Adiza Ibrahim Sadiq, changing the narrative among women in Zango Communities

Gorgeous Adiza Ibrahim

In a typical Zango (Muslim) communi­ty, women proudly settle to become homemakers with men usually the absolute breadwinners of the family and calling all the necessary shots.

However, Adiza Ibrahim Sadiq, an as­tute business executive is set to change the narrative by empowering Zango girls to take up the challenge of venturing into the working space, attain financial freedom and just like men, support their families.

The idea is not to ‘transfer power’ into the hands of women but rather make them resourceful to support their families and community at large.

Adiza Ibrahim, Head of Marketing and Media Relations Manager at Electro­land Ghana Limited founded the Zango Women Livelihood and Empowerment Programme with the aim of providing skills for young girls to gain a source of livelihood and not relegated to the kitchen.

According to her, the financial lib­eration of women would help them do better, improve upon their self-esteem and position themselves to take up leadership roles.

The programme is driven by her Kuburah Diamonds Foundation, which she started in 2017 to give hope to young girls sharing life-changing stories and experiences to guide them to make better choices. She also runs a boutique with 70 percent of proceeds going into her charity works.

It is to change the perception that Muslim women are not supposed to work which she said has demoralised many. She set out to provide opportuni­ties for women to work and excel.

She began with tackling many social issues including gender advocacy, child marriage, irresponsible parenting and teenage pregnancy.

Following the success of the advoca­cy, she then launched the fully-fledged empowerment programme which had since trained over 300 young girls with soft skills in make-up artistry, soap making, millinery, catering, events and décor for absolutely free of charge for the three years.

“A lot of women come to me for help one way or the other so I thought it would be better to provide them with the necessary skills to earn a decent liv­ing even at the comfort of their homes so they do not neglect their domestic obligations,” she stated.

That began what is gradually becom­ing a success story as many young girls continue to receive training to bridge the gap between the successful Muslim men as against the women.

Setting herself as an example as jug­gles between her corporate work(driven Electroland to greater heights) and so­cial advocacies to empower the teens, adolescents and women especially those from the underprivileged communities, she is optimistic that the Muslim woman could be better when gainfully em­ployed and educated.

Adiza believes that the future is very bright where a young girl would not cry because she can­not afford a sanitary pad, a woman would not give themselves out for sex because they need to survive and a future where young graduates can create their own jobs.

She is also looking forward to a future where Muslim women would go beyond the kitchen and marriage and men would under­stand that women are capable of sup­porting their homes.

“A future where women can have financial power and get away from abu­sive relationships as they can do better on their own,” she stated.

EDUCATION

Adiza attended Aggrey Memorial Junior High School (JHS) for her basic education before going to the Nsaba Pres­byterian Senior High School. Prior to that, she attained computer literacy at the Genthil Computer System Community 2, Tema in 2003 af­ter completing JHS.

She acquired a degree in Broadcast Journalism at the Afri­can Univer­sity College of Communi­cation (AUCC) in 2011.

Illustrous Adiza has an MBA in Market­ing from the Central Universi­ty and currently studying law (LLB) at the same university while look­ing forward to launch­ing her book, ‘Hey, Diamond! Becoming An International Young Woman’ to add to the academic journals.

WORK

Mrs Sadiq had her National Service with the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GHAPOHA) in 2012 after her attachment with TV3 in 2011.

She was a Sales Person at Ghana Business Executive and Brands Manag­er for fashion brand Selina Beb before joining Azadea First Ghana Limited as Manager, Mango and now with Electro­land.

AWARDS

She won the Overall Woman of the Year at the 6th Ghana Outstanding Women Awards 2023

Ghanaian Outstanding Woman of the Year 2023 and Ghana Outstanding Women Network 2023.

She also won an African Women Empowerment Award in 2020 and the Islamic Personality Awards as the Most Influential Female Personality and Ideal Muslima-Becoming in 2023.

FAMILY AND HOBBIES

Beautiful Adiza is married to media personality and politician, Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu and the couple have three children.

She loves reading, writing and sharing ideas with people aside singing, laughing and sharing jokes, making her home a happy place at all times.

By Michael D. Abayateye