My Secret Life: Halting Societal Ills, Discrimination Forced Me Into Activism – Allamin

BACKGROUND

My name is Hamsatu Allamin. I was born on July 6, 1958 in Nguru local government area of Yobe State.  I am the second child from a family of 28 children. I was enrolled into primary school in Maiduguri in 1963, I mean, at a time when girls were hardly enrolled in school. In fact, I recall what my father went through trying to convince my mother and my grandmother to support his decision. Interestingly, the duo wept bitterly because I was being mocked by the society. But all thanks to my dad who didn’t give up.

That was how I went to school.  While in school, I had to fight against the monster called discrimination because they Kanuri’s in my school disliked me with a passion for being a Hausa girl. In fact, my school mates made life so miserable for me. That act of unwarranted discrimination forced me and marked the beginning of my activism.  I struggled to find my foot among the Kanuri girls because my goal was to make my dad proud.  I was even ignorant of the fact that I too, was Kanuri by tribe. My grandmother was Hausa , so I grew up thinking that I was of the same tribe. I was so tormented in the school that I had to stick to male companion to be safe. I recall being called to the Assembly ground for a haircut, which they said was for the Kanuri’s

Aside having my mother, grandmother and siblings to contend with as it bothered round the gild child education, the society too didn’t spare me. I was often booed and laughed at, except for my father who stood his ground for me. only my father backed me. You know with opposition to western education, which they considered as a system of disbelief, many parents vehemently refused to send their sons to school not to talk of females. So, all these issues opened my horizon to activism, coupled with the insurgency in my community that later spread like wildfire to entire Northeast. So, this is how I became a Peacemaker and a human rights defender. Now, I have become locally rooted and internationally connected.

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EDUCATION

At the age of six, I was enrolled in Gamboru primary school after which I proceeded to Community Day Secondary School, in the same community. We were later merged with Yerwa Government Day Secondary School, a mixed school. Guess what, I made my parents proud as I broke record as the only girl that first cleared all her papers that time in 1975. Impressed with my performance, my dad ensure proceeded to the North East College of Arts and Science where I studied basic studies for two years and when I was in my second year, the school was upgraded to a University, which is now the University of Maiduguri

In fact, my set were the second set of students from the now famous University of Maiduguri   I graduatd graduated in 1979. It’s important to mention here that while I school, I got married and started bearing children. I completed my University with BA Education and English Language. Three years after, I went for my Masters in MA in History.  Later around 1995, I was on UNDP selection and I was sent to the United States to study Women in Development which I completed and came back in the same 1995.

CAREER

I started my career as a teacher with the Borno State government in 1981. My first posting was to Women Day Secondary School to teach older women. When I started my master’s degree, I had to be transferred to Konduga Government Day Secondary School. At that time, my husband became a traditional title holder. He inherited his late father’s stool. With the development, we relocated to the village.  I was the only female teacher in the which was an all-boys school.  It was unfortunate for me but I was able to coped. While in the school, I began enlightenment campaign, worked on women and girls and it paid off. I went the extra mile to invite women, especially younger ones to my abode. I became a teacher in that school I started mobilising women.

I made them feel jealous of my achievements and challenged them to get themselves and their daughters enrolled in school if they really admired my achievement. Eventually, some inspectors came to my school, got impressed and advocated that the school should be handed over to me to run. The governor immediately keyed in but separated the boys from the girlls  I was appointed principal of Government Girls Secondary School Konduga for 12 solid years until a military governor who admired my administrative skills  appointed me as an  administrative secretary. I later travel to Abuja to meet with the wife of a former Head of State, Mariam Abacha to hand her my curriculum vitae and the book I wrote titled “ the Scholar and Scholarship. I was later appointed as the executive secretary of Borno State Commission for Women. I was first to launch Women Education in Maiduguri. And then during the “ Better Life “ of late Mrs Mariam Babangida, I was the local government chairperson for better life.  I was also promoted to the position of acting director of Ministry of women affairs.  Thereafter, in 2000, I was given director in the primary education board. From there, I grew to the rank of a secretary in the education board. I was later redeployed to the Scholarship board and made director. From there I was taken again moved to be part of the education endowment fund. Later, I moved to Abuja and stayed with federation of  muslim women Association of Nigeria as a volunteer, working and building skills in humanitarian works .That was how I built my networks and got the skills. Eventually, I returned to Borno State.  After my retirement, I worked  for British Council in Nigeria in 2011. With the coming of Boko Haram terrorists and their targeted killings in 2010 and working as a peacemaker in the office of the British Council,  I got the opportunity to be a full human rights defender , a peacemaker and I tried to know who the boys are and that formed my current activities.

BALANCING FAMILY WORK AND CAREER

I got married at the age of 18 , just when when I was about to start my first degree.  It wasn’t  easy because I I started bearing kids immediately. Now , I am blessed with eight adorable  children. I kept making babies even during my master’s degree, to me , it was not a big deal. I was determined , it was interesting yet challenging. Yes ! I know the challenges that brought me to this level and then, I knew what it meant for me to succeed in what I was doing.  My late mother was really of immense help then, as she and other family members of mine woukld readily  nurse my babies until I go for them. I was blessed beyond measure. In fact, their support got me blinded to the challenges I faced

MY PASSION

To give back to the society.  Attaining a society where there are no voiceless persons is my driving force.

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR

My beloved dad. My father made me. He helped me stoop to conquer. He was the spring from whence I drew my inspiration from. Despite being the only surviving child of 11 children their parent bore, he vowed to change our story and he attained that aspiration.

Even the book I published back then, “ Scholar and Scholarship “ was part of his dream come true.

Another of my mentor, , Bilikusu Yusuf , a journalist with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of blessed memory stumbled on that book from the printer, then she asked them to give my contact. It was this lady that exposed me to the world of general activism across northern Nigeria

CHALLENGES

When the Boko Haram insurgency started, I heard very devastating stories that all the young men in my community had joined the dreaded terrorist group. I was more worried because, despite that revelation, those who mattered in the society did nothing to tame the ugly development.  Nobody indicated interest ton help. When the government responded by creating a Joint Taskforce, instead of stemming the tide insecurity, the process even aided the recruitment base of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.  Women of my age in that community suffered untold pains as their sons and spouse were arrested by the joint taskforce and maltreated. Angered by the outcome some of the women voluntarily joined the insurgents to be able to avenge their dead sons and husbands. They went as far as encouraging their younger sons to join the insurgents to avenge what the soldiers did to them.

I took the risk, mingled with the boys and discovered that they were harmless.  Some of them addressed me as ‘Mama, others even called me their aunt, so, at the long run,  I utilised the opportunity to appeal to them to lay their arms. . While doing this, I discovered that the government and security forces weren’t committed to ending the insurgency, so I decided to channel my efforts at helping the victims. To achieve this, I created several victims and relations” network under JIRE network. I also  have the network of Mother of Victims of Disappearance for those whose sons were arrested by soldiers, then I have a network of Wives Who Separated From Their Husbands. And today, it is getting to eight years with no news. For the mothers’ network, some of them have reached 10 years without any news.

ADVICE TO NIGERIANS

Nigerians, particularly, those of the northern extract are yet to wake up to the reality of the situation in the Northeast. Most of them are yet to come to terms with the reality and gravity of the insurgency in the region. I want to categorically state here that it is very important that despite of religious backgrounds, we can only salvage our dear nation if we are united.

ACHIEVEMENTS

I have received several local and international awards which include; Joan.B KROC Institute for peace and Justice 2016 Woman peacemaker; Only Nigerian recipient of the award of 13th edition of the IDB price for Women contribution to development under the theme: Women’s contribution to providing peace and stability. I addressed the United Nations Secretary Council session in 2016 on sexual violence in conflict on behalf of the NGO working group on women peace and security. In 2016 , I made a presentation on UN counter-terrorism committee role of state in countering violent extremism.  In the same 2016, I had a session at the UN Assembly side event in women leadership on countering extremism.

LIFE IN BRIEF

Hamsatu Allamin is a conflict mediator, founder and chief executive director, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development  She has and is still championing care and support for the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, particularly in  Borno State