in northern Nigeria face compounded social exclusion, often resorting to begging in public spaces due to poverty and lack of access to disability-inclusive welfare services. This study examines the social work dimensions of beggary among disabled persons in Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey design is adopted, with data collected from 80 begging disabled persons and social workers at welfare offices in Zaria through structured questionnaires and interviews. Frequencies and percentages are employed in data analysis. The study finds that physical and sensory disabilities, combined with family abandonment and lack of educational inclusion, are the primary pathways into street begging for disabled persons in Zaria. Formal welfare services for this group are described as minimal, and community attitudes towards disability are characterised by stigma and superstition rather than rights-based understanding. Social workers who engage disabled persons in begging report that most are not formally registered with welfare agencies and therefore remain outside the formal safety net. Recommendations include conducting outreach registration drives for disabled persons, providing vocational rehabilitation and adaptive skills training, strengthening enforcement of disability rights legislation, and sensitising communities on the rights and capacities of persons with disabilities. Keywords: disability, beggary, social work, Zaria, inclusion