Most
of us know about or have at least heard about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani
women's rights and female education activist. She disobeyed the Taliban present
in Pakistan and insisted that all girls in the country were allowed to access
education. However, she was shot by the Taliban in the head, but managed to
survive. Malala was honoured with the Nobel Prize because of her courage and her
struggle at the age of 17. If you feel inspired by her story, then its time you
learn about Amina Yusuf. Who is she? Read on....
Meet Nigeria’s Malala
Amina Yusuf is an 18 year old Nigerian activist and an advocator of education for the
girl-child in Nigeria. Moreover, she also acts as a mentor for young girl
students at the CGE (Center for Girls’ Education) in Nigeria. She was selected
as one of the 5 girls to join the youngest Nobel Prize laureate Malala
Yousafzai, while she accepted the prize in Oslo, Norway.
The Center for Girls’ Education honoured
Amina with a scholarship, in association with the Population and Reproductive
Health Initiative, a partnership among The Bixby Centre, the Ahmadu Bello
University Teaching Hospital. And the University of California, Berkeley.
Currently Amina is determined to ensure that Nigerian girls get the right
educational opportunities and she has vowed to keep moving forward with her efforts
and address issues and challenges in Nigeria.
They Can’t Stop Amina
However,
she admits that she is somewhat scared like other girl students in her country,
especially after the Chibok abduction in April 2014. Amina said “I want world
leaders to consider attacks on girls’ education. Insurgency in Nigeria means
that there is fear in my community and fear for girls’ safety. Before now, we
all thought that school was the safest place but now it’s scary. I’ve heard
that many girls in boarding schools have been taken out by their parents or
organisations for security reasons.”
She
added “People are scared that their girls may be abducted too. I know that I’m
scared too, but it won’t stop me from doing what I aspire to do. People weren’t
able to stop Malala, and they can’t stop me.”
There’s
Malala in Amina
Speaking about Malala Yousafzai, Amina
Yusuf praised her efforts and said she is highly impressed by what Malala has
achieved and how much progress have been accomplished by the Pakistani
activist. Regarding her meeting with Malala in Oslo, she said “While I was
there I realised that Malala’s award means that girls all over the world, including
here in Nigeria, have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala’s voice is the voice of
every girl in the world, and many girls tell me that because she invited me to
join her in Oslo, they see Malala in me.”
Talking about her attempts, the
Nigerian activist said that she has become a mentor at CGE “to give more girls
opportunities. If it weren’t for that, maybe I would have been married off by
my parents because they wouldn’t have been able to pay for my education.”
Amina added “I now mentor 15 girls,
aged between 11 and 14, and assist one of the senior CGE mentors. My friends
and all my younger brothers and sisters call me Malala now.”
What do you think about Amina Yusuf’s efforts?
Can she improve the scenario for girl child education in Nigeria? Share your
thoughts and opinions with us by commenting below.
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