Perseverance conquers all for Emirati student

Dubai Despite losing her sight completely due to two separate accidents during her childhood, Najat Hussain Shubber, an Emirati, went on to achieve a master's degree in philosophy and land a government job.

Her strong personality traits, which helped overcome her disability — dedication and sheer perseverance — are the same qualities that helped her win the Dubai Government Excellence Award.

"I have never allowed vision impairment to stand in the way of my work," said Shubber, who has been working with the Dubai Health Authority since 1985.

She was born with normal sight, but when she was nine years old, one of her eyes got injured while playing, and a few years later another similar incident left her without sight. "I feel very proud and happy to win the award," she said, shedding tears of joy. In the past, she has won the Shaikh Rashid Award for Educational Excellence.

When she was in school, there were no special schools for the visually impaired, due to which she had to attend a regular school and follow the Ministry of Education Curriculum.

"My friends and teachers used to help me a lot ... since I could not copy from the blackboard," she remembered. She later completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in UK, with government funding.

"I certainly could not have achieved anything if it were not for the tremendous support of my family — my father, sisters and brothers."

She thanked His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and said: "Shaikh Mohammad told me to be strong. I will never forget his words and will strive to act upon them. God Almighty is my inspiration. He is the one who gave me the power to achieve what I was able to."