Tambari by Daily Trust Tambari

A PUBLICATION OFF

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020

a r t x E

Amina Ummulkhair Ibrahim

‘Disappointment hasn’t changed me’ Hi there!

e are starting this year, 2020, with i nt e r e s t i n g topics. This week, our Culinary segment is on how to make asun, a spicy and tasty meal. In our Etiquette corner we will be talking

about what to do when visiting your relatives or friends this festive season. It is important for us to know what to do, what to say and how to behave when being hosted. In the Health section we will educate you on the dangers of overeating. Also, the Beauty segment will give you tips on how to keep your nails healthy and beautiful

this season. Our Cover personality is Hajiya Amina Ummulkhair Ibrahim, who served as a deputy director and acting director in the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. – Amina Alhassan, Editor

CALL: 0818 7703733 EMAIL: tambari@dailytrust.com

C U L I N A R Y CO R N E R

ETIQUETTE

What to do when visiting by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

to your hosts. Do not lazy around and make yourself available only uring a festive season, it is when there is food. Integrate not uncommon for family yourself into the family by doing members or friends to visit chores that take some work off one another. But there are some their shoulder. tips you could use when you go Do not complain: You are visiting. There are some guests you a guest living off the never want to entertain ggenerosity of your host, at home because of how so try your best not to cumbersome they can be, WORTHY ccomplain. If you are not OF NOTE: while you wish some of ccomfortable there, go them stay longer because A HAPPY back to your house. If b of their attitude towards GUEST IS A the food is bad, do not you. Here are tips to be HAPPY HOST, th ccomplain; eat it with love, the guest everyone wants SO PLAY or give the impression o to entertain. that you ate it and sort th Offer to help: When YOUR PART. yyourself out later. you see your host doing Keep their space something like preparing to cook, clean: Always try to keep the space get in there and help out. Even if or room allocated to you clean. It they ask you not to help, your host will not be responsible of you to will appreciate the fact that you litter someone else’s house. Always want to help. lay your bed when you wake, and Assign chores to yourself: If sweep the floor. Also, flush your you will be staying a few days, toilet and wash the bathroom. assign house chores to yourself so that you don’t become a liability

How to make asun at home by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

sun is a Yoruba delicacy made from goat meat. It is a popular delicacy made at parties in Nigeria. The meat is grilled or barbecued with pepper, which adds more spice and taste to it. But you don’t have to go to a party before you eat asun; you can always make it at home. Here is how to make your peppered goat meat at home. Ingredients • 1.2kg of goat meat (cut with the skin) • 2 habanero peppers • 1 medium onion • 1 teaspoon of thyme • 3 big stock cubes • Salt

• 1 cooking spoon of vegetable oil • Black pepper (optional) Ingredients to garnish • 1 medium onion • 1 small green bell pepper • 1 small red bell pepper Recipe Marinate your meat with thyme, black pepper, stock cubes and any other ingredient, then put in the fridge for about an hour. You can choose to skip the marinating process and boil it. But do not put too much so you don’t lose any flavour by removing goat stock. Monitor the progress till it is well cooked and water dries. After this, put your goat meat on oven rack and grill at 180f or 350f till brown; you need to turn regularly. This should take about 15 minutes. While grilling your goat meat, wash and thread the onion and bell peppers for garnishing. When the meat is well grilled, heat the vegetable oil in a pot and the chopped pepper and stock, if any is left from the boiled meat. After frying for some minutes, add the grilled meat to it and stir properly. Serve with your threaded vegetables.

HAJIYA H A JIYA A AMINA MINA IIBRAHIM BRAHIM // CO V E R

Disappointment hasn’t changed me – Hajiya Amina Ibrahim Interview by AMINA ALHASSAN

Hajiya Amina Ummulkhair Ibrahim, brahim, n a lawyer, was born in Kano in 1962. She has a background in Alternative Dispute Resolution and a master’s degree in Law. She speaks Hausa, English and Egyptian Arabic. Until her resignation in 2018, she was the Deputy Director/Acting Director, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. In this interview, she spoke about her work experience, passion for simplicity, among other issues. Institutions attended attended Shahuci Primary School, St. Louis Secondary School, Bayero University Kano, Law School, Lagos, University of London (School for Oriental and African Studies). I specialise in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Islamic Law, International Human Rights of Women and International Protection of Human Rights. Work experience My National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was at CTV Kano (now ARTV). I worked as a Legal Officer in NICON Insurance Plc from 1989 to 1992 in Lagos. I was a Fee Earner at Chase Christopher Roberts in London from 1999 to 2002 as well as Solicitors, Grays Inn Road, London, WC1 8QT, UK. I was also a Fee Earner/partner at Greenland Solicitors LLP in London (2002-2004). I was a Chief Legal Officer and acting Zonal Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Kano, from 2005 to 2007. I also worked as a Chief Administrative Officer IC UNDS (M) UNDP Desk, and Aid Information Management Officer in the National Planning Commission from 2007 to May 2009. I was the Head of Administration, Vision 2020, National Planning Commission, from 2009 to 2010, as well as Head of Unit, Joint Commission National Planning Commission from 2010 to February 2011. Furthermore, I served as Chief Legal Officer, National Planning Commission, from February 2011 to 2012. I was the Assistant Director of Administration, National Planning Commission, from January 2012 to January 2014, Deputy Director/Acting Director, National

Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) from January 2014 to 2018. Having resigned from the Federal Civil Service as a deputy director, I’m now involved in community work and several nongovernmental organisations like the Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative (KCCI). I am a founding member of Kano Leads. Recently, I registered a non-governmental organisation called ATFAAL ILM Foundation, which is studying ways to bring education to children. This is because our small study has so far shown that some children are out of school, not because they don’t want to go to school, but because e they cannot afford to go. With Sisters Keepers, I am also advocating the 35per cent affirmative action for women, especially in elective and appointive positions in government. I am currently a partner of Onokwai Ibrahim Sa’ad and Partners, a law firm. Growing up I am one of those who were fortunate to have grown up in a safe, secure and prosperous Nigeria. We were parented by all parents in the neighbourhood; and discipline

was the watchword from home, community, primary school to university. Life lessons “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you. The best of people are those who are beneficial to others. What goes around comes around.” I have lived by these maxims and reaped their benefits many times. Alhamdulillah! Aspirations growing up I had always wanted to be a lawyer or teacher. But at A’ Levels, my mentor and sister’s husband, Wazirin Dutse, Bashir M. Dalhatu, a lawyer, encouraged me to read Law. In fact, he gave me my first Law book, The Law of Contract, by Cheshire and Fifoot. I have relied on his wife since I was 16 years old. She has remained a rock for me. So, eventually, I read Law, and I hope I can retire into lecturing once I get the opportunity, insha Allah. Fond childhood memories As a parent and grandmother, I look retrospectively at some of my memories with nostalgia, and wish I could do those things with my children too. Some of my fondest memories were Thursdays and Fridays in the early evening. We used to live at K/Mata, near Asibitin Cikin Gari. Because there was no makarantar allo in those days, we would come out to watch hundreds of people coming back to the city from work at various factories, through the K/Mata gate, from shops at Sabon gari, Kantin Kwari, as well as Gidan Ashana and many of such places. We saw people on foot, bicycles or motorcycles - hundreds of them - or at least we thought there were hundreds. We only saw similar numbers on Sallah day when the emir was going to Eid. It was fascinating. Another one was when my father took

UNTIL YOU MEET A REFUGEE OR DISPLACED PERSON, YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR PLIGHT. AND YOU MAY NOT APPRECIATE THE FORTUNE THAT YOU DO NOT ONLY HAVE A COUNTRY TO CALL YOUR OWN, BUT ONE THAT PROTECTS YOU TOO

me to cultural shows at Bayero University. We watched dramas, poetry, Mallam Ashana Dan Gambari etc. Work experience at NCFRMI Until you meet a refugee or displaced person, you may not understand their plight. And you may not appreciate the fortune that you do not only have a country to call your own, but one that protects you too. Displacement of any kind can be a most humiliating experience. We thank Allah for his protection. When you work with these unfortunate people, you either become more sympathetic and work for the benefit of humanity or become hardened and dispassionate and see only your suffering. In my view, those who do the second are pitiful and have got their hearts displaced. As a very senior officer there, I was fortunate to have influenced some policies that were of benefit to both staff and our persons of concern - refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants. But my desk dealt mainly with refugees and migrants. I only assisted with internally displaced persons when necessary. Career/responsibilities as a mother and wife I started working after I had all my children and they were of certain ages. So I really didn’t have many challenges combining the two. How you met your husband We met through a mutual friend. My most cherished attribute of his is his counsel. With him, I am always right. Most cherished gift My children and grandchildren. The good Lord has found me worthy to have them, and I am forever grateful. Alhamdulillah! Motherhood joy Alhamdulillah! To have had healthy, beautiful, educated, responsible and respectable children who are on the straight and narrow, is an unquantifiable joy. And to have lived long enough to see my grandchildren, nothing tops that. Your kind of music The best music is of the 1970s and 1980s. Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder are my best. But I will always enjoy Mozart. Favourite app Thank God for WhatsApp. It has taken

TAMBARI SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020

HAJIYA AMINA IBRAHIM // CO V E R

I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE GOOD PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. ALL MY MISTAKES, IF ANY, WERE BECAUSE I REFUSED TO LISTEN AT THAT POINT. THANKFULLY, I LISTEN MOST OF THE TIME. I WOULD DO EVERYTHING THE SAME WAY AND WITH THE SAME PEOPLE; BUT LISTEN EVEN MORE over from normal telephone calls because it doesn’t matter where you are, you can call easily and cheaper. Fashion I don’t have a favourite fashion item; I try to be stylish instead. You will never see me in shorts or swimming suit. I can’t be caught in any of those. Favourite travel destination In days gone by I would have said some places I enjoyed. But now, my best travel destination will remain Makkah and Madinah. In shaa Allah, I will visit Al Aqsa too. Relaxation I relax with my friends. We get to reminisce and enjoy music together. We have realised that we are relatives. We are ourselves when we get together. When I am away from my friends I like to take a good book and watch documentaries, especially what the world is up to at any particular time. Favourite food I am not a foodie. As long as it is good food I will eat it. I don’t pick and choose. So, from yadiya to caviar, it is all good. My style Style is personal. But one has to choose what is suitable. The latest fashion is not necessarily what would suit one. Favourite designer I don’t have a particular designer. But I know that Salvatore Ferragamo has class and is for the mature woman; I like that. Favourite perfume My favourite perfume now is called “Untitled.’’ But I

TAMBARI SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020

SOCIETY NEWS

Compiled by AMINA ALHASSAN

Munira turbaned Zinariyan Saminaka

always have some Chanel No 5, No 9 or Coco. Mother’s advice that stuck till date She always advised me to be patient; and always said to me, ‘Start as you mean to continue.’ Favourite sport I love basketball and football. I used to favour Chicago Bulls, Kano Pillars, Raccah Rovers and Arsenal. Your colours I love bright colours Your kind of weather The rainy season. Favourite day of the week and why I love Fridays. I feel guilty if I don’t open my Quran until Friday. So that day, I must open and read parts of the book. Favourite book It will always be the Quran. I understand some Arabic. There are verses in that book that will make you cry for yourself and humanity, wallahi! It brings you out to reality with a huge bang and you realise that you are nothing but a number of days waiting to go back to its maker. On the other hand, I enjoy books by Robert Ludlum, and to some extent, John Grisham. Your beauty routine I hardly sleep without applying a night cream. What would you do differently? Nothing. I confess I have been fortunate to have good people in my life. All my mistakes, if any, were because I refused to listen at that point. Thankfully, I listen most of the time. I would do everything the same way and with the same people; but listen even more. However, I must confess that I trusted and got a huge disappointment, but it has not changed me. I still have hope in human beings.

on. Munira Suleiman-Nalaraba was last week appointed Zinariyan Saminaka. The Emir of Saminaka in Kaduna State, HRH Alh. Musa Sani Ibrahim appointed the successful businesswoman and philanthropist extraordinaire, Hon. Munira SuleimanNalaraba as Zinariyan Saminaka. Zinariya, a Hausa word for Golden, is a chieftaincy title bestowed on daughters of the land who contribute immensely to humanity and the growth of their communities. The Emir, in a letter signed by the Secretary, Saminaka Emirate Council, Malam Murtala Yusuf, said Munira Nalaraba had distinguished herself as an exceptional woman, who is selflessly championing the cause of the downtrodden in the society. Munira Suleiman-Nalaraba is the founder of the Green Heart Impact Foundation a non-profit organisation that focuses on assisting and empowering the less-privileged through innovative programs that address the root cause of poverty. Using one of her signature projects, #BooksOverTrays, Nalaraba has so far enrolled 76 girl-child hawkers in schools across the country with a plan to train them from primary or secondary schools to tertiary education level, while also empowering their parents, thereby tackling the root cause of girlchild hawking. As a humanitarian, she has helped to set free 120 prisoners who had been in incarceration due to inability to meet up with bail conditions. Munira Nalaraba’s benevolence to exprisoners is in addition to her numerous interventions in many IDP camps. She is indeed a woman of the people. Congratulations Munira.

Dr Safiya Musa turbaned First Gimbiyan Talban Bauchi

auchi, the capital city of Bauchi State on Saturday, 28th December 2019 stood still as the who is who, Kingmakers, associates, friends, well-wishers, family members and the masses converged at the palace of Talban Bauchi, His Highness Alhaji Tahir Ibrahim Tahir, to witness the coronation of Kogiborn Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa as the First Gimbiyan Talban Bauchi. The honour comes barely a week after Dr Safiya Stephanie Musa clinched the First Bank Holdings Humanitarian Award as well as her appointment as the Vice President of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria. In a brief speech at the turbaning ceremony, Talban Bauchi, Alhaji Tahir Ibrahim Tahir said the honour bestowed on Safiya was in recognition of her “unequalled humanitarian strides, exemplary professional conducts, political consciousness and for being a good role model to women and youths”. He said, “the entire Bauchi emirate is proud of Safiya’s accomplishments as a seasoned banker, consistent humanitarian and a public-spirited Nigerian who wants the best for Nigeria and Nigerians”. The traditional ruler said the epoch-making occasion was both historic and memorable given the fact that Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa is the first Gimbiyan Talban Bauchi. He said by this coronation, Dr Safiya has “become part and parcel of us and a worthy Ambassador of the Emirate”. Truly, a golden fish has no hiding place. Congratulations to our phenomenal Gimbiyan Talban Bauchi, Dr Safiya Stephanie Musa on this rare feat. Keep blazing the trail, a woman of several parts. All hail amazing queen.

B E AU T Y

TRENDS STYLE FASHION

Dr. Nathaniel Adewole M: 0803 8039182 E: nadewole2013@gmail.com

HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES

by MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

hristmas and New Year celebrations come with a lot of preparations that may require a lot of cooking and cleaning. This can cause damage to the nails and hands. When you notice your nails are peeling or splitting and they are spoon shaped, as well as red swollen skin around them, you need to pay attention to them. Here are ways to keep your nails beautiful and healthy this season. Do not cut your cuticles: Whatever you do, do not cut your cuticles. They are there to protect your nails from fungus and

How to keep your nails clean and healthy this season bacteria. Once you cut them you cut away your protection. So let the cuticles stay. Use nail hardeners sparingly, or not at all: They sometimes do more harm than good to the nails. Some people use it to prevent their nails from breaking, but the truth is, healthy nails are flexible nails. Let your nails be; using nail hardeners could make them more

brittle, thereby, causing breakage. Moisturise your cuticle and nail bed: You could use carrier oils, such as coconut, jojoba, olive and orange, to mention a few, to moisturise your cuticle. They help your nails look better and prevent them from breaking.

With additional information from the internet

DID YOU KNOW... THAT YOUR NAILS ARE A WINDOW TO YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH?

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

The dangers of overeating By MOYOSOLUWA OLORUNSOLA

ating nourishes and provides the body with the nutrients and energy it needs to function. But too much of everything, as they say, is bad. There are a lot of dangers to overeating. It could cause weight gain if done continuously. And it could cause the organs to work overtime, thereby causing damage to them. Dr Lotanna Okoye of Premier

Hospital, Agege, L Lagos said the H it l A id th dangers of overeating were too much for people to ignore. She said, “People really need to take care of themselves. You don’t just go around eating anything that comes your way. When you eat, the organs get to work and start processing the food and absorbing it into the blood after it must have been broken down. “When you overeat, it takes a toll on the organs because they begin to work over-time. And this

TAMBARI SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020

can cause damage the organs, d tto th especially the liver, which helps the body to digest fat, adjust cholesterol levels and detoxify food. “You would also become bloated. Our levels of metabolisms vary, so even if you don’t get fat, your stomach might become bloated. Once you get full, stop eating. Don’t give your body more than it needs.” With additional information from the internet

It’s a tradition in my family to have something removed from the throat of newborn babies. I was made to understand that this practice is dangerous. Is this practice safe? Please, educate me on the dangers of this. - Hafsetu There are a few traditional practices that are okay, but many are not only unacceptable but dangerous. What you described is one of the dangerous ones. It is called a uvulectomy. Traditionally it is used to treat or prevent sore throat, difficulty in swallowing amongst other things. Quite a lot of culture practice it in Nigeria but more common in the Northern part of the country. It is usually done on the naming ceremony day. A local sharp curved knife is used to cut the uvula with something to collect it down. To say the procedure is dangerous is an understatement. Some babies bleed to death. Other problem associated with this includes bleeding that lead to low blood level and infection which could be disastrous. We should not also forget the danger of using unsterilized repeatedly used instrument especially the transmission of HIV and hepatitis. You need to discuss with your spouse and take a firm stand. Do not risk the life and health of your baby while trying to satisfy traditions. More public enlightenment is needed against some of these dangerous practices.

SWELLING ON THE HEAD My baby is a few days old but with swelling on the head. What is the possible cause and what should I do? - Sarafatu, Adamawa Whenever there is swelling on the head of a newborn baby, the commonest cause is usually due to caput succedaneum, which occurred due to the head trying to pass through the bony canal. It’s more common in prolonged and difficult labour. Most of the time it resolves spontaneously. There is no need to do anything and taking unnecessary steps is actually counterproductive and dangerous. Another cause which is not common is encephalocele, in which case there is an abnormality of the neural tube. In this case, usually, the doctor will most likely refer you to a Paediatric surgeon for advice and management.

WHEN IS A SAFE PERIOD? Please, I need detailed information safe period for a woman. I already have three children and I am not ready to get pregnant again. - Janet, Minna, Niger State Usually, a safe period is for those who do not want to get pregnant to know when to meet and not to meet which is also known as the calendar method of family planning. This method is easier to use if the menses is a regular menses and especially if it is like a regular twenty-seven/twenty-eight-day cycle. A menstrual cycle has two phases: the proliferative (or preparatory) and the luteal (or post-ovulation) phase Take note that menstruation usually occurs fourteen days to the next menses. Because of the fact that both sperm and egg can survival for one to two days, some days before ovulation and some days after ovulation are fertile period. Because of space let me give you a simple formula. In a woman with regular menstrual cycle of between twenty- seven and thirty days, divide the cycle length by three the first and last third are safe while the middle third is not safe. For example, if your menstrual cycle length is twenty-seven days: DAYS 1 – 9 and DAYS 18 – 27 are safe period while DAYS 10 – 17 are unsafe or fertile period. In this person the ovulation will likely occur on Day 13 which is fourteen days before the 27th day. This formula may not apply to a woman with cycle length more than 30days or less than 27 days The challenge with this is that quite a large number of women do not have a constant menstrual cycle length. Also when there is that occasional change the person might get pregnant. For a more effective method, I will recommend other methods of family planning like injectables, IUCD or even permanent method if you have completed your family size.