Safiya Danburam: Exit of a woman of substance

Indeed, within the 53 years she has spent on earth, Hajiya Safiya has greatly touched the lives of so many people, including myself the writer of this tribute. Our paths crossed when she was the Vice Principal of the Government Girls Secondary School, Yola in the mid 90s. Ever since then, we had a robust relationship, the type that normally exists between a sister and a brother.
Later, when she was made the Principal of Government Day Secondary School, Gwadabawa which was near my family compound, the relationship waxed even stronger. She had developed interest in my activities. In July 2001, when I was making preparation to get married, I went to notify her. Naturally, she asked me some vital questions one of which was whether my wife-to-be had finished her secondary education. I told her that she actually left school while she was in Junior Secondary School (JSS) 2. Without wasting anytime she said my wife-to-be should complete her secondary school education and even told me to enroll her at her school, which I did.
My wife was admitted into JSS 3. Hajiya Safiya developed interest in the progression of my wife by paying full attention on her performances and even offering her useful advices and tips on how to overcome the challenges of combining her education and her marital responsibilities as a house wife. This, no doubt, greatly enhanced the capability of my wife and gave her the confidence she need to sit for and pass her SSCE and WAEC examinations.
Along the line, Hajiya Safiya Aliyu Danburam was later posted back to the Government Girls Secondary School, Yola as the substantive Principal of the school. Last year, she was appointed to the position of a Permanent Secretary by the government of Governor Murtala Nyako where she spent about eight months before her retirement from the services of Adamawa State Government, but she was retained as Permanent Secretary by Nyako because of her commitment to work.
Hajiya Safiya was an affable, easy-going and charming woman, who was always smiling.
She built a fortress of a woman, that is willing to put smile on the faces of the down trodden in the society. Her death has created a big vacuum in the life of her husband Dr. Aliyu Danburam. She was survived by her husband and three children. Her death would linger in the minds of many people for a long time to come.
May Allah bless her soul and admit her into paradise. Amin.
Santuraki, a public affairs commentator, wrote from No. 74 Tafida Street, Jimeta-Yola.