She is endowed with insightful passion for the less privileged right from her childhood, which testimonies her friends, family members and associates always recall; when discussion focuses on Her Excellency, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Undoubtedly, the pet project of Hajia Nana Kashim Shettima when she was Borno State’s First Lady known as Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya with the acronym (SWOT) and model orphanage integrated school, was a household name not only in Borno State, but across the entire North East region.
It was a programme primarily established to bring succour and hope to thousands of widows and orphans, especially in Borno State and has impacted positively on the lives of many people.
She had nursed the idea of supporting the less privileged way back in the 90s but the opportunity to execute it only came in 2011 when her husband Kashim Shettima became the Executive Governor of Borno State.
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As part of the agenda of the programme, she vigorously pursued women’s development, promoted girl child education and supported the orphans as well as the needy.
Needless to say, that the senseless Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region, had brought untold hardship and exposed many families to great challenges of life. Borno State as the epicentre of the crisis, was worst affected with nearly two million households rendered completely homeless, thus pushing their plight to the frontburner and agenda of SWOT programme.
Indeed, SWOT can be described as one of the biggest intervention programmes that has significantly touched the lives of the people in many ways. With the support of her husband, Nana was able to carry out numerous humanitarian and social activities in support of orphans and widows.
As the CEO of SWOT foundation and Model Orphanage Integrated School, Nana Shettima, showed love and compassion to all manner of people without discrimination. This was evidenced from the support and assistance enjoyed by several humanitarian organizations including Christian and Muslim women organizations. Government House Maiduguri where she was residing, became a frequent distribution centre for relief materials and other palliatives to the needy who showered accolade on her for the generosity and kindness.
Perhaps, it was this act of kindness and magnanimity that earned her the recognition and award as the Most Supportive First Lady of the year by the Sun Newspaper in 2016.
Then the impossible happened. Nana Shettima, who is extremely shy and hardly granted any press interview before, found herself facing a TV Camera to talk about her award and other sundry issues. It was an exclusive interview she granted NTA Maiduguri Network Centre. From a distance, she might look tough and unapproachable but coming closer to her will reveal a personality with rare qualities and attributes of humility, kindness and simplicity. She spoke about the award which she dedicated to the people of Borno, promising to continue to contribute her quota in whatever way possible towards impacting on the lives of the people.
Now that destiny has bestowed her as the country’s second lady and with the tremendous successes and achievements recorded by her pet project, everyone is asking: Will Nana replicate her SWOT project at the national level?
This question is apt and appropriate coming at a time that the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency Remi Tinubu is contemplating launching her own pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative, which will bring succour and relief to many families in the country.
Wife of the immediate past Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, had her pet project known as Ayodele Foundation which was set up to equip women and youths with skills that would make them self-employed.
Similarly, former Nigeria’s second lady, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, during her time, was the initiator and founder of her pet project ‘I Care Women and Youth Initiative’, a non governmental organization established with the primary objective of improving the lives and well-being of women, youths and the less privilege in the society.
So, everyone is waiting and watching of what will become of the SWOT Programme.
Can SWOT go national by popular demand?
I hope Nana Shettima replicates her Borno pet project for the benefit of humanity.
Hamza is a former Assistant Director of News, NTA Maiduguri Network Centre
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