My appointment recognition of women’s potentials – Kano LG caretaker chairperson

Hajiya Bilkisu Yakubu Indabo is the chairperson, Interim Management Committee of Wudil Local Government of Kano State. She is the lone female appointee into the position by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. In this interview, the professional nurse and lecturer at the School of Nursing, Kano, said her appointment was a recognition of women’s potentials, as well as an opportunity for their involvement in the scheme of things in the state.

Can you speak on your family background and education? 

I was born in Indabo of Wudil Local Government Area. Upon the completion of my primary and secondary education, I attended the School of Hygiene, where I earned a diploma in Environmental Health and got employed in Wudil Local Government Area. 

However, because of my passion to work in a hospital and help people, I enrolled for a nursing course at the School of Nursing, Kano, which I completed in 2012 and was subsequently employed into the services of the Kano State Government and posted to the Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Nassarawa.

I was one of the beneficiaries of a foreign scholarship programme by the administration of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, where I was sponsored to obtain a B.Sc in Nursing at the Mansoura University, Egypt. I finished with a first class honour. 

I also had the opportunity to enroll for an Arabic study programme at Kulliyat Tarbiyya. After the completion of my studies, I resumed at Nasarawa Hospital. Later, we were asked to go for a postgraduate diploma in education at the Bayero University to enable us teach in our health institutions. After that, I was deployed to teach at the School of Nursing, Kano.

Another opportunity came our way when we were sponsored to do a master’s degree programme in Nursing in India. However, this time on a private sponsorship programme executed from a fundraising spearheaded by the former governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso.

How do you see your appointment to head a local government council?

I see it as the right step in the right direction aimed at women emancipation. It is also a pointer that given the opportunity, women can exploit their potentials to the fullest. This is a way of thanking the womenfolk who always use their time and energy during and beyond political campaigns.

This is not an issue of whether we can do all that men do, it is a chance for us to help women, the youth and children and also support the men. After all, in this local government, there are people who stand a better chance of serving in this capacity. But since our creator has destined this to happen, I call for the support of the people of Wudil Local Government to help me deliver.

In which way do you think you would bring the desired changes in the life of a typical woman in your local government area?

I am confident that we will have positive changes under this setting. The support and contributions of women in this project will not be disregarded. It is a payback time for the womenfolk. Our leaders in the Kwankwasiyya movement have a very keen interest in the welfare of women. We will make sure they get the desired education and enhanced welfare. 

What advice do you have for women? 

We will make sure that we justify the confidence in us to pilot the affairs of the local government, particularly for me as chairperson. We will use the power vested in us to help women.

This may be the starting point for you in politics. Do you have any ambition to contest for an elective position in the future?

I have never dreamed of getting to this position. And there are even people out there who are more competent than me, but this is what Allah has destined. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. But for now, I have been given a task to do and I want to concentrate and do it to the best of my ability. 

Do you envisage any form of challenge in steering the affairs of the council, especially being a female administrator?

So far, I haven’t envisaged any challenge. My people are overwhelmed upon hearing about my appointment. Wherever I go, people recognise and wave at me. I hope and pray that even if there would be challenges, we will surmount them, God willing.

I want to call on the people of this area to support us achieve our objectives. We will run an open administration.