My father wanted me to be a doctor or teacher but I am both – Dr. Hadiza

Can you tell us your name and educational background?My name is Dr. Hadiza Bala. I was born on the 9th of September 1973. I attended Bayero Staff School from 1975 to 1984, from where I proceeded to secondary education St. Louis Secondary School from 1984 to 1990. I started my medical school at BUK in […]

Can you tell us your name and educational background?
My name is Dr. Hadiza Bala. I was born on the 9th of September 1973. I attended Bayero Staff School from 1975 to 1984, from where I proceeded to secondary education St. Louis Secondary School from 1984 to 1990. I started my medical school at BUK in 1991, but I ended up graduating at University of Maiduguri in 2001.  That was actually the most challenging factor throughout my period of study. Medicine actually, is supposed to be studied under the period of six years, due to logistics not because of failure but due to strike and lack of accreditation at BUK as at then we spent a lot of time and at the end of the day we had to be taken to University of Maiduguri, where we were forced to repeat a year. Alhamdulillah we graduated successfully there and I actually had one of the best results. Immediately I started housemanship at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital for a year. I did my NYSC at Nasarawa Hospital. In 2006 I started my post graduate study. Thank God I spent minimum of four and half years to be a specialist in cardiology. I treat cases related to heart diseases.
In Kano State, I was the first female cardiologist, and I found it cherishing and all these were aroused from my mentor, Dr. Adamu Yakasai, I always put him in my prayers. At that time he was the Director-General of the Health Services Management Board. He helped us and put us through throughout the period of our training. When I reached the last stage of my training, I went to him and seek an advice. He was the first person to advise me to go for cardiology. He gave me so many reasons being the fact that cardio-vascular diseases are now emerging, but even overridden our traditional diseases.
In everybody’s house we must have somebody who is hypertensive. He told me I will be relevant if I become one.  I am happy being a cardiologist.
In addition I am a consultant cardiologist; I am also a lecturer II at BUK, I am taking medical students.
Teaching has been part and parcel of me, since I was at school where people gathered around me, not because I was better than them but because I liked imparting what little knowledge I have.
 
Why did you choose to be a doctor?
There are so many factors that inspired me to choose to be a doctor. I have always admired my sisters, I saw them wearing white lab coats. That admiration contributed. Secondly, there’s the influence of my father; he always brought his female children close to him. He told us that he wants us to be highly educated. He said his wish is either for us to be doctors or teachers. And I actually became both. He is dedicated; he made a lot of sacrifices to see we get very sound education.
 
Did you enjoy any assistance from your male counterparts during your school days?
During my medical school we were 10 in my group, and we were only three females in that group. It is not just pride but the females were very good and even leading the class right from BUK up to when we reached Unimaid.
We have a notion especially in the northern part of the country where we view girl education as something odd and this is due to our culture.
 
What were the challenges you faced as a female that rose to the highest position?
My senior sisters might have faced many challenges, because we have heard about it. But when it came to our turn, the policy of our father though in the middle of Kano city, helped matters. Therefore I didn’t face challenges regarding my education.
 
When did you get married before or after graduation?
I graduated at the age of 25. I married in 1996 that is five years after I started my university education. I started my Medicine programme in 1991 and was supposed to graduate in 1997, but because things did not go well then I ended up graduating at the University of Maiduguri in 2001. I was married to a relation who gave me all the support I needed educationally and otherwise. I have 5 children.
 
Any plan to raise a doctor from among your children?
I will be glad for all my children to be medical doctors. But I know it is not possible. My first son wants to follow the footsteps of his father who is an accountant. The second child is like me he wants to be a medical doctor. The rest don’t know what life is all about. But I am praying that one or more of my children will become doctor in the future.
 
What advice do you have for parents and your female counterparts?
The advice that I will give to parents is to allow their children, particularly female children, to undergo Western education. There has been tremendous improvement over time. People are now aware of the magnitude of the importance of female education. This is something to be encouraged. I will encourage parents to allow their female children to study the medical profession or go for teaching. For those in school, they should pay attention to their lectures so that they will pass their exams in flying colours. Whatever you want to become in life, be it medical doctor or teacher, you should aim for excellence.