//COVER

I was a happy kid. I was brought up by my grandmother who was so loving, a disciplinarian and a really social woman in the community, so we learnt a lot from her, but of course, most parents don’t approve growing up with grandparents because of how you are spoilt, so my father took me away I was about to start secondary school and relocated me to Zaria where he was a lecturer in ABU. It was overall a very pleasant childhood.

I miss being a young girl in the university where you go and enjoy yourself without any inhibition.

I met him 40 years ago. This January we’ll be celebrating our 41st anniversary. He came to my village, Biu, to see an old friend and colleague. That’s how we met. INNA MARYAM CIROMA upright, honest, fair, do things right and don’t do things for your own sake but for the sake of your community. My husband always tells me what you don’t want exposed, don’t do it behind closed doors because one day it will come out when you least expect, and also not to expect any reward or praise from anybody. You may make unpopular decisions but if you know what you’re doing is right, then go ahead and do it.

I enjoy public service: it brings the best out of me. I love seeing the job getting done and doing all that I say I will do.

I wanted to be lawyer because my father was lecturing in the Faculty of Law and I loved the wig and how they argued in court, but on realising that after getting admission, my father would be the one lecturing me and when I come home, he would also be there to harass me, I decided to change course. I know I would have made a great lawyer.

Also, after I graduated, I wanted to be in the foreign service and become an ambassador, travelling all over the place, but that didn’t happen because I got married, and in those days, if you’re married, it becomes difficult for the government to post you out.

I have two fantastic daughters who are good, hardworking and well behaved. One of them is working here and the other is a medical doctor. She studied in the UK, did her NYSC and is married to a diplomat, so they’ve been posted to New York. I have grandchildren too. They turned out exactly how I wanted them to and I am so proud.

If I were to marry in the next world, I would marry him again. He is so simple, loving, caring and supportive. He has no problems with anyone and that is why he has succeeded in his public service in Nigeria. I can say without doubt that when they are counting those who have contributed to Nigeria, his name always pops up and I am so proud of him. He has taught us a lot of things that one needs to do in life. Even though he is aged, people still come to him for advice.

To die a Muslim and go to paradise: that’s it. God has done so much for me so there’s nothing more I can ask for.

The old 70’s and 80’s music: I have them on my phone and I play them all the time. I’m an old school person. My emails: to see if I have anything important, then my WhatsApp to check chats. I’m old fashioned, but I love custom jewelries a lot because they go with our traditional attires. I prefer flats. World. Amala and ewedu soup. Louis Vuitton. My Louis Vuitton bags: I love them. Anything indecent. I love going to Saudi Arabia for its spirituality. Once you leave there you feel like a newborn. I also like going to Dubai because they have a lot of tourist destinations. I watch TV a lot. I like Hausa channels and sometimes Zee “What you cannot defend in public, don’t do it privately.” Anything simple and comfortable.

I have so many. There’s Paloma Picasso and Red Door by Elizabeth Arden. I love my LV bags as I mentioned and I’m not really particular about shoes: anything comfortable. My mum always insists on visiting relatives and friends and not to end the relationship bond.

Purple. I love any car. I do a lot of walking: I can do up to 10 kilometres a day when I’m abroad, and for weather, I enjoy it cool. Weekends: because I can sleep and I don’t have to go anywhere. My grandmother, Habibatu Inti: my hotel is named after her.

Not to lose hope, not to despair and work hard. “Be focused and if you have an ambition, don’t be discouraged, keep working on it. If you don’t get it today you’ll get it tomorrow, so never give up.”