Every girl child can aspire like me – Bulkachuwa

The outgone President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has recalled her 40-year career progression in the judiciary and called on every girl child to aspire for great strides. Justice Bulkachuwa said this during a valedictory court session held in her honour at the Court of Appeal complex in Abuja on Thursday. She […]

The outgone President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has recalled her 40-year career progression in the judiciary and called on every girl child to aspire for great strides.

Justice Bulkachuwa said this during a valedictory court session held in her honour at the Court of Appeal complex in Abuja on Thursday.

She said she achieved all in her career despite adversaries she faced in her private life and her career. She recalled these as the deaths of her father, a renowned jurist from Nafada in Gombe State, Abubakar Gidado El-Nafaty in 1969, and her first husband, a former professor, Abubakar Yaya Aliyu, in 1987, while she was heavy with her last daughter.

“More than academic success and career elevation, every girl has the potentials to live in and make her world a beautiful one. There is so much love to spread to those whose language you speak and those you don’t even understand,” she said.

“The world needs people who can combine their educational background with religious teachings to give their environment lessons of endurance in times of hardship, dedication to duty and deep love that cuts across religion and creed,” she added.

Justice Bulkachuwa extolled her husband from Bauchi, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa whom she described as “Another towering figure in my life.”

The outgoing PCA was born 70 years ago in Nafada, Gombe State. She studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Congo Campus in 1972. She proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1975. After her NYSC in Kaduna in 1976, she was appointed a State Counsel in the Kaduna Ministry of Justice. She joined the bench as a Grade 1 Magistrate in 1980 from where she rose.

“As at date, out of the 86 Justices of the Court of Appeal, only 23, barely 30% are females. With such a poor record in gender diversity, the epoch-making achievement of Bulkachuwa truly calls for celebration and corrective steps in enlarging the coast of our diversity and gender inclusion,” he added.

The valedictory session had in attendance, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the CJN Tanko Muhammad, Governors Bala Mohammed, Nyesom Wike and Ben Ayade of Bauchi, Rivers and Cross Rivers respectively, among others.