Mafa neighborhood in Borno state, Northern Nigeria was amongst many cities that suffered assaults from the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists which killed many, plunged others into horrible circumstances and hardship and compelled to 1000’s to flee.
Today, rather a lot has modified for the small city and that features the presence of a preferred first feminine phone technician Falmata Usman who witnessed the havocs that had stricken the city some years again.
Despite some backlash and resistance from the neighborhood, the 23 yr outdated believed in girls rights and gender equality.
“I used to be education earlier than I discovered the talent, after graduating from faculty I used to be at house doing till years later I developed curiosity and inspiration in fixing telephones and as you possibly can see Alhamdulilah I can deal with myself and in addition these round me” says Usman.
Many residents of Mafa neighborhood now patronize her providers but some have by no means stopped expressing shock on the young girl’s technical experience.
One of them Babagana Mogu says he had tried unsuccesfully to repair his phone till he discovered Falmata. “I’ve had points fixing my phone I suffered making an attempt to repair the phone I took it to 4 completely different locations for repair”. Another buyer Maringo Kaffi testifies to Falmata’s work. “Their work is excellent right here, it reveals progress. It will actually assist her and people round her. I’ve seen girls interact in such type of work. If she teaches different ladies they too will educate others and this implies progress for our neighborhood”.
Falmata’s daring transfer has dubbed her an area hero in a village setting that is completely different from that of most Nigerian girls who’re allowed to work and occupy workplace positions. But right here in Mafa, girls particularly Muslims concentrate on home chores and taking good care of kids.
“I’ll advise girls to not sit at house idle, even in case you’re married or a young girl it’s not anticipated of you to be idle particularly when you will have youngsters. You don’t must rely in your husband to offer your wants, life now will not be simple” she says. “Yes the daddy will present for his kids and also you nevertheless it’ll be good you play your position like doing enterprise regardless of how small it’s…small beginnings grows into one thing large” Falmata added.
Although Nigeria moved 16 locations up within the rating of the worldwide gender hole index 2022 in comparison with 2021, it nonetheless has a gender hole of 63.9% acording to the World Gender Gap report.
Africanews correspondent Bitrus Kurutsi in Mafa Nigeria stories that many within the city are impressed by the young woman and consider that they can also rise poverty in the event that they tackle such a daring transfer in a subject that is historically believed to be for males of their neighborhood.
https://www.africanews.com/2024/01/15/nigeria-the-young-woman-breaking-gender-bias-with-her-phone-tech-repair-shop-in-borno/