I demanded to be taken to school at age 6. - Sa'adiya Omar Bello

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.

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 I will prove to people that I have done it. So, anybody who wants to support me now, can. You know now our society is so corrupt, you can go to somebody to support your project, but he may think you are not genuine. If you initiate a thing, then prove to people that you can do it and maybe when they see the quality of work, the significance and importance of the work, they might support you later. So, I had a challenge there. I spent millions doing the project and I had only the support of my family.

My first book was on Mu’azu, the poet in Jigawa. It was my PhD project and I selected him as a poet, because he impacted on my life. There was a particular poem he wrote on obedience to parents and my sister used to recite it while cooking and I picked from there. There’s another, also, about the flag- bearers of the Caliphate.