At 21, Sammy Samaila has never eaten solid food. Yet he attends lectures daily, studies Sociology at Gombe State University, and quietly pursues his academic goals with uncommon resilience.
While his peers grab rice, bread or snacks between classes, Sammy survives entirely on liquids — pap, tom brown (a blend of millet, groundnuts and soya beans), juices and supplements — often carried in a flask to lectures.
A Childhood Condition Without Clear Answers
Born in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, Sammy’s unusual feeding history dates back to age four. Attempts to chew solid food triggered immediate nausea and vomiting, prompting repeated medical consultations.
According to his father, Mr. Samaila Yaro, doctors conducted several tests, including endoscopy, but found no structural abnormalities. Physicians advised the family not to force-feed him, recommending he take only what he could tolerate.
Despite the absence of a clear physical diagnosis, the condition persists into adulthood. Sammy says he still feels an urge to vomit whenever he attempts solids. Though his bowel movements are generally normal, he experiences periodic fatigue and avoids heavy exertion. His daily routine includes supplements such as folic acid, vitamin B complex and yeast, usually taken after drinking pap.
Resilience Beyond the Diagnosis
Physically smaller than his younger brother David — who often accompanies him — Sammy is frequently mistaken for the junior sibling. Yet academically, he has excelled. He passed WAEC, NECO and JAMB in one sitting and is now in his final year without carry-overs, preparing for National Youth Service.
Interestingly, despite never eating solid food, he is an excellent cook — a skill he learned by observing his mother.
His father recalls periods of fear and uncertainty, including cultural interpretations that attempted to link the condition to the death of Sammy’s twin sister at five months old. The family rejected superstition and focused instead on medical guidance and faith.
What Medical Experts Suggest
A gastroenterology specialist reviewing his case noted that when structural causes such as blockage, cancer or infection are ruled out, attention shifts to functional or psychological feeding disorders.
Two possible explanations raised include:
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) — an eating disorder driven by sensory sensitivity, fear of choking or vomiting, rather than body image concerns.
- Functional dysphagia — a swallowing coordination issue without visible structural abnormality.
While no definitive diagnosis has been publicly confirmed, experts suggest such cases require multidisciplinary evaluation involving gastroenterology, psychology and neurology.
A Quiet Determination
Beyond the clinical puzzle, Sammy expresses a simple hope: to one day eat solid food and to connect with others who share similar experiences.
As graduation approaches, he continues attending lectures with his flask of pap — navigating university life on his own terms.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
Sammy’s case highlights a critical gap in Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem: the limited awareness, diagnosis and structured management of rare or functional feeding disorders.
In emerging markets, healthcare systems are often calibrated toward infectious diseases and structural pathologies. Functional disorders — especially those involving brain-gut interaction — remain underdiagnosed.
The Sammy Samaila story underscores three systemic issues:
- Need for Specialised Diagnostic Pathways – Functional disorders require integrated gastroenterology, psychiatry and nutrition frameworks rarely accessible in public health facilities.
- Mental Health and Stigma – Conditions without visible pathology are frequently mislabelled as spiritual, behavioural or mythical, delaying proper care.
- Policy Opportunity – Investment in medical research, telemedicine consultation and rare-disease registries could improve outcomes and position Nigeria as a regional diagnostic hub.
For policymakers and health-sector investors, cases like this are not merely human-interest stories — they signal unmet clinical markets and research opportunities within Africa’s evolving health economy.
