Throughout history, the central role played by women has ensured the stability, progress and long-term development of nations. In the 21st century, the issues of gender balance and the need to accord women equal opportunities and allow them achieve their full potentials in the society, have gained more momentum, globally.
While some progress has been made to overcome impediments to their chances of contributing to development, a lot still needs to be done in the area of decision-making. According to the United Nations (UN), investing in women and respecting their rights is the surest way to uplifting communities, organizations and countries, as well as achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Most importantly, the global body made its submission to the effect that ‘Balance’ is not a women’s issue, but rather a business issue. The race is on for gender-balanced boardroom, gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, gender-balanced employment opportunities, gender-balanced wealth creation, gender-balanced sports activities, amongst others.
Thus, the involvement of women in nation-building is an inalienable right, as well as inescapable reality for a holistic and comprehensive political, economic and social advancement in the modern world. Over time, some women who have been entrusted with leading roles to manage human and material resources have more often than not, proved that given adequate backing, they can perform creditably.
Indeed, the 21st Century has birthed the long-awaited desire of women to be in the corridors of power, to be vocal about their needs, and to execute their dreams by contributing their quota to national development.
Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo, the wife of the Nigerian Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo is one of the women who are changing our world, using her position as the National President of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) to touching lives of the less privilege. She is aa woman with a heart of gold that has brought succor to the lives of the downtrodden.
In this chat with Pleasures Magazine, she gives valuable insights on her career path, new opportunities for Naval Officers’ Wives and advice to the next generation.
Please give us a brief flashback on your growing up years; where did you grow up; how was your early education?
My growing up was strict. Alhamdulillah. I grew up in Warri Delta state.
I attended Igbudu primary school, Warri, and started secondary education at Nana Model College, Warri, but conclude my secondary education in Kaduna state at the famous Queen Amina College, Kakuri, Kaduna, after which I gained admission to study Geography at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Samaru campus. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography.
Looking back now, I will say my growing up was fun, but of course, not back then. This is because no matter how tired one was because of the house chores my dad still forced you to go to Islamic school. As we all know, Arabic schools then weren’t fun because any slight mistake made meant that you were flogged. So, then, we saw all those as punishment, but they have worked together to make us who and what we have become today.
What aspect of your background has been most helpful in shaping the woman you are now, that would resonate with the average Nigerian youth?
I will say my growing up age made me the woman that I am. This is because I grew up to know that life is what you make out of it and the foundation can be hard or easy, but it all depends on how you lay your foundation.
Coming from a polygamous home where you see your mothers demanding the attention of your dad, it’s not easy. But again, they were all comfortable in their own ways, and everyone with a desire to always collect from one man wasn’t fun.
And my mum would always say no matter how comfortable your partner is always find a way of making your own money because with that you will always earn your respect in the eyes of that man.
So, even though my dad is a very comfortable person my mum still had some grinding machines in our house to grind things for people for a fee, and I was the person virtually managing that business for her at my very young age. And from that age of 7 years I was already doing buying and selling because I would buy baby milk then and tie in nylon packs to sell in school, and so on.
Who is Hajiya Nana Aishatu Gambo?
Hajiya Nana Aishatu Gambo was born in Lagos on the 05/10/1974 and hails from Auchi in Edo State, Nigeria. She is from a polygamous home, the 9th out of 32 children of the Late Alhaji Abdul Rahaman Bello. She went to Igbudu primary school, Warri, started secondary education at Nana College, Warri, both in Delta State, but completed her secondary education in Kaduna state at the famous Queen Amina College after which she proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where she studied Geography and Planning, and graduated with a BA. She is married to Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo and the marriage is blessed with 3 children, 2 girls and a boy.
Hajiya Nana is a robust and shrewd businesswoman and anything she touches turns to gold. To mention a few, she is a property developer, an interior décor icon, she’s into transportation, textile importation and deals on commodity. She is one of the major distributors with Flour Mills of Nigeria plc. She is the 9th major distributor nationwide on dry foods and the number I throughout the federation on oil and fat.
She has won several awards some of which include Best Supporting Partner, the Most Outstanding Partner, and the Fastest Growing Partner, all with Flour Mills of Nigeria plc. She was also recently awarded Ambassador of Peace and Security by the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS).
She is a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, CEO Framazaz Resources Limited, a company she created since 2005, which has grown to establish several subsidiaries. She is a very passionate person, down-to-earth and straight forward. She is highly committed to her family life. She is a very private person who likes her privacy. She likes traveling and loves dancing.
What do you do at the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA)?
The Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) since its establishment on November 30, 1965, by Mrs Anne Wey, the wife of the first indigenous Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey, has continued to contribute to the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.
In addition to serving as a platform for, “social interaction which facilitated promotion of love, harmony and cooperation among naval officers’ wives and their families, the association has been a vehicle for complimenting the serving Chief of the Naval Staff at any given point in time, in actualization of welfare-related projects in barracks such as education, charitable ventures, economic empowerment, health and social service as well as sporting activities.
In line with this established tradition and the need to build on the successes recorded in more than 4 decades of existence of the association, the current leadership being spearheaded by me as the 21st president of the Association and wife of the 21st Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, (Admiralty Medal) has continued to implement welfare-related projects, which are contributing to the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Navy.
How do you intend to use the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) to reach more children in Nigeria and across Africa?
Since taking over the mantle of leadership on February 27, 2021, I have remained consistent in contributing to the welfare of families of officers and ratings in the barracks. I have also expanded the scope and reach of the activities of the association to touching the lives of the needy in rural communities in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. That, I am sure, you can tell from some of our projects and outreach programmes that led your magazine to the association in the first place.
How has the covid-19 pandemic affected your efforts to give orphans a haven, and how are you mitigating the challenges to ensure they are still catered for?
Like we all know, Covid-19 came and caused a lot of disruptions some of which we are still facing, but as wives of military officers we are taught to always face our problems head on. So, we always move irrespective of the situation or situations on ground.
How many children has the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) been able to cater for?
NOWA over the years has reached out to lots of orphanage homes and is still doing so. I can’t specify because we don’t have a specific home. We go to different areas and different communities in different villages and states.
Who are your major sponsors or support systems for the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA)?
Honestly, our major sponsors are our husbands and some private organizations in the society.
What should we expect from the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) moving on?
I have a big and robust dream for the organization. The very big one is still being locked up in my chest because I am facing some little challenges but immediately that is sorted you will be the first to know.
But in general, I am looking at making more women financially stable if they follow my lead and go with the skills acquisition works which are lined up in different stages.
Asides your parents, do have role models or mentors?
Yes, of course. My biggest role model was my mum.
But now I will say my husband, Awwal Zubairu Gambo. You know he is such a darling. He is so sweet. I learn a lot from him every day.
What is the importance of having role models and mentors?
The importance of having a role model is to motivate us to strive to uncover our true potential and overcome our weaknesses. Having a role model pushes us to make the most of our life. At the same time, a mentor can help us focus our efforts by setting goals.
What is your advice to Naval Officers’ Wives?
My advice to officers’ wives is not to be comparing themselves with their co officers wives. Because two individuals cannot have the same appointment and the men can all not have good or the best appointment at the same time. So, make good use of whichever place your spouse is working by putting less pressure on him and this is by not making unnecessary and frivolous demands from him. As a military wife you should try and assist the family by also contributing, which is by getting something to do aside being a wife. And this must not necessarily be a white-collar job. My take personally is that as a military wife I would even suggest that it is easier to run a personal business because that way you will be able to take care of the home front better because our husbands are mostly away.
So, I would advice that as a military wife you should work to support the home front so that aside what the man is bringing in you have your own and that of course will make the man more focused wherever he is. Aside the special respect he will have for you as his wife he will also know that whether he is around or not you the wife can take care of the home front. That peace of mind is something that we owe our husbands as military wives.
This is because for them to be focused to do the work in front of them a lot of stress needs to be taken off their shoulders.
For more information, visit www. nowang.org
Address: NOWA, No.3, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan Rd., Off State House Clinic Asokoro, Abuja
Email: info@nowang.org nowanatsec@yahoo.com
Phone: +234-9-2920-221