Chibuzo Ihegboro
Gimbiya Hannatu Usman NGA is involved in various humanitarian services.
A wife of a traditional leader in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she is the chief coordinator of the Association of Traditional Leaders’ Wives in 17 chiefdoms.
Hajia Usman leads the campaign against illiteracy, sexual and gender-based violence, and is also involved in other selfless services.
In this interview, she talks about her passion and motive behind her endeavours for humanity through her NGO, Hikmah Foundation, and other platforms.
What birthed your NGO?
The NGO was founded to assist our husbands, the Emirs. As concerned mothers from the 17 chiefdoms of the Federal Capital Territory, we resolved to come together to address the issues of gender-based violence in our communities, particularly among the original inhabitant women.
So, we came together to educate our people in our native languages while advocating for assistance for indigenous women who are victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
Considering the literacy level of FCT’s indigenous women, there was nowhere victims could complain, during the recent covid-19 pandemic, and so our indigenous women faced increased violence. To start this organization, we had to rely on our spouses’ limited resources and with the joint effort of the other chief’s wives in the FCT to achieve a community free from violence against women and girls.
How many children have you been able to pull out of the illiteracy net?
Before establishing the association, I was running my NGO, Hikmah Foundation, which is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged children in our society. I have developed adult education centres in Kogi, Nasarawa, Taraba, and the FCT since 2019. And our centres have graduated over 3,452 learners.
We had raised the number of learners, and paid the WAEC and NECO fees of 1,640 over the years, thanks to the generosity of well-meaning Nigerians. With humility, we can do more if we get government assistance for our children roaming the streets to become literate and eventually enroll in formal education.
How many have you been able to pull out of the illiteracy net among the aged/ adults?
Our motivation is that education is for all. So, regardless of age, everyone should have access to formal learning. The non-formal education curriculum and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education guide us in facilitating learning among aged people.
As a result, our work applies to people of all classes. Approximately 64 per cent of our graduates are elderly or senior citizens in our communities who require basic literacy for day-to-day tasks. For example, some of our courses will teach our senior citizens how to count, how to use chequebooks in banks and other fundamental skills.
You have attended so many international programs, what have you used the quantum of knowledge garnered so far to do in Nigeria as a patriotic Nigerian?
Since its inception, the association has accomplished a great deal in areas such as advocacy on all forms of violence against women and girls, skill acquisition programmes for vulnerable women and youths, and having adults and non-formal education centres across the 17 chiefdoms of the FCT to provide a second chance opportunity for the women in the society to have access to education which is in line with the National Policy on Education of having a country of equal opportunities. This was made feasible by the exposure I received from these international programmes.
As a loyal Nigerian and community leader, I make daily efforts to mediate and provide survivor-centred services to SGBV victims.
You are the chief coordinator of the association, what impact has your group made in building a responsible society?
We have made a major impact in our communities as members of the association. We have conducted several press conferences to express our views on women’s issues in Nigeria. We conducted school sensitization in the Federal Capital Territory to raise consciousness and understanding of gender discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence among indigenous peoples in six FCT area councils.
We arranged a town hall gathering to increase dialogue between old citizens and political representatives about gender discrimination, early marriage of girls, and sexual violence against women.
We are conducting radio awareness programmes in both the local and English languages on women’s access to justice, as well as assisting in the creation of the first code of standards for the administration of SGBV within traditional institutions. So as women, I think we have tried and still counting on more activities in the coming days.
If you were to be in the National Assembly, what would you do differently?
This will be in the realm of wishful thinking. But to play along with you, if I was a member, all gender-related bills on the floor of the National Assembly would have my full support. For example, the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill. This is because it will reduce the under-representation of women in politics.
Joining my other female colleagues, we can jointly increase women’s participation in Nigerian National Assembly matters. Consequently, our women should be able to leave the side-line of Nigerian politics, if we encourage women to take an interest in legislative matters. Certainly, as wives of the chiefs, we are mothers to all regardless of your interest or opinion on various issues.
If you were to be your state governor, what would you do differently?
It is just regrettable that there are no elected governors in the FCT unlike in the other parts of Nigeria. But again, as a governor in Nigeria, I will support efforts to combat SGBV and commit to ensuring the offenders bear the full force of the law. Yes!
I will increase protection for women and children by seeing to it that child rights and violence against persons act is domesticated. Additionally, I will put more funding to support NGOs such as the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers for a speedy fight against SGBV.
With the level of moral decay, thuggery and youth restiveness in Nigeria, what is the way out?
Our people need to be sensitized to adjust their moral compass. The chiefs are trying. When cases come to the palace, the chief will try to advise the people on the right way to go following the norms, values and traditions of our people. Education is key. Government should make it compulsory and take it to the place of residents of the ‘out of school children’ and provide better pay for the facilitators of non-formal education. With an increased level of literacy and economic opportunities, the youth will not be idle to involve in thuggery and other unwholesome acts.
How would you describe women’s participation in 2023 politics? Were they given due place to play politics? Describe INEC in your own language.
This year’s election in FCT has swept up a woman to the commanding height of the Nigerian National Assembly. The place for women in politics is improving and that is a good reason to be excited. With all these good wins for women in this year’s elections, we hope that women see hope in contesting for the election and consequently improve their participation. I think a woman might be a better actor in addressing the issues of SGBV within the capital territory. For INEC, I believe they did their best but there is good room for improvement in certain areas.
Where did parents especially mothers miss it in raising godly and responsible children?
Our goal as a parent is to raise responsible children. While many people do not know how to do this, there is no need for us to be ignorant. Poor parenting can make the child more prone to criminal behaviors and this will then affect the larger community. So, our parents should be open to learning how not to be abusive to their children. Mothers should pay close attention to their children and not be dismissive of their emotions or opinions. Watch the kinds of friends the child keeps and gradually guide him or her to be a responsible child in our community.