Excmo Fateemah Mohammed believes that you can achieve any task and fulfill your dreams regardless of how high seem. Mohammed, passionate about women's empowerment, talks to Yetunde Ajanaku About his campaign for justice and the opportunity for all in this interview
Do you remember the moment you realized that silence was no longer an option?
Yes. It was at a community meeting where women were told and looked at. That moment changed everything to me. I stood up and I talked and I haven't stopped since then. After that meeting, I began to attend others. I asked questions. I began to defend the construction of the road, for the inclusion and for women's voices.
The Ekori road, Abule Egba, is assaulted today because I started the defense. I didn't even know I was entering politics; I only knew that I could not remain silent.
What were some of the challenges you faced as a woman in politics?
Being a woman in politics in Nigeria is like entering a unarmed battle.
Some men see strong women as threats. They try to intimidate him to ignore his opinions, or the brand as arrogant for simply having a voice.
In 2016, I disputed an election and shot me. Yes, they tried to kill me. That was the most scary moment of my life. But he didn't let me withdraw; It made me more brave. If my voice could threaten them so much, I knew I was on the right path. I decided that it would not be intimidated. The more they tried to silence me, the more determined it made me.
What are some of your notable achievements so far?
I am grateful to God for the distance we have arrived. I have provided 23 wells to communities that did not have clean water. I have awarded scholarships to more than 200 students, some of whom are now graduated. I have empowered more than 5,000 women with tools and training: POS machines, tricycles, sewing machines and small grants to help them build businesses.
Every month, I organize a special meeting for the elderly. We eat, we dance, we talk; He reminds them that they are not forgotten. I also execute the scope of the widows. Many of these women do not have a support system. We help them with food, medical care and small businesses. One of the most emotional moments for me was when a 12 -year -old boy ran to me and said: “Thank you for helping me return to school.” That is what makes everything worth it.
You are very passionate about youth empowerment. Can you share some of the things you have done?
Young people are our most valuable resource, not oil, not gold, but we have failed them for too long. I am not one to speak long. We train them with real tools. Pos machines, vocational skills, technological training, fashion design kits. And we stay involved in their growth. The tutoring is crucial.
I think you not only tell young people what to do. And you trust them to build. I am inspired by the president of Burkina Faso. His government works in all sectors. That is leadership. That is the model that I hope we can adopt in Nigeria, a work system that leaves space for innovative and disruptors.
What key changes do you think Nigeria needs urgently?
We need to restructure. I said this repeatedly, and I will continue to say it. Our system is defective of the base. The restructuring allows each region to control its resources and grow independently. That raises responsibility.
Second, electricity. We cannot talk about development when we have no power. Companies cannot work; Hospitals cannot operate, and education is limited without constant electricity. Then there are education and medical care, both need an urgent investment. Fixing those sectors will have a domino effect throughout the economy.
How does public service work balances with your personal life?
I will not be sweetened; It is difficult. Most of the time, I don't even have weekends. My phone constantly sounds, and someone always needs an advice, intervention and emergency support. It is drain.
But I have learned to take intentional breaks, even if it's just for one day. I spend time with the family, I visit quiet places or do something fun that has nothing to do with politics. You can't pour an empty cup. If you burn, I can't help anyone. So, I force myself to rest.
Let's talk about the representation of women in Nigerian politics. What do the numbers say?
Unfortunately, the numbers are still very discouraging.
Women represent less than one percent of elected officials in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the United Nations recommends a minimum of seven percent participation in governance structures for a significant gender balance.
At this time, of 107 senators, only four are women. Of more than 300 members of the House of Representatives, only about 12 are women. That is scary. How can we create laws that protect women, families and vulnerable groups if we are not even in the room?
We have to break the systemic, cultural and religious barriers that keep women out of politics, especially in northern Nigeria, where women are often not even encouraged to speak public, much less lead.
Have there been times when you felt?
There was time when he will finance community projects from their own pocket, and people still questions their motives. Or when your partners are afraid to be publicly because they fear a violent reaction. Or when you realize that people prefer comfort to change.
But every time I want to get away, someone reminds me why I started. A woman who got a job. A boy who returned to school. A grandmother who prayed for me after receiving food help. Those moments keep me underway.
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What advice do you have for young women who aspire to enter politics?
First, bring value. Do not come empty, and definitely do not think you can sleep towards success. That path is dangerous and does not lead anywhere.
Have a cause. Defend something. Let people know what it represents. Do not be afraid to be the only voice in the room sometimes, that's all that is needed to change the conversation.
Don't be influenced by what people say. Be mainly. Let your work speak stronger than your words. Build so well that your competition becomes undeniable. And never apologize for being bold.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be the first feminine of Nigeria: President. I think it is possible. I do not say it just to make noise, I say it because I know that I have worked hard and I am still working. But more than that, I want my legacy to be about people. I want to be remembered for the lives I have played, for the schools they opened because I spoke, for the women who started business because I gave them capital, and for the voices I helped to raise.