Rev. Teryima: Teacher born without fingers, toes; has 3 daughters, master’s degree, plays football

In a classroom in Gboko, Nigeria, Rev. Chaplain Gbamwuan Samuel Teryima navigates a six-foot blackboard, transforming it into a canvas for geography lessons. Born without fingers and toes, Teryima's daily teaching routine involves a unique negotiation between his body and the board, a process refined over decades. He begins each lesson by carefully positioning himself to draw intricate maps, starting with a globe and lines of latitude and longitude, demonstrating a mastery that captivates his students. The quiet determination with which he teaches geography at Penworth Secondary School serves as a powerful, unspoken lesson in possibility for his pupils. His journey began in the Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State, born the seventh child to peasant farmers. Recalling his early years, his mother simply said, "We would see," reflecting the uncertainty of his future in a rural community where physical labor is paramount. Teryima describes a gradual realization of his differences as a child, observing peers effortlessly perform tasks that required immense patience and adaptation from him. He learned to make the impossible possible, turning challenges into a quiet strength that resonates within his classroom.

“

We would see.