Life is what you make for others

 Educational background  I completed my primary and secondary school education in about five schools. The last primary school I attended was Alfred International School, Ibadan and graduated in 1991 and then Model Secondary School, Maitama in 1998. I also attended two universities and graduated from the University of Abuja in 2003 with a BSc in […]

 Educational background

 I completed my primary and secondary school education in about five schools. The last primary school I attended was Alfred International School, Ibadan and graduated in 1991 and then Model Secondary School, Maitama in 1998. I also attended two universities and graduated from the University of Abuja in 2003 with a BSc in Political Science.

Career background 

I worked with the private sector; I worked with Pension Fund Administrator, then First Alliances, now ARM Pension. I worked there till I was the manager of customer relations after which I moved to the federal government to work with the presidency in the Border Communities Development Agency. I later decided to stop working and concentrate on my marital life though I do interior decoration as a passion, and I try to make money out of it, but the passion tends to get more than what the money can bring.

Growing up

 I was a happy child. I was spoilt by my father though my mother had a way of neutralising the over indulgence. We were raised with humble core values of life. I commend my parents for what I have become today because they shaped me into a humble and respectful person and whatever principles I hold dear to me now, and the tradition and culture that I respect, are all because of my parents and I am very grateful to them.

Challenges in life

 I did not really face any challenge in my career besides that I was in the private sector and there was the drive and competition for you to do your best and you are driven to the peak.So I did not really face any challenge in my career. In my personnel life, I also would not call it a challenge, but it was more of an irritation by relatives and people that felt that for a northern woman, I had over stayed my welcome in my parent’s house, so I used to get a lot of those jibes, but my father never really gave into the pressure. So, I did not really have challenges.

Lessons learnt in life 

 I am learning to be a patient person as I tend to be quick to anger, temperamental, but am learning to be a patient person, not necessarily because I enjoy being patient, but because I realized that with patience comes, at the end of the day, what you were trying to achieve with impatience. I have learnt that the real meaning of life is not what you make for yourself, but what you make for others because that is what you are remembered for and that what pushes you to leave a legacy for yourself and even for your children. I also try to make sure that I do not do onto others what I do not want done onto me, it is such a simple but basic principle that if everybody will apply it, the whole world will be a better place. 

Aspiration growing up

 I always wanted to be a diplomat that is why I studied Political Science because I wanted to do my masters in International Relations and be a diplomat. But of course, after I grew up, I realized that as a Muslim, northern woman, it is not possible for me to just pack my bags that I am going on posting to a certain country; not if I wanted a family life with a husband and children. I had to let that go and of course, I got very discouraged of going into politics with the kind of political scene that I saw still happening in Nigeria. I am now more into family and interior decoration.

Fond memories

 I miss going to my village with my parents. I miss the time when ‘Goron Sallah’ was a big deal; we used to rush to go visit our aunty and uncle’s houses that would fetch us chunky ‘Goron Sallah’. I also miss the time when there was real meaning in the respect that we give elders, I miss those days. 

Joys of motherhood

 At the end of the day, after a long day or with all sorts of tension, of things happening that really eat on your brains, then you have your child do one silly thing that makes you laugh and forget momentary what your troubles are. I think that is a great joy which come with an underlining fear of what their future might be like. If things are bad now, you wonder what is going to happen to their generation, but, you can only do your best and leave the rest for God. 

3 fashion accessories I love 

 I love rings. I can go without everything but not my rings, the finger and toe rings. What will follow is my ankle bracelet and earrings.

 Husband’s attribute I cherish

 I appreciate his patience.He has been able to train himself to be so patient with everything and everyone around him that I keep thanking God that I am not like him because he takes in so much, he can seat down with people that I probably would not last three minutes in a room with.He is patient and indulges them, which is a great quality of his that I really admire. I also admire the fact that he is dedicated and hardworking in whatever his puts his mind to, it is something that is very rarebut he does without expecting any sought of reward.  

Favorite holiday spot

 I would say Egypt, because, I think my most memorable time and place is there and they are rich in culture and history which are things that I love.

My best mode of relaxation

 I watch television, I am addicted to Zee TV, an Indian channel, so I watch Indian series or I chat on the phone when I have time and I have started writing short stories.

 My best food 

My best food is plantain and chicken, with a chilled bottle of coke.   

My definition of style 

I like flowing things, but am more into Lafaya now, but I like gowns that flow with unique design and unique cuts.

Favourite fashion designer 

I don’t have one. I wear whatever grabs my attention.

Favuorite perfume, designer bag and shoes

 For the bags and shoes, I am not particular about them, but for the perfume, there is one perfume that I know I will always buy which is Hypnotic Poison.

Advice from mum that stuck 

She would emphasis on a Hausa proverb which says ‘Farar aniya laya’ and say that no matter what, make sure you do not make ill towards anyone and that way, God does your battles for you without you even knowing it. That has stuck with me, and now, at this phase in my life, I see how so true, and apt those words are. I still cherish that. She gave me two types of advise, this one I have applied throughout, the other one she gave me was when I was getting married which I am having trouble applying, the ‘Kiji, kikiji, kigani, kiki gani’, if you really look at it in its true sense, if you can be able to adopt that in your marriage, you are a happy woman.

Advice to women  

I appreciate that there is someone out there that wants to be like me and I can only say that, what I know works for me is about three things; I enjoy being myself, I have a serious focus on integrity, that is doing things the right way whether of not someone is judging you and you will end up not having a lot of problems. I try to see how I can add value to someone’s life and make an impact on other people’s lives because that is what helps you go a long way. Sometimes God opens ways for you that you will never imagine because without realizing it, you may have helped someone and the person prayed for you. So it is very important to be of help to others.   

Best sport, weather, car, colour  

 I love swimming and my favorite weather is the raining season. As for my favorite car, it depends on what grabs my attention and my favorite colours are red and black because I found red to be very pleasing and appealing and I find black to be comfortable and confident.

Favorite day of the week

 I would say Friday because it would allow me have two more free days.

Beauty routine 

 I do not have any beauty routine.

Secret to looking glam

 I don’t have a secret, but if I am still looking glam, then it must be my genes.

Role models 

 I have four role models and they are, my mother, Maryam Idris Uthman, Maryam Babangida and my eldest sister, Zainab Garba Haliru. My mother because I have been close enough to see what she was like and getting to know people, I am able to compare the value I saw in her to what I see around. My sister Zainab because she inspires me and she is the epitome of what selflessness is, she is unconditional in her expression and giving of love to everyone around her and she is one person that can lose sleep if a beloved one is in trouble. Maryam Idris Uthman because she is an ideal picture of what a Muslim woman should be, all covered up, very intelligent and speaks very good English and of course Maryam Babangida, I think she is the most elegant Nigerian lady that I know, she was humble and had genuine concern for Nigeria

What I would tell my younger me

 I would tell myself to calm down, I took a lot of things too seriously that I should not have and I wasted my energy on a lot of things that looking back now do not really matter. I have had a very bad temper growing up.

Empowerment programme for people of Kaduna 

 The empowerment programme that I have is a sub-programme; it is coming under the nutrition programme. We intend to empower agric entrepreneurs, women being the focus. That one of the ways we believe we can help women in owning land and helping them with the tool kits and farm inputs. The bigger project that I have where this falls under is the Kaduna State Nutrition Action Plan which is to tackle malnutrition in Kaduna State. The programme started when UNICEF sent out a report saying 1.6million children in Kaduna are malnourished. We are trying to see how we can help the children that are in the death zone, the acutely malnourished children that you see and increase the distribution of the RUTF product that UNICEF is giving to different parts of the state as an immediate intervention.  

We are also looking at how we can train mothers and caregivers to use locally available food to substitute the RUTF product by knowing what to mix to get the needed nutritional requirement. For a longer term, we are trying to see how we can eventually enlighten everyone and inculcate ways into our life practices to avoid being in the malnutrition zone.