Recalling when Halima wished herself a happy birthday

Halima Lawal lost her life in a road accident, along with her cousin, near Anka in Zamfara State on the 27th December, 2014. The loss was all the more keenly felt because of its suddenness and the nature of her activities in the preceding three months.  She was 59. An old girl of Queen’s College, […]

Halima Lawal lost her life in a road accident, along with her cousin, near Anka in Zamfara State on the 27th December, 2014. The loss was all the more keenly felt because of its suddenness and the nature of her activities in the preceding three months.  She was 59. An old girl of Queen’s College, Lagos, Halima thereafter studied Government Accounting at the Polytechnic of Sokoto State (now Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic). Her working life was spent in the civil service of the defunct Sokoto State and later Zamfara.  She was primed to retire this year.
Halima’s life was a study in contrasts.  She had a temper and would often reject criticism off hand. But she would calm down almost immediately and one could detect the effect of criticism in her later conduct.  Halima was also generous and gregarious, and cherished sibling and extended family relationships and friendships. Now, the creed “son zumunta” which means loving one’s relations is very important in Hausa culture, as crystalised in the saying “A so Allah,  a so zumunta” and it had a strong pull on her. In her frequent travels around the country, wherever there’s a colony of relations and friends, Halima was sure to visit. Her home in Gusau became a half-way house for wayfarers travelling to Sokoto and Kebbi through Zamfara and drivers will for a long time remember how solicitous she was of their welfare whenever they stopped by with their Ogas.
Halima became the matron of women of Kebbi State origin married to husbands in Zamfara.  One recalls the time a classmate of hers was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral in the Nigerian Navy and Halima tracked her down to congratulate her and re-establish contact.   
In the last three months of her life, Halima’s mind was focused on two issues: the forthcoming marriage of one of her nephews and the graduation of another. It was Allah’s decree that she would not witness either event. Her absence at the latter which has just taken place was keenly felt and arrangements for the former will not benefit from her enthusiasm. As one slowly comes to terms with her passing, we beseech Allah SWT to forgive Halima her sins and make Aljanna firdausi her final abode. Amen.
Usman wrote in from Abuja