There’s always this perception amongst Africans about specific roles meant for men and women. Positions referred to as ‘men domain’ and whenever a woman is lucky to occupy such positions, they tend to be successful and celebrated. Today, female leaders occupy male-dominated working positions and are doing well. This situation is also likened to the present leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna Council, where they have a first female Chairman in the history of the Council by name Asma’u Yawo Halilu who is indeed closing the gender gap through her coordinated efforts in transforming the union. She however explains a few challenges encountered as a female journalist.
In this interview with Stadt Newspaper, she narrates how she works round the clock to meet the demands of the members.
Madam, Stadt is delighted with the opportunity of this encounter. This is the first time you are speaking with us formally. Congratulations! Tell us your name and a little of your experiences as a veteran Journalist.
My name is Asma’u Yawo Halilu, I work with Voice of Nigeria (VON). Though, I joined Voice of Nigeria 10 years ago, precisely in 2014, but before joining VON in the said year, I was with the Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN). Shortly before leaving FRCN, I was posted to Minna in Niger state as a Correspondent for about 8 months, before I switched to VON, where I became the pioneer out of station reporter of VON in Kaduna.
You have been an active journalist for approximately 2 decades what are your memorable experiences since then?
I joined FRCN precisely in 2007, meaning that I have spent almost seventeen years as a female journalist. By August this year I will be exactly seventeen years on the job. I am proud to recall that while I was in FRCN, I was the only female reporter in the newsroom then being heard on the Radio Nigeria network news from Kaduna national station, and with that, I made a household name for myself being heard in the news especially at 7am due to my dedication and this definitely encouraged me to be more interested in the job.
My passion and show of professionalism became noticed by so many people within and outside my organisation, and this paved way for me to join VON easily. Though, at the initial stage of my career, I used to be a very shy person, but I was encouraged and mentored by Mr. Joseph Edegbo, whom I refer to as Paapa and Mr. Illya Kure both of Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF.
One of the challenges I faced as a female journalist was when I was transferred to Niger state. Then, my kids were still very little, the eldest was just about 9 years and the youngest 3 years. I could not relocate to Minna with them so I had to be travelling back and forth because of my girls who also needed my love and care. Even when I transferred my service to VON, I had to decide whether to practice in Kano at VON Zonal Office or in Abuja at the Headquarters because VON didn’t have an office in Kaduna. I eventually chose Abuja and exactly after a year, I was transferred as Correspondent to Kaduna where my family is but to the glory of God, amidst all these challenges, I was able to manage the situation, and today, the story is a success.
What are the personal challenges of your responsibility as a Chairman of NUJ Kaduna?
Hmmm….you know when you are a woman and expected to lead men, one is bound to face a few challenges. In Kaduna, we were used to being led by men but suddenly, the situation changed and I emerged but amazingly, within a short period, I was able to adjust and we are all good. In such situations, one has to apply wisdom and experience, and also consult widely to lead properly. Even at that, there are challenges of interest amongst members, so, as a leader, my priority is to meet the interest of all members, especially those that are developmental, and are in the interest of the Union and the entire members. Another personal challenge is striking a balance between my work and the home. Though, I have a very supportive husband who has encouraged me to be where I am today. Before now, the question people asked my husband was how would he allowed me to work in the media industry, and this is because of the opinion formed about journalists by the people out there. But despite that, my husband gave me all the necessary support I needed to succeed.
As a government, what are your plans for Kaduna NUJ particularly on welfare of the journalists?
Just like I said earlier, my plan is to transform the union, especially on the issue of professionalism. In the last few months, no fewer than 160 members of the council were trained, which was aimed at enhancing professionalism. On the issue of welfare of members, the council leadership is not in any way taking the welfare of the members for granted. We have on different occasions sought the support of both government and private sectors to cater for the welfare of members
In addition, within a year, precisely last year, in the history of the Kaduna NUJ, the council leadership was able to provide gifts to members during all the festive periods and we will do more this year by God’s grace.
Recently, there was a rule with respect to qualification or eligibility of NUJ membership, please explain the implications of this new rule.
Last year, there was a special delegate conference that held in Kano where the Union’s Constitution was reviewed. Before now, the entry qualification was diploma, but at the conference it was resolved that the bar be raised to HND or Degree in Mass communication or any journalism related course. The aim was to have a standard for our noble profession.
Lastly, how did you find your way in as the Chairperson of the Council?
First of all, I was the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel for a year and three months, and thereafter, I was approached by many people, including my very special Leader and friend in the union, Malam Garba Mohammed to contest the position of the number one journalist in Kaduna state. At first, I declined, but later when more people approached me on the issue, I gave it a thought and prayed for God’s intervention and grace and today, all is history even though it wasn’t easy at all.
What are your Achievements in office as NUJ Chairperson?
After our inauguration into office, my team and I drew out a work plan immediately. We set the ball rolling by seeking support of many stakeholders to renovate our secretariat, because that is our own mess too. The major thing lacking then was a good toilet facility which is a major necessity. We had to renovate it and made it convenient for use for members.
And as I said earlier, because the NUJ secretariat is our Mess, we had to employ security to control the influx of non-members into the main building where we relax. Prior to our emergence, all manners of people, including hawkers turned our secretariat into a meeting area. You could see strange faces daily and with insecurity in the country, we had to take the bold step stopping non-members access to our secretariat.
It will interest you to know that, within two years in office, our leadership, with the support of the Nigerian Breweries have built a state-of-the-art sports gallery facility for our members. You know as Journalists; we will need to relax our brains after work. Also, I can proudly say that under my leadership, we have fully furnished the Conference Hall in the Secretariat. We also reframed pictures of our former Chairmen in a unique and portable frame which are all hung in the secretariat.
We equally gave the secretariat a facelift by repainting the building and barricading the whole environment. For those people who frequent the NUJ secretariat, they can lend their voices in attesting to the fact that the environment has tremendously changed and this has enhanced smooth operations of members.
We were also able to get a vehicle for the union, it was donated by his Excellency, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani. Our 14-seater bus that was grounded for over two years has also been repaired. We were also able to put a sign post at the main entrance, at the top of the gate. Before the sign post was mounted, people always asked us description our secretariat. We have also organized series of training and retraining programmes for members. This training session is ongoing because it is held in batches within two months. All these were achieved because I believe in team work. With the support and cordial relationship that we share as Executives of the union, as well as other State Executive Council members, and the members at large, NUJ Kaduna wears a befitting look now. And this is because in unionism, it is not Master-Servant relationship, but rather a colleague-to-colleague relationship.
