Hajiya Binta Shehu Bamalli is the founder, Sure Start Initiative; an NGO which caters to the needs of females, especially young girls. She spoke to ENE OSANG on her campaign for the education of the girl-child.
Can we meet you?
I am Hajia Binta Shehu Bamalli, an indigene of Kaduna state, Zaria local Government to be precise, but was born and brought up in Abuja and the first among five children.
I am a graduate of Microbiology from the prestigious Bayero University Kano. Also, I have various degrees and diplomas in Early Childhood Education, Foundations of Psychology, Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
A trained cervical cancer advocate and counsellor; I’m passionate about education and wellbeing of the Nigerian girl-child and women, consistently striving to improve their lives so they can realise their full potential in life.
As part of my contribution to social and humanitarian development, I established a Non-Governmental Organisation called Sure Start Initiative.
I’m also the Vice President, Emerald Toastmasters Club International; Programme Manager, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network Abuja; Ambassador, ROI Africa andember; Junior Chamber International.
In addition, I’m an award-winning toastmaster, having won three speech contests nationally. I also won the 2017 West and Central Africa toastmasters Impromptu Speech Contest held in Ouagadouagoa, Burkina Faso, in May 2017 and, a recipient of the 2016 overall best NGO Academy Alumni Award.
Tell us about your NGO?
Sure Start Initiatives is a social enterprise that uses strategic advocacy to improve education and reproductive health of the Nigeria girl-child, especially the northern girl child from less privileged background so as to facilitate their stay in school and enable them realise their full potential in life.
We also hope to improve the wellbeing of adult women, and children as they transition from childhood to adulthood.
You have also been campaigning for free sanitary pads for school girls. What informed this?
You see, in the North where I come from, only about 20 per cent of girls attend school. Out of these 20 per cent of them are unable to attend school for so many days during their menstrual period due to inconveniences caused by lack of basic sanitary provisions, that is sanitary pads, clean toilet, water, disposable facilities etc.
No wonder the statistics from the United Nations states that 65 per cent of women from the North can neither read nor write. So, I decided that it was time we changed the narrative and hence, the birth of Sure Start Initiative.
We are hoping to address every part of the country with time. But of course, starting from the North. In as much as is a general problem in most Nigerian schools, like I mentioned earlier, the northern part of the country is the most affected and that is where I come from.
You’ll also agree with me due to the high rate of illiteracy and poverty it makes it worthy to be given a special consideration.
Don’t you think female hygiene and body is a personal issue for government to involve itself in?
No, I don’t think so. In as much as it is part of the responsibility of the government to make available basic life provisions for every citizen, whether boy or girl, the truth and reality remains that we, the private sector, CSOs, NGOs and good meaning Nigerians, have to be involved if we must see the change we so desperately desire.
It will go along a way in making it a lot easier if the government can dedicate a certain amount of money in the annual budget for provision of basic sanitary products to every Nigerian girl-child. And in sha Allah we will push for this, hopefully someday we will achieve it.
Do you face any challenge carrying out such campaign?
Yes, I do. You know it is almost a taboo to discuss issues around menstruation back in the North. So, when we started, no one wanted to give us audience. They were always shy and almost ashamed when we initiate the discussions.
But gradually the women and girls began to listen and corporate. It took a longer time to get the men on-board. But Alhamdulillah, we did and the rest is history.
Can you compare the girl-child in the North and her counterpart in other parts of Nigerian?
The today’s northern girl-child is courageous, bolder, stronger, braver, brighter and more than willing to take her chances to make her life better. I tell you what, I know that the North has worth.
The Nigerian girl-child is a shining star. We are making waves all over the world and I am proud to be a Nigerian girl-child.
What has Sure Start initiative achieved so far?
We have achieved quite a lot since inception. We would be one year old in January 2018, as officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
But if you must know, I am very proud to tell you from December 2016 to November 2017, we have been able to reach out and affect the lives of over 4000 girls and about 450 women with the right information about menstrual hygiene management and cervical cancer prevention as well as basic sanitary provisions for free among others.
I just received an award from the Khalifa Dankadai & Co Foundation for the effort we are making at Sure Start Initiative. I consider this a call to action to do more in sha Allah.
2018 is by the corner, what are your expectations, particularly as it concerns women/gender-based issues, governance and leadership?
I have a very high expectation for the year 2018. The Nigerian woman is gradually beginning to take her rightful place in the society.
Recently, we celebrated the 16 days of activism to fight against gender-based violence. I must say I was very proud of the response and participation this year in Nigeria from both women and men. This gives me a lot of hope. Sure Start Initiative, we were able to educate and engage men in the famous Kantin Kwari Market in Kano, on the need to end violence against women and girls which they willingly, openly and positively responded to and this made me very happy.
What is your position on the call for youths to be entrepreneurs instead of seeking white collar jobs?
Let’s call a spade a spade. I believe it is a step in the right direction. The bitter truth is that the government can’t provide job for every Nigerian.
More interesting is the fact that not everyone cannot work for the government. If attention was given to entrepreneurship a long time we won’t be where we are today. It is still not late though.
However, I think the most important part the government needs to work on is record keeping or if you like data based, for instance, how many people benefited, in what state, which local government, age bracket etc. That will help keep tract of their interventions which for makes easier monitor.
Youths should have the courage to start small businesses and grow it to something bigger, we have challenges today because we want to make it big in a short period.
One can start a small business that doesn’t require huge amount of money and with dedication and commitment the business will expand. For instance, not all enterprise requires huge sums of money to start.
And I tell you quit a number of businesses that are booming do not need huge capitals to start. Like zobo, lemonade, chin chin, cake, detergent, soap, to mention but a few. The key word here is discipline. Descipline in resource and time management, as well as commitment and dedication. Trust me, the rest is history.
What is your advice to youths especially graduates on entrepreneurship?
I think it should be for secondary school students. Because if you have graduated from the university already without you learning any form of trade or entrepreneurship then I think you need to do yourself a favour as quickly as possible and learn something.
My advice will go to the parents. Please encourage and support your ward to learn something they can do by themselves. Sometimes you’ll find out that right from secondary school the kids have a particular trade or enterprise they are interested in but the parents won’t let them.
Owing to the fact that feel they are well to do hence their kids don’t need it. But the reality is, they will grow up, have a mind of their own, choose their own path and carry their cross by themselves. Secondly, in life you need a plan B, in case plan A fails or doesn’t materialise as at when you thought it will. They wouldn’t have to be idle just sitting home waiting for mum or dad to get them that job. They are already enterprising and can survive even if you where not there.
