It's Not How Far One Has Reached But The Impact You've Made In People's Lives- Bauchi Governor's Wife/ Aisha M.A Abubakar

H.E Hajiya Aisha M.A Abubakar is the wife of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed A. Abubakar Esq.
In this interview with TMG, she speaks about her humanitarian project under the Brilliant Girl Child Initiative (BGCI)and their achievements so far. She highlights  what more needs to be done to improve the lives of underprivileged girls as well as inmates of Bauchi State prisons.

About Aisha...

H.E Hajiya Aisha M.A Abubakar was born on the 15th May in the early 80’s into the family of Arc. Aliyu Danjuma Galadima, her mother is Hajiya Zainab Galadima.

Aisha attended Hilltop Model School Minna, Niger State and had her secondary education at Federal Government College Minna from 1995-2001 where she obtained her O’Level Certificate.

She didn’t stop there but continued to further her studies at the School of Basics and Remedial Studies, Funtua in 2003, and proceed to the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 2005 to study Law. By 2009 she graduated and enrolled into the Nigerian Law School Bwari, Abuja. She had her Law School attachment with D.D. DODO & CO( SAN) and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 2010.

After her Youth Service with M.A& CO(Fortuna Chambers) for a period of 1 year (2010-2011), she engaged in private practice at Mahmud Magaji & Co(SAN)for a period of 1 year (2011/2012) and finally got employed in the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Abuja in 2012.

In 2013, she married her heartthrob, now the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar Esq. and they are happily married and blessed with 3 children.

Projects Close To Her Heart...

Being raised to show compassion for others, Aisha is proving that she is a woman who cares about the less privileged. This she has been doing through several projects designed to make an impact on the lives of the downtrodden.
Coming from a privileged background puts one at an advantage of enjoying the good things of life. What gives one an edge above others is the understanding of what to do with those priviledges. Aisha knows how important it is to be educated having gone through quality and uninturrupted schooling herself, the benefits of which she is reaping today. With this in mind, she felt compelled to set up the Brilliant Girl Child Initiative (BGCI), her brainchild.
Basically a non governmental organization, BGCI aims at reaching out to the disadvantaged girls within and outside Bauchi State. Its main objective is to give the girl child a chance to go to school, help her realize her potential to become a better person and also contribute to the development of the society and Nigeria at large.

So far, the Brilliant Girl Child Initiative has given scholarships to over 100 disadvantaged girls within Bauchi State, thereby providing them with the following:

*Admission into Primary and Secondary Schools for 35 girls between the ages of 8 to15 years, all from disadvantaged families.

*Providing School Uniforms, Sandals, School Bags, writing materials, Exercise Books, bedsheets, Lockers, bathing and laundry Soap, Plates, hijabs, socks, Mosquito nets, blankets and all other necessities students need.

*The scholarship program has been spread to beneficiaries within 20 LGAs of Bauchi State.

*100 Women i.e mothers of the beneficiaries have been supported with a token amount of 10,000 NGN each to help support their little businesses, so that the beneficiaries won’t have a reason not to go to school.

*The Brilliant Girl Child Initiative has also built 6 blocks of pit laterine toilets for the use of the girls as it could be a barrier for a girl child from going to School.

*Talk shows are also organised for Girls Schools by inviting prominent women that have reached the peak of their profession to talk with girls in various Schools. This is with the aim of helping girls believe that despite the challenges they faced to get where they are today, they never gave up on education, the key to success.

*A back to class activity was also organized where Emir of Dass, Alhaji Uthman Bilyaminu Othman and also the Emir of Misau Alhaji Sulaiman were invited to the classrooms to teach students. Some other Emirs who were not available also sent representatives.  This is indeed a rare achievement.

Achievements So Far...
She has this to say about her achievements: "When you talk about the achievements that have made me proud, I guess I would say, it is not how far one goes or how many lives you have been able to touch but the impact you have made in their lives, the hope you have restored in them that matters," she says.

A Supportive Wife...

There are many ways that she has supported her beloved husband that she considers her learned colleague who she is learning and tapping experience from being a Lawyer himself.
In her supportive role, she particularly picked an interest in the
Prisons, a place that has not been given much emphasis and attention. "Did you know that 90% of the prison inmates are between the ages of 16-35yrs?" she asks.

"I have visited the prison several times and I am happy that the Brilliant Girl Child Initiative has engaged/embarked on selfless service to humanity. We have secured the release of 98 inmates from 2017-2018 by paying their fines and compensations. We didn’t stop at that, we have also ensured that they acquire skills acquisition within a period of 6 months based on their choices. Alhamdulillah, I am happy to say that we graduated 37 of them as the 1st batch and we supported them with skills acquisition items based on the skills they acquired. 
Among them were 3 women, out of which two(2)have been empowered."

Furthermore, as the Prison facilities provided for the inmates was overstretched, BGCI helped in decongesting and also provided for about 500 out of over 1000 inmates.

"We didn’t stop at securing the release of inmates and decongestion of prisons. We have also empowered inmates left in prison by providing them with Skills Acquisition items; supplying them with medication, food stuffs ie, bags of rice, sugar, semovita, toiletries, slippers, blankets, live cow for celebrations, Indomie for the children whose mothers are awaiting trial, sanitary pads and some other items they need. Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah.

We are also working very hard to bring the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Bauchi State, which will go a long way in helping women and children In Sha Allah but first we have to create awareness and embark on advocacy to the people. I won’t talk much about it because we are in the process of putting things together In Sha Allah."

A monthly Tafsir lecture as organised by H.E Aisha Abubakar for women within Bauchi is to show that one must not forget their creator and must remain greatful in every way.

No Success without Challenges...

Just as there is no success without challenges, there are also no challenges without success. "I believe in creating meaningful, purposeful ways for others to have a fulfilling life and restoring hope for them. I must confess that in today’s world, there are financial restraints but despite that, we always do what we can for the good people of Bauchi State especially with the support of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, my beloved husband and Learned Colleague, Mohammed A. Abubakar Esq. We are grateful for his endless support towards contributing to the development of social justice, equity and good governance in Bauchi State. May Allah SWT guide and bless him always."

Those I Model My Life After...

Her role Model is Nana Aisha, wife of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

Advice For Youths...

Her advice for the youths is for them to run their own race. "Do not allow anyone rush you with their timelines. Never give up on your dreams because great people don’t give up, they live up to the challenges of life and grow through it with great determination and hope. I tell you, someday, you will reach the highest peaks of success In Sha Allah."

..and For The Women...

Aisha urges women to get educated regardless of where they find themselves. "Please don't feel you are above the age of being educated. Try to empower yourself and support girl child Education; train a girl child, because women are the backbone of every society and I tell you, your situation can be better than it is right now."

Special Moments In Life...

"I love to stay around my children at every opportunity and every moment I have with my husband is precious because he is a very busy person.
I love to pray as well.