The FATI IBRAHIM interview
When you meet Fati Ibrahim, the first thing that strikes you is her genteel manners: calm, soft-spoken and unobtrusive. You could mistake her as somewhat withdrawn, even disinterested in an ongoing conversation. To a large extent, she is obviously reticent, not because she is shy but as a product of her upbringing which emphasized that a woman should carry herself with utmost elan and dignity in public.
Fati Ibrahim is calm but not docile: in fact, from her antecedents, she is a dogged fighter for the emancipation of women and an advocate of gender inclusion that not only liberates the mind but serves as a developmental catalyst.
In the wake of the rejection of the “Gender Bill” by the National Assembly (NASS) in Nigeria, True Vision Associate Editor Simeon Ogoegbulem and Creative Director Jude Uzonwanne, cornered her at the meeting of the Committee on the launch of the Solomon Lar Leadership Institute in Abuja where, in characteristic bluntness, she literally shredded the menfolk for being insensitive not only to the plight of women but the phenomenal transformation that women are bringing to other nations. Now, the men folk should watch it: she thinks the womenfolk should impose some consequential sanctions, one of them being shutting down of “the other room”.
Enjoy your read.
Who are you, can you tell us about yourself?
My name is Fati Yunus Ibrahim. I am a Hausa-Fulani by tribe and I am from Wusasa, Zaria in Kaduna State. I was born there in Wusasa. Wusasa is a small missionary community in Zaria, and it is very prominent because that was where the former head of State, General Gowon comes from. We are different tribes that came to settle in Wusasa, Zaria.
Growing up in Wusasa was full of beautiful memories. But first and foremost, I am grateful to the family I come from, the Ibrahim family. I remember that my father was a real disciplinarian. We got all the discipline we deserved at that time. My father was a no-nonsense man, and we were brought up in a very decent and humble home. We never lacked anything right from when we were growing up and I can confidently say that we were brought up properly. I remember my mother too. She taught us etiquettes and manners, how to carry ourselves especially those of us that were girls.
We were guided all the time by our parents. My father would keep telling us; “go with your senses” especially the three of us that were girls (and the three of us were very beautiful indeed). I am the youngest in the family, very petite and elegant and at times people wonder whether I am a Nigerian or of mixed parentage. Thank God, nothing entered our head when we were growing up. We received all the care, love and discipline when we were growing up, especially from my father. I remember that there were many people that wanted to marry from our family because they knew the type of training and upbringing we received, including our strong Christian background.
My mother is 100 per cent Fulani but my father is what I can call three-in-one. The other two are Hausa and Fulani blood. First is that he has Mandara blood which is from Borno State. His grandmother was a Princess, so he is a prince and by extension, I am a princess. Growing up was a pleasant experience. I was very naughty anyway, I looked for trouble, but I was always a fighter even from my childhood days. I always fight against injustice. Lastly, our parents taught us to always respect people, to be hardworking, to have the fear of God and to always tell the truth.
Early Education
I went to St Barth’s school, Wusasa, Zaria, for my primary education. It was one of the best schools then and people from all over the place were bringing their children to acquire their basic education there. The school was a Christian school and the moral upbringing was very emphasized. The teachers were highly dedicated, and it was a thing of pride to have passed through the school. Prominent Nigerians like Gen Gowon and Gen Danjuma were all products of the school. Then, it was only a primary school but it has been elevated to a secondary school now. From St Barth’s, I went to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for my University education where I studied Industrial Design (I am an Artiste) and graduated in 1982. I was not supposed to study Industrial Design as I was supposed to be a Lawyer. Like I told you, I have always been a fighter of injustice and very sharp right from when I was very little. People were talking about me that I would make a good lawyer as I am very bold. I was so bold that I could face anyone even if he is a giant and talk to the person. I do not fear anyone as I have the heart of a lion.
From the university, I never worked for anybody. I have always been a private sector person. The only salaried job I did was with Kaduna Polytechnic where I helped the school to set up their Fashion Designing department in their school of Textile Technology. After that brief stint, I did other smaller courses here and there to develop myself.
Career Life After Education
After my education, I ventured into being an artist. I remember one of my brothers, who is an architect, he was the one who put me through, gave me a studio with an architect’s drawing board and procured for me so many magazines on homes and gardens. As a matter of fact, I even started with Interior Decoration before I ventured into fashion. Though for me, fashion was more of a passion as I loved fashion even when I was a small girl. I love to dress well, paint my lips, and get those flowers in the garden and paint myself and my parents will order me to go and wash them off. My mother also loves fashion. Being Fulani, you know that they love fashion. She loves to dress well. So, I can say that I took after my mother. And again, the way my parents dress, you will never know that they are Northerners. My father is always in suits. He hardly put on natives because he grew up with the White people right from the time he was nine years old. My grandfather died as a Moslem who was working with the white people, translating English to Hausa and Hausa to English. So, when he lost his father, the white people took over the training of my father and he imbibed all the fine etiquettes of the Europeans. That is how I ventured from Interior decoration to fashion. and from fashion. I also do a lot of NGO work.
In one word, how would you describe yourself?
It is always difficult for one to describe himself or herself. But I will give it a try. I can say that I am a blunt person, outspoken and fearless. I am upright. Above all, I fear and love God. I am a woman of God, a servant of God and an evangelist. I love God and cannot do without Him because I am nothing without Him. I love to talk about Him. Even before coming here, I did my evangelism. I love travelling. I love cosiness around me.
Tell us about your travels, countries visited and purpose?
Like I said earlier, I love traveling and I have travelled round the world: Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. However, of all the countries that I have visited, the most memorable of them all is my visit to Singapore. I simply fell in love with Singapore. And the reason is not far-fetched. Singapore is one of the cleanest countries in the world. You find out that every hour, the streets are being swept, the roads and airports are always in tiptop shape. There are so many beautiful things around you in Singapore. I love it when I go to their malls. Most of the Asian countries are good. I have been to Hong Kong and Malaysia, and I have been to Saudi Arabia. But as Christian, I could only go to Jeddah. I could not go to Medina because it is only Moslems that can go there. I love Dubai too; it is a common place where people go shopping. But most Nigerians seem not to have the memories of Singapore. And when I travel to African countries, I find out that we are blessed in Nigeria. We do not know who we are even though we say that we are the giant of Africa. We cannot compete with a country like South Africa because it is so westernized, organized and well planned unlike Nigeria. I have been travelling since I was young. Travelling is one of my hobbies. It gives me exposure. And I would say that I have been privileged to travel to all these places I have been to.
What is your reaction to the recent rejection of the demand for special seats for women in NASS?
I was not too surprised because we are in a country that has little regard for women. I have no apology to say it. The men have always wanted to relegate women to the background, to shut women up and the men always feel threatened by women because women are making waves all over the world. I will say some of the men (because there are some good men) want the woman to be under them forever so that they can control her and ensure that whatever the woman needs must come through them. So, I was not essentially surprised that the Gender Bills did not sail through. We have been in this struggle for a very long time, women want to emancipate themselves from the hands of men. I keep asking this question: how many of them did not come through a woman? Any society that does not recognize and respect women would be stagnant and that is partly why we are having the problems in Nigeria today. Look at all the societal problems today; Boko Haram, kidnappers, bandits, armed robbers, and all that. If mothers and women are being empowered, being brought to the decision table and being voted for and are part of policy makers, I can confidently say that we will not be having all these children on the streets that are becoming problems to society today. So, for me, I was not really surprised at the rejection of the gender bills. But again, I must draw the attention of women, I have been an advocate and an activist right from my younger days. But I think that for us women, it is time to re-strategize. We cannot be going on the streets all the time. Sometimes, men may understand if we go to the streets to protest but I think that we should reorganize ourselves. I advocate that we should get some quality women and sit down (professional women that are making waves all over the place). We need to come back and organize ourselves and strategize on how we can achieve our aims and purposes. Sometimes, the men laugh at us that we women are not serious; that we just go on the streets and chant songs and carry placards. We should go beyond that and enough is enough. Let us find a way for us to sit down and re-strategize, articulate our demands, and use our brains. That does not mean that I am against protests, no I also protest a lot. When I am not happy about a particular issue, I protest. I remember in the 2014 National conference; I held a one-woman protest and some of my demands were met.
Countries that paid attention to women issues seem to be on a higher trajectory of development. Rwanda is a good example. That is why despite the genocide that happened in Rwanda, that country is developing so fast. It is simply because Rwanda is carrying their women along. And it is not peculiar to Rwanda, look at Tanzania, a very small country. Today Tanzania has a female President. Look at Ethiopia and these other countries are looking up to Nigeria for the right leadership. But unfortunately, we are not there yet. That is why I say that we women should go back to the drawing board and re-strategize. That is why when they say restructuring, I said that we women need to restructure ourselves and that is the way I interpreted the word restructuring. We should come together and restructure ourselves. Women should try and come together and should not allow the men to come between us. We should bind ourselves to achieve results. Like a broom, if we come together, it will be difficult to break us up. I will urge the women to put aside the little gossips and jealousy that tend to put a wedge between us. Women should stop being easily swayed, lured with money by the menfolk to vote for them when we have more credible women to vote for. Women should rise and shutdown the country if need be. Women should shut down the kitchen and even shut down the other room. It is very clear that any society that does not accord the necessary attention and respect for women would be in trouble. And we as women do not want Nigeria to have that problem. Let me make it clear that we are not competing with men but only trying to complement each other. Both men and women can never be complete without the other. It is evidently clear that women are better planners and organizers. A man has no time for so-many things but we women are very gifted, women are programmed for multi-tasking functions all at the same time and God has endowed us with all these gifts that no man can take away from us.
Respond to the argument that women or any group at all do not deserve special seats in the National Assembly?
Why should they make such remarks and what is their reason for taking such an anti women position? What have men done that women have not done? Men do not have any reason to take such a negative position. I tell you that some men are threatened because women are making steady progress in society. Today, in so many homes, men have stopped being men as far as their responsibilities to their families are concerned. It is women that are now picking the bills for the family, from keeping the homes to paying school fees, house rents, hospital bills and other sundry expenditures. The irony is that some of the men do not even appreciate the extra work the women are doing to sustain their homes. Mind you I am not advocating that women should disrespect their husbands but at the same time, for God’s sake, women are not slaves and should not be treated as if they are slaves. It is unfortunate that some men, though they have nothing to contribute yet, see women who are bending over themselves to provide for the family as pieces of furniture in the house. Men should be humble enough to respect their wives if they really want God to bless them. Men should be made to know that their wives are their mothers, sisters, and friends. Men should know that it will not be well with them if they fail to respect and honour their wives. That does not also mean that there are no terrible wives out there. It shall also not be well with women who disrespect their husbands. The Holy Bible has made it clear and given both men and women their roles in the home.
I equally urge all of us to return to our family values. It is the lack of family values that have made our children grow wild in the society. Today, many fathers have abandoned their responsibilities to their wives and some of the children do not have any form of fear or respect for their mothers. Again, it is equally unfortunate that some women could best be described as useless.
Some people believe that granting special seats to women would have opened a floodgate of requests by other “special” groups?
These are gender issues that we are talking about remember. The Affirmative Action has demanded for 35 percent of elective posts and Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention in Beijing and a follow-up in New York. Remember I said that men do not have any excuse not to support women but only looking for one reason or the other to continue the status quo ante. I insist that it will even be better for the menfolk and the society at large if a percentage of the elective and appointive posts are reserved for women. The men laugh at us because we are determined to change the money politics narrative saying that we are not politicians, but I tell you that soon, that narrative will change. Many women have what it takes to make the needed change in the society and have much to offer but because they do not have enough financial war chest, the men want to shut them up. Three times, I have aspired for public office and three times, I failed to make it, but I tell you, I am not giving up because I feel that I have much to offer my society. The records of what I have done are in the open for everyone to see both in my local community and even in Abuja.
Does the demand not suggest that women are handicapped? What happened to the saying that what a man can do, a woman can do better?
First, let me tell you what a man can do, a woman can do and even better too. It has been so proven. I insist that the men do not want to empower the women. The men do not even want to give the women business. It is a known fact that women are the chief drivers of the economy. Small SMEs are promoted and driven by women, and you know their contribution to the GDP of any country of the world. All the interventions we hear about, no one feels the impact. Men are not sincere about empowering women. It’s only tokens that are thrown to the women. For instance, women will be given Nomination and Expressions of Interest forms free. And what does that token mean when the real thing is in the delegates to vote in the Primaries. And you know that the delegates are for the highest bidder. I have started writing a book for the young ones on my experiences in seeking elective office. At times, a week or so to the primaries, these delegates are locked up in a hotel that you will not have access to to sell your manifesto to them. Women need to be fully empowered for them to do well in politics. Women are not like the men whereby many of the men have taken politics as a vocation, career or business and it should not be so.
Would you say that there is discrimination against the Nigerian woman despite the outstanding performance of women in many spheres of human endeavours?
The discrimination against women is so much. Recently, we celebrated the International Women’s Day and the theme of the IWD is Break the Barrier. We still have stereotyping and political and policy barriers. There are a lot of barriers against the women not just in politics but all over the place even in professions and offices, there are discriminations against the women. Everywhere you go or turn, there is one form of barrier or the other against the woman. The men see the women as the weaker vessel, but I strongly disagree with that notion. While some women have lion hearts, some men are weaklings. God took his time to create a woman because God knew the role a woman is going to play and by the time God finished with woman He was satisfied at His creation. That women are addressed as the weaker vessel does not mean that women are weak at heart. Some men are weaklings and I hate it when some weak men are described as women.
As we approach 2023, give us an insight into your expectations for the Nigerian woman?
I am calling out on all Nigerian women to come out and participate in the 2023 general elections. The women should come out to vote and be voted for in the forthcoming elections. I urge them to obtain their PVCs to enable them to vote. Women should arise and go and make the change that will transform their lives for the better. The era of sitting at home and complaining is gone for good. That is why some of us are insisting on a platform to represent our people and use the platform to speak for the voiceless and fight against injustice. The platform will help us to be there when the laws are being made and policies are being formulated. Laws and policies that will favour women and the youth including the girl child. I urge the women not to be scared ahead of the 2023 general elections. Women should not be afraid of getting interested in the upcoming general elections. Women should stand up for their rights and if the women fail to stand up for their rights, the men will continue to infringe on the rights of women and that is why we are setting up a girl child leadership assembly. This is because of our desire to catch them young and teach them leadership at a very young age. By that means remove the stereotypes and the stigma on the girl child. I have floated a club based on the UN SDGs as an advocate of the SDGs. I have been going round the schools. Recently, I was at the ABU to sensitize them. We have set up some in Wusasa, Zaria and in Abuja too. And I will tell you that I am encouraged by the results we are getting. I asked a four-year-old girl in the school in Wusasa where she comes from and she replied that she is from the Nigerian State. I tell you; I was highly impressed. It shows that there is hope ahead. I have elected to mentor women and girls in schools and markets. Recently, I received an award as “Mentor General”.
Give us an insight into your brainchild the “African Fashion Hall of Fame”
Like I told you, I am a fashion designer and an Interior decorator. From my background in the University, I am an artist. I started the African Fashion Hall of Fame. I was the pioneer President of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria Abuja Chapter. When I relinquished my position, I started this African Fashion Hall of Fame with focus to induct people into the hall of fame and we look at criteria like the promotion of African way of dressing. We strive to promote made-in-Nigeria and made-in-Africa clothing. We cannot continue to be the slaves of the white man even in our dressings. The beauty of the African woman is best complimented by the way she is dressed in a typical African way. We also take special interest in the decency of the dressing. We have many programmes under the African Fashion Hall of Fame but we take them segment by segment. The key ones now are Induction, Entrepreneurship and Mentoring. We also have the Presidential and Ambassadors Runway. It must not necessarily mean that the President or the Ambassadors have to come personally but we get people to dress like them and grace the runway. We want the Ambassadors to showcase the cultures of their people through dressing. We are planning an induction ceremony into the African Fashion Hall of Fame but we have not picked a date yet. But we do a lot of mentoring and skills acquisition. We are having a programme on the 23rd of this month in celebration of IWD. The programme which would be held in Abuja at the Nigeria Export Promotion Council will be in collaboration with the Ministries of Women Affairs and Trade and Investment. I also have another programme that I am pushing and that is the Pan African Women Global Network for Justice, Peace and Development.
To what extent have you been able to achieve the objectives of the African Fashion Hall of Fame?
Like I told you, we have trained so many people that indicated interest and some of them, we have even given starter packs and followed them up. We have done training with SMEDAN in Zamfara State for their Talent Hunt. Nigerian fashion has come a long way and our fashion designers are very creative, if only they will be given the opportunity and the empowerment to go further. During the 2014 conference, I made a strong case for fashion designers and garment manufacturers. Today our textile industries that used to be one of the highest employers of labour have gone down. China and India have all made use of the textile industry to grow their economies. I have made so much noise about the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) to no effect. AGOA started with apparels, but it has been extended to farm produce. Other West African countries have keyed into AGOA but Nigeria is yet to key into it due to lack of political will and inconsistency in policies. Some of our designers go to Ghana and Rwanda to produce and export. I remember that Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, once set up an AGOA centre in Lagos and brought an Indian as a consultant. I asked why an Indian should be made a consultant when we have numerous Nigerians who can do the job even better. If the government can create the enabling environment for the fashion industry to grow, Nigeria will go places. And remember that fashion is not only about apparels but also includes shoes and bags, earrings, bracelets, hats and necklaces all made with our local fabrics. If only Nigeria would harness the potentials of the industry, the nation’s GDP will go higher.
Do you think that various governments have done enough to promote Nigerian fashion?
During the time of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, there was an intervention of N70 billion for the textile and garment industry through NEXIM Bank to be disbursed through the commercial banks. It was later increased to N90 billion. Fashion designers never had access to that fund. I made a case and even met with the NEXIM chief executive at that time and wanted to find out why the funds were only going to textile industries. We the fashion designers never got any part of that intervention. A lot of politics was involved. We never understood what went wrong.
