Soaring on the wings of courage

Hajiya Rabi Umar Sodangi is the acting Director-General of the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA). In this interview, she shares how she has excelled in her career even though she got married at a tender age; immediately after second

ON WEEKENDS, IT WAS MORE FUN BECAUSE WE PLAYED AND SOMETIMES DID COOKING LESSONS. IF YOU WERE THE ONE TO COOK YOU WOULD START FROM PURCHASING ALL THE CONDIMENTS.

Family background

I was born in Katsina as the first child of the family of Abduljalil Alkalin Mashi. He was a judge in Mashi before he retired and settled in Katsina. My mother is Khadija Abdullahi while my father is Justice Umar Abdullahi. He was the president of the Court of Appeal in Abuja. I am married to Engineer Sabo Ibrahim Sodangi, who retired from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

Educational Background

I attended primary school in Katsina while I lived with my grandparents. My parents were in Kaduna. I attended Queen Amina College, Kaduna from 1972 to 1976. After my secondary school I got married. I later went to Kaduna Polytechnic, where I obtained National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Hotel Management in 1981. After that I went to Bayero University, Kano (BUK) for my postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in Business Administration.

Career

After my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I started work in Arewa Hotels Limited. I later joined the civil service in 1985 in the Ajaokuta Steel Company. Thereafter, I joined the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic. It was there I had a change of career. I went for a postgraduate diploma in Management in the BUK, from 1993 to 1998. I followed my husband anywhere he was transferred to, and by the grace of God, I always got employment there. When I joined the Federal College of Education, Okene I had to do another postgraduate diploma in education. From there, we moved back to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. I was in the admin department of the company from 2001 to 2003 when my husband retired from civil service and decided to settle in Kaduna. I was transferred to the NSRMEA because we were under the same ministry in Ajaokuta. It was in this agency that I went for my master’s degree in Business Administration. I joined as chief personnel officer and I rose to the post of director, Administration and Human Resources Management. I am now the acting DirectorGeneral of the agency.

Growing up

Growing up was fun. Like I said, initially I was in Katsina where I grew up in a very disciplined environment with my grandparents. My grandfather, uncle, senior cousins were all judges. It is the tradition of the family; that is why they are called Unguwar Alkali. The primary school I attended was not far from home, so I, my cousins and siblings trekked to school. On the way we would play and gist. When we went back we would go to Islamiyya in the evening.

There was no light then, so we had tales by the moonlight by my grandparents and aunties. On weekends, it was more fun because we played and sometimes did cooking lessons. If you were the one to cook you would start from purchasing all the condiments. You would prepare the meal for us children, not the whole family. Elders would taste the meal and comment.

Challenges

I had many challenges. Like I said, I got married immediately after secondary school, so taking care of the home, children and working, as well as going to school, was quite challenging. I had my first child when we were in the middle of exams and I had to go to school to write it. I actually wanted to do that because I was ready for the exams, and the baby just came. But I still did my exams. I also did my postgraduate diploma and MBA when I was already working. You can imagine a situation where one was working, studying, having children and keeping the home. I was lucky because my husband and I are related - we are cousins - so our aunties felt at home when they came to our house. And we always had one aunty or another at home helping.

Anywhere you go, you initially face some resistance from the people you meet until you get to know each other better. In the NSRMEA, it was very challenging because I was the only female in a male-dominated place. So I had to really work hard. There was a time I had a programme on the NTA and my husband said I was talking as if I was fighting. But I was the only one in the middle of men, so I had to talk tough, if not they would not listen to me.

Life’s lessons

I have learnt to be humble and beneficial to others. I have always been a part of nongovernmental organisations in all the places I have moved to. And all of them seem to be working. I have learned that goodness begets goodness.

Aspiration while growing up

Actually, I wanted to be a medical doctor

when I was growing up. I got admission to the SBS, Zaria and even the BUK, but because I got married I couldn’t go to those places; I went to polytechnic. That is why I didn’t study medicine.

Early marriage and its impact

Initially, I didn’t like it. I protested, but I found my husband to be very supportive. At times we would sit together and read my notes and do my assignments. He really gave me support in whatever I wanted to do, so it was alright for me. At least one of my children became a medical doctor.

I have five children - three boys and two girls. The oldest one is 37 years-old and married with two kids. He is a computer engineer. The second one, who is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), went to South Africa for pilot course. He has finished with private license and now going for commercial license. The third one is a doctor. She has just finished her house job and waiting to go for the NYSC programme. The fourth one is an architect. He graduated in June and is planning to go for his master’s degree before the NYSC programme. The last one is a 300-level Law student. She is the one following the family tradition.

Fond childhood memory

Honestly, I miss playing around with my cousins and other relatives. There was really a lot of love and care. You could feel at home anywhere.

How I met my husband

He has known me all my life. I met him when I was in primary five. He studied outside the country, so when he returned I met him for the first time. But he was just a brother then. He made a move when I was in my final year in secondary school.

Best gift from my husband

The best gift I received from him was his support for my education and my career.

Favourite fashion accessories

My shoes and handbags.

Best travel destination

I always like to go to a place I have not visited. I have visited many tourist cities. Where I have not been and really like to go to is Sharm-ElSheikh in Egypt. I would really like to go there. I like Turkey. My child studied there, and any time we go there we always find one new tourist attraction or another in Istanbul and Cappadocia. I like Ogbudu; I have been there and I would like to go again.

Relaxation

For relaxation, I like to sit and listen to the Qur’an. At times I surf the internet because I always like to know more things.

Favourite food

I like yam in any form. I also like fish.

Style defination

I am comfortable with the injunction of my Lord. As long as I cover, the dress is free and not transparent, I feel comfortable.

Fashion designer

For perfume, maybe Jo Malone, D&G. I also like good bags and shoes, irrespective of the designer.

Mum’s advice that stuck

Be patient and maintain kinship. Never break

up with any of your relatives. Be good. My sporting life I love jogging. Best weather, car, colour and why

I like cool weather. My best car is Toyota Matrix. I like blue colour when it comes to clothes because it is cool.

Favourite day of the week

Saturday and Sunday because I relax in the morning. I don’t need to wake up early to prepare to go to work.

Beauty routine Awards

I just try to eat healthy food. I don’t put anything on my face; I just clean, refresh and moisturise. I eat fresh food, vegetables and fruits.

Women’s role in the society

We should be very active, especially in supporting one another. I think women should give it all the support. I think we should be able to take care of ourselves and support the family as well because it will give us more dignity.

Yes, I got some awards. I got one from the women wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress. I also got one from the Nigerian Institute of Management. There is one they called Christ Abebe Awards, which I got when I was the chairman, Kaduna branch. We got the Best Branch Award.

My role model

My number one role model is the Prophet (SAW). My mother is another role model because she is very humble. I think she always tries to emulate the teachings of the Prophet (SAW). I also look up to my dad, and my husband. I learnt the passion to empower people from my father and husband. I want people to be self-reliant. Anybody that fights for people to get their own is my role model.

What I would tell a younger me

Have a vision; it is very important, work hard towards it. Be good to people along the way, try to be of benefit to the society.

BE PATIENT AND MAINTAIN KINSHIP. NEVER BREAK UP WITH ANY OF YOUR RELATIVES. BE GOOD. THE BEST GIFT I RECEIVED FROM HIM WAS HIS SUPPORT FOR MY EDUCATION AND MY CAREER.