Hajia Atiku Bagudu Giving Life A Meaning Through The Mallpai Foundation Initiative -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

Since the 1980s when Hajia Miriam Babangida glamorized the office of the First Lady through her pet project: Better Life for Rural Women, It has become normal for first ladies at the Federal, state and even local government levels to operate similar projects to assist people at the grassroots in their respective domains but most of such pet projects end up being mere window dressing; without much impact on the people. However, some of the first ladies’ pet projects have had remarkable impacts on the less privileged and vulnerable groups. And one of such initiatives in the current dispensation is that Mallpai Foundation, a project of Her Excellency, Hajia Atiku Bagudu, the wife of the executive governor of Kebbi State.

Since the inception of the project, Hajia Atiku Bagudu the founder/CEO of the Mallpai Foundation has touched the lives of his people significantly through enlightenment campaigns, demonstrable acts of philanthropy and economic empowerment and capacity-building. She has endeared herself to the heart of the people so much so that she is now known among the rural folks in his state and beyond as the queen of hearts and the first lady with a difference. She is indeed the first lady with a heart of gold whose acts of philanthropy go beyond Kebbi her state as her recent outing in Abuja has shown. A few days ago in Abuja, precisely on the 28th day of November, 2020, the Hajia Atiku Bagudu’s Mallpai Foundation in conjunction with the Kebbi State Government organized an empowerment program with the theme: the Amajiri initiative for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. In a colorful ceremony, various items worth millions of Naira were distributed to over six thousand inmates of the inmates of IDP camps in Abuja.

It is really commendable to see her identify with the less privileged in the society. In a Nigerian society fractured by hardship and strife it is heart-warming to see public spirited individuals identify with others. Such humanitarian gestures elicit hope of a better future for the citizenry. There is too much poverty and hunger in the land. The dependency burden is crushing because there are no social security buffers. Therefore, acts of philanthropy as demonstrated by Her Excellency Hajia Atiku Bagudu are a welcome development. I would enjoin other first ladies, faith-based organizations, not-for-profit organizations and public spirited individuals to assist in alleviating the suffering in the land not just by distributing consumables but by training and capacity-building in skills acquisition also.

In an interview with the press on the occasion Her Excellency Hajia Atiku Bagudu declared that one of the things that make her happy as a person is making others happy. It is her passion to serve and service to her is caring for the people. She thanked the people effusively for giving her the opportunity to do what she is called to do: service.

No doubt, Hajia Atiku Bagudu is a lady of sound ethical principles. She is deeply religious but not fanatical. She believes that the essence of life is in sharing and that is why Allah wants us to live in communities. She believes that what gives life a meaning is that which is shared in common with others. Wealth, knowledge and power are things that belong to Allah and are held in trust for the service of Allah and humanity. Wealth, knowledge and power are only meaningful when they are used to uplift humanity. This is the basis of her believe and that why the motto of her Mallpai Foundation is: Giving life a meaning.

The Vision and mission of the foundation are centered on helping the vulnerable groups among us – women, children and the almajiris. Their programs are geared toward grassroots empowerment, poverty alleviation public enlightenment, skill acquisition, capacity building, and community service among others.

As a public policy advocate and social activist, I have first-hand knowledge of impact of such philanthropic gesture as demonstrated by Hajia Atiku Bagudu. Most of us in Diaspora Nigerians can observe that the major difference between us and the Western World is the concern for others. Naturally, our life-style is communal but recently, we seem to care less about the next person. Greed and ignorance have tended to make us give up our age-long practice of communal living. We need to re-enact this through caring for others – our neighbors, friends, strangers, colleagues etc. so that as to foster peace and harmony in our polity. People in authority and our corporate entities should be alive to their responsibilities.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK