‘Women should instill spirit of unity in their children’ Hajiya Kande Garba
is the founder and chairperson of Wazobia Women United Association which preaches unity among Nigerian women, economically empowers widows, orphans and the less privileged. Hajiya Kande, who is not lettered, pursues women rights and empowerment with passion. In this interview, she speaks on women’s role in ensuring peace and unity in the country, child upbringing, and involvement in politics, among others.
This should be put in place from the political parties to all levels of government.
Men should also stop cheating and tricking women in the political arena. They should allow women to play their part.
How do you get the funds to empower the women?
The members normally contribute the money we use to support the less privileged ones in our midst or empower others. We don’t have any support. Like recently we taxed ourselves and brought in a facilitator who taught the women how to make soap, detergent, room fresheners to mention a few. This is to make them self reliant but the problem is start up capital. After learning many still don’t have money to start business. So we are calling for support for the association to assist these
women.
As an elderly person what worries you about the family unit that should be changed?
We were raised with high regards for morals and appropriate behavior. These days you see boys sagging their trousers and leaving their pants on display for the public. Our ladies dress inappropriately with scary make up.
Some mothers look the other way or are negligent in their duties when they see their children going wrong. Many youths today take hard drugs and these drugs make them violent and do other evil things. Mothers should be able to condemn such behaviours in their children.
Also christians and muslims lived together in peace. Now what we see is hatred and divisiveness in all areas. We should all see ourselves as serving the same God and respect one another. We should eschew religious and ethnic violence.
That is why in this association, we have women from all religious and ethnic groups. I am from Kaduna State. There is no discrimination, we preach unity and oneness.
Awolowo, Azikiwe and Saudana were from different religions and tribes yet they worked together to build this country. We too should build on their work and ensure unity amongst ourselves and let our children see and continue with it.
Women should raise their children with respect and love for others irrespective of their tribe or religion. They should not instill divisiveness in their children but oneness. They should teach them the importance of unity amongst Nigerians and our country will be better.