Aisha Gidado Hamman is the Executive Director/CEO of a Non-Governmental Organization called Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS).
A young graduate of Management Technology, and resident of Jimeta – Adamawa State, in this interview speaks on why the need for more women to join partisan politics and stated why there’s no gender and social inclusion (GSI) in Nigeria.
Tell us why you founded DAWOS Foundation?
As you are aware, the activities of insurgency devastated most communities in the North East in the past ten (10) years. However, peace has returned to most of these communities, especially in Adamawa State leaving a serious humanitarian need for vulnerable persons, women and children who lost their benefactors in the crisis.
This was the reason why we had to intervene, by identifying these target groups and bringing succor to them through DAWOS.
DAWOS is mainly aimed at providing a means of livelihood to women especially widows and children, through return of out-of-school children to school, provision of medical care, life skills, social protection and so on. And so far, we have achieved a milestone by returning quite a number of out-of-school children to school, especially in Jimeta, Yola-North L.G.A. of Adamawa State.
For the successes, yes, so far DAWOS has participated in quite a number of activisms including mappings and data collections for victims of flood disaster in Jambutu, Jimeta, Yola-North LGA of Adamawa State, training and empowerment of women and youths on life skills, protection of weak and vulnerable persons in Adamawa State.
For challenges, I think the major one I have seen is the perception of society about women. When a woman brings an initiative to start something, most people tend to look down on them and don’t give them the required psycho-social support. They will always say this job is not suitable for women so you cannot do it. I cannot imagine why our society (particularly men and our elderly women) reason that way?
How will you describe gender-based violence (GBV) cases in the northeast?
Gender-based violence (GBV) is generally, all forms of violence against women and children which could be in form of physical, psychological or emotional assault; torture, rape, abuse, starvation and denial of access to basic necessities of life. In Adamawa State, rape is mostly the noticeable form of violence against women, whereas child labour like hawking is the noticeable practice of violence against children.
Why do you support more women in active politics?
Of course, because Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) is a major indicator of social justice and fairness. Statistically in Nigeria, the ratio of women to men is almost 50:50, or somewhere at 45:55 so women have to step up in order to be part of the decision making and be a role model to the future generation, and there will be a change in the way the society views women.
The rigour of political campaigns is too tedious for the old, either male or female. So, the young people who have the energy advantage should do it. And young women come with new impetus of ideas and action plans which can be infused into the act of governance either in executive or legislative capacity. Women have so many innovative ideas which can take the nation to the destination desired if being included in decision making.
So, are you aspiring for any political office?
Without any iota of doubt, I am aspiring to represent the good people of Yola North Constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
Why do you think there is absence of gender and social inclusion in Nigeria?
As I said earlier, GSI is a major indicator of social justice, but in Nigeria, there is complete absence of it; because women and youths represent over 75 percent of the voting population, but when it comes to decision making, they constitute less than 15 percent which is a bad idea even at the community talk more of legislature or judiciary.
