My mum can dance for Africa – Halima Ahmed

Mrs. Halima Ahmed, daughter of Hajiya Lami Tumaka, world-renowned Public Relations expert and currently Director Special Duties in the Director-General’s office at NIMASA, speaks about her mum’s love for dance  and how her mum’s name has opened doors for her. 

Daily Trust: How would you describe your mother?

Halima Ahmed: In one word, she is a superwoman!  She has not just been the best mother to me, but my confidant, my inspiration, my hero, my cheer leader, my big sister and my best friend. She is an amazing woman with a very big heart, big enough to accommodate a million people. She mentors and impacts a lot of lives daily just by being her. She is the strongest and most hardworking woman I know and I’m so proud to call her my mother.

DT: What trait of your mum would you say you find the most endearing?

Halima: That would definitely have to be her warmness, kindness and large heartedness if there is a word like that (laughs). She is just such a special human being, the kind who walks into a room and lights it all up. One of my uncles calls her ‘sunshine’ and I believe that is the best way to describe her personality.

Mrs. Halima Ahmed

DT: How would you describe your mum, strict or relaxed? 

Halima: My mum is very relaxed and only strict whenever she needs to be. Growing up, she was quite liberal with me and that is why we have such a close relationship. I was able to tell her anything like I would my friend. Up to this point, anytime people hear me on the phone with her, they always assume I am talking to a friend. And that is how I am raising my girls today, so we can also share such a special bond and they can bring up anything with me first before anyone else. 

Now this didn’t stop her from being strict when the need arose, even though I barely gave her any reason to be. I never took advantage of our relationship. I remember once while I was in secondary school, I wrote her a letter and gave my friend who had a nice cursive handwriting to recopy so I could impress her (laughs). Looking back, I wonder what I was thinking. She didn’t find it funny at all. She posted it back with the instruction that I should write it myself and never ever repeat such stupidity as she would always be proud of me regardless of my handwriting. 

She also admonished me never to share our personal details with others in a bid to impress her. Today because of this, I have a lot of self-confidence, and self-worth despite my shortcomings. I have taken it upon myself to constantly drum this teaching into my own girls to remove whatever doubts they may harbour about themselves. You won’t believe it, but my mum would also always send back my letters underlining any mistakes in words or sentences I had made (laughs). Now, my friends call me English professor – all thanks to my mum’s discipline with my work. 

DT: Has her name opened or closed doors for you?

Halima: Her name constantly opens doors for me anywhere I go. Once I introduce myself or happen to get recognized as Hajiya Lami Tumaka’s daughter, everything becomes easy and smooth. I have gotten uncountable favours, jobs, money and just plain kindness from total strangers because of my mum’s goodwill. It has never closed any doors thus far and Inshaa Allah it shall only continue to open more doors.

DT: What pet names do you and your siblings call her and why?

Halima: I call her my mummy, while her sisters and friends call her Mamalims or Sunshine like my uncle does.

DT: What is her favourite TV programme or book?

Halima: At the moment, there are some Nigerian TV series on DSTV she enjoys. Forbidden, Tinsel and My Flatmates are the ones she really doesn’t like to miss. As for books, she loves inspirational, motivational and managerial books. Anything to help her build on or better herself is worth reading as far as she is concerned.

DT: Is she a sports person?

Halima: No, she is not a sports person per se except if dancing can be considered a sport in this case. My mum can dance for Africa, especially if the DJ churns out songs by Flavour, Kiss Daniels, Davido and whizkid – all her favourite artistes by the way. Of course she also keeps fit by being very physically active and jealously watching what she eats.

DT: What is her favorite food?

Halima: It can be quite seasonal with her but I’ll say Paten Acha, bitter leaf soup and fresh okro would be top of the list.

DT: What other profession or field do you think she would have excelled in?

Halima: Definitely law because she loves to read, or psychology as she is good with counselling people and making them feel better about themselves. However, being a Public Relations professional comes to her naturally. 

DT: How does she unwind?

Halima: By spending quiet quality time with family and her grandchildren or partying where she gets to show off her singing and dancing skills (laughs).

DT: What fond childhood memories with her do you miss?

Halima: I miss those days we spent travelling all over the world, spending quality time together at beautiful hotels, indulging in amazing cuisines while we bonded. Those were good times. I wish I could relive those memorable times all over again.

DT: What aspect of her personality do many not know about?

Halima: My mum is a very religious and spiritual person. A lot of people might not know this because of her general outlook, but those close to her can testify to this fact.

DT: What is the one misconception about her you would like to correct?

Halima: The misconception that because she is a very kind, trusting and loving person, she can easily be taken advantage of. She is a very strong woman who has survived over 20 years in an industry that is not particularly friendly to the female gender and comes out on top. She has been faced with so many challenges in the course of her career and personal life but still she rises. She is rock solid and I want everyone to know that.

DT: What trait of hers do you think you inherited?

Halima: I would hope her warmness, kind heartedness and giving nature. Also, her hardworking, disciplined and accommodating nature. If I can be half the woman and selfless mother that she is, I would be a very accomplished woman. She has set the bar and standards really high, I truly hope someday I can fill in her shoes.

DT: What is that advice she always gives?

Halima: She always says “you must learn to be very patient and tolerant Halima and never forget to be kind. These virtues always take you a long way in life”.

DT: What parenting methods of hers have you imbibed?

Halima: Every single one actually, like I said earlier, I am teaching my girls to take me not just as their mother but also as their best friend. I am also teaching them the importance of knowing and appreciating their self-confidence and self-worth just like my mother taught me. And most importantly, the notion that family should always come first, as they are the only constant in life after Allah, of course. The very strong bond that she shares with her siblings, they have passed on to us (their children) and we are all now passing on to ours. It’s a generational thing coming from a line of very strong women.