AN EDUCATIONIST AND HER PASSION FOR CHILDREN
Hadiza Yar’dua Tuggar is married with three boys and is the director of Woodentots International School. She is from Kastina, her dad is from Mashi and her mother is from Borno; she is Shuwa. Hadiza was born on the 21st April 1979 and has two siblings.
Educational background
I started my primary school at St. Ann Primary School, Kaduna before I transferred to NNPC Staff School, Kaduna. Then my dad was transferred to Port Harcourt so I attended the Air Force school there and then went to Essence International School for my secondary education. After that I went to the UK where I completed my secondary education. I did my A Levels at a school called Farringtons in Kent where I studied Business Admin, Cooking and Literature. Then I went to Richmond, the American University in England. I studied Business Admin and majored in Marketing there. I wanted to be in advertising and marketing. Back then it sounded all flashy but then reality set in and Nigeria didn’t really have much of a market for us to do that.
Career background
I got a job at an oil company and I was there for a year before I came back to Nigeria, did my NYSC then went back to the UK once again to do my Montessori course so it was a decision between doing my masters and that. It was a struggle because my father didn’t understand the whole Montessori stuff and was like this isn’t what he paid for me to go to school for but this school is the outcome of the course. I came back and got married in 2005, got a job at Legacy Pension and afterwards moved to Bank PHB which is now Keystone. I was there until I had my first child and then I decided that I needed to go and do my own thing so that’s how I decided to start this school and here we are.
Growing up
It was really fun and nice. It was a small family unit; we were very close. We did everything together, thoughmy dad was hardly in the picture because he was working with NNPC when it started so he was mostly at work. It was all family holidays and visiting friends.
Challenges
Professionally, I would say when I started this school, raising capital.And it’s a school, so you always have to encounter the teachers and parents so I knew I had to grow in terms of my communication skills and interacting with people. But alhmadulillah we have been able to rise up to the challenge. Personally, I think I used to procrastinate a lot so I learnt to channel myself and tell myself that I can’t achieve this without hard work. I had to discipline myself, sit down and think about my faith because there’s a difference between being religious and spiritual. So again I think at some point you need to realize that you need to be in tune with your God.
Life’s lessons
Don’t take anything for granted. One minute you have it the next minute you don’t. One minute your loved one is here the next they’re gone. Cherish every moment and count your blessings. There is a quote in the Qur’an that I always go by; “which of the blessings of your Lord would you deny”. I use that in every situation and scenario.
The most rewarding part of my career
Coming to the school and seeing the kids, what they are learning. I am very passionate about education and I am realizing that the foundation of education in Nigeria is not as good as the rest of the world. So for me coming in and seeing what the kids can do and achieve is very rewarding and looking at my kids as well, how I can be a better mum and bring them up well. I just want to be able to give very child the best education.
Fond childhood memories
I miss being with my siblings because we all live in our own
CHERISH EVERY MOMENT AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. THERE IS A QUOTE IN THE QUR’AN THAT I ALWAYS GO BY; “WHICH OF THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR LORD WOULD YOU DENY”. I USE THAT IN EVERY SITUATION AND SCENARIO
I SLEEP AND TUNE OFF. I LIKE TO READ TOO. I USED TO READ A LOT LIKE JOHN GRISHAM. AT THE MOMENT I AM TRYING TO READ ‘HOW TO BE A BETTER LEADER’. I AM ON THIS JOURNEY OF TRYING TO BE A BETTER LEADER ESPECIALLY IN EDUCATION
houses now and I miss us being together. We were in school together and everything.
My typical day
I wake up in the morning, pray, take my coffee then make sure everything at home is in order and then I come to work and I am here till about 4 to 4:30, sometimes 6. I wait for my kids to close from Islamiyya so we can go home together then we shower, eat, do homework and bed by 8;30 so I get my me time where I sit and watch TV, catch up on emails, instagram and all that before I call it a night by around 12 to 1 am.
Most cherished gift
It was from my mum. She went outside the box for one of my birthdays and got me a bedside lamp and I am sure if she reads this she is going to be like oh my God! The lamp came in the shape of a sponge, an iron sponge then with a lightbulb. It was really special and different and I still have it back in England.
How I met my husband
He said we met at a polo tournament in Kaduna because I grew up in Kaduna but I honestly don’t remember. I remember meeting him through a mutual friend.
Most cherished attribute of his
He is very selfless. He has made it very clear that his family is his main priority.
Top things on my wish list
To go to my permanent site school wise. I want to get a bigger space for the school. Secondly to reach out to as many orphaned kids as I can. I am currently sponsoring about a hundred of them in Kaduna and being a humanitarian is very important to me. Thirdly to travel and have nice holidays with my husband till we become old and also to get my mum a first class ticket to go for Umrah (lesser haj) with the family this year for her 60th birthday.
My favourite music on replay
I’ve always liked Boys 2 Men and there’s this song I and my kids love by Silento called Watch Me.
First app I check in the morning and at bedtime
Muslim-Pro. The first thing I do every morning and at night is to recite a few verses from the Qur’an from my phone.
My favourite fashion items
Shoes and bags.
Flats or heels
Flats any day.
What I wouldn’t be caught wearing
Now being a wife and a mother there are certain stuff I can’t wear; so nothing too revealing or short.
Best travel destination
It has to be Madrid, Spain, because my husband lived and schooled in Spain and he told me so much about it and he was always like he has to take me there someday. So two years ago, on my birthday, he surprised me and just came in a day before and said “take the kids to their grandmothers’, we’re going”. So it was something really special, he put thoughts into it and it was just the two of us and we spent five days.It was really nice.
How I relax
I sleep and tune off. I like to read too. I used to read a lot like John Grisham. At the moment I am trying to read ‘How To Be A Better Leader’. I am on this journey of trying to be a better leader especially in education.
My favourite quote
“Which of the blessings of your Lord would you deny”.
my favourite food
Tuwon shinkafa, miyan taushe or miyan gyada.
my definition of style
Comfortable and modest.
My favourite fashion designer
Reedas. It’s a Nigerian brand and she gets my style.
Favourite perfume, designer bag and shoes
Addict by Christian Dior, shoes should be Giuseppe Zannotti and I don’t have a favorite bag.
Mum’s advice that stuck with me
When I got married she told me not to start something I won’t be able to continue and she always tells me I need to save. She thinks I spend too much on shoes and bags.
My favourite sport, colour and weather
I’m not really a sports person but I take exercise and fitness really seriously. But maybe football because my kids and husband are football junkies. Colour is red and weather is not too hot and not too cold.
My favourite day of the week
Sunday, because it is my quiet day and it’s me and my husband’s time. Since we got married we always dined out on Sundays unless one of us happens to travel.
My beauty routine
I just do a pedicure and manicure every 10 days and I stick to one product.
My role models
My mum because she tells it as it is and it’s difficult to get people that will look you in the eye and tell you what you need to hear. She is very humble and spiritual.
Looking back what I would tell a younger me
Not to worry and everything that will be, will be. Crying won’t change the current scenario and I did a lot of that in my teenage years, asking why me? But now I just tell myself not to worry about it and have faith in everything.
Legacy
I am gearing towards the humanitarian side of things so I would want to be remembered as someone who made a difference in people’s lives; children’s lives to be more specific. And I hope for my school to grow and for my children to appreciate it and perhaps at least one of them to take over.