Another challenge is funding, because I said I was not going to ask anybody to give me money. My idea was that it’s my interest, I want to do it and … - Sa'adiya Omar Bello

I was born in Kano and was three years old when my father died. Our great grandparents were from Sokoto and my father was an erudite Islamic scholar, so they were sent to Kano to preach. He had an Islamiyya school in the house so I didn’t go out for my Islamic studies, I did it at home. He was teaching his family and when he died, his wives continued. All the children from that area came to our house to learn, so I had an opportunity of learning the Qur’an and so many aspects of Islam when I was very young.

I demanded to be taken to school at age 6.

When my father was alive, he did not take his female children to western schools. But after he died and my younger brother was to be taken to school because he is a male child, I started crying. I said to my elder brother that I wanted to go to school; and I asked why he was taking my younger brother and that I had more reason to be in school than my younger brother because I am older than him. So, he saw how I was really frustrated, crying at that age. I was six years old then. So, he said ‘ okay, I’ll take you to school’. I was taken to a very renowned primary school in Kano, Dandago Primary School, and then I went to the Government Girls Secondary School, Dala, Kano. I came out with flying colours, all arrangements were made for me to get married and as fate would have it, I again protested, as I wanted to continue my education. I was surprised at how my mother who was then a widow supported me.