“When a girl is alert, educated, and aware, she’ll defend herself” - Dr. Aissa Bouwaye Ado (Niger) – 4/4

This is the final part of our conversation with Dr. Aissa Bouwaye Ado, a girls’ advocate and a long-term public worker from Niger.

She already talked about her desire to be educated when she was a young girl (Part 1), and she also told us about her fight against being forced into marriage at the end of her adolescence (Part 2). We then discussed the evolution of her resistance (Part 3).  In this final part, we talk about how she impacted young girls and her hopes for them.

Dr. Aissa was interviewed by Françoise Moudouthe in late 2019 as part of a global project documenting girls’ resistance. The conversation was edited into this four-part interview by Nana Bruce-Amanquah and Chanceline Mevowanou for our #GirlsResistWA series. You can learn more about the series here. 

Trigger warning: this conversation contains mentions of violence and abuse which may be triggering for readers. Kindly take a moment to decide if you want to keep reading. If you do proceed, we encourage you to centre your wellbeing and stop reading at any point, as you need.

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I want to talk about solidarity, especially when you were a young woman who resisted, and even to this day. What has solidarity meant to you in your fight? 

In my fight, instead of having people who supported me, I believe I brought people along with me. During my teenage years, even in the family, they told people not to follow me. But I've had a group since high school. We are about 17 girlfriends, and we were even nicknamed "The Clique". We share similar experiences, and we defended each other; sometimes we challenged each other. Maybe that's what solidarity is all about.

How do you currently mentor young girls and young women who are at the start of their resistance?

Today I talk a lot with young girls. I talk a lot with teenage girls in general. Right now, on my WhatsApp, they are there. I have connected with the young daughters of all my friends on there and I chat with them. If they are married, I advise them. For those who are not married, I also advise them. I am like that. Even if I don't know you, whenever I meet you, whether you're a teenager, have two kids, or you've started having sex, I start educating you. 

What has your resistance changed, whether in your family or your circle or even in the country? What impact has your resistance had?

There are no forced or non-consensual marriages in my family anymore. And my family would always say that it’s ever since I set the example. That’s one thing. 

Politically, I am and have been involved in the government. Especially at the Parliament. I am a member of the national political bureau of the president currently in power. That's what it takes! Sometimes with politics, you also manage to pass the message about women’s issues. People know that when I am in a meeting, I always defend the cause of women. You don't even have to try to attack these issues. I'll defend them. And if I find others who advocate for that, that's fine. If I don't find others, I raise awareness. 

What is the change you want to create in the world, for girls in particular?

Change...it's not easy because of the context. We must fight against this injustice of early marriages, which cause fistulas. When a girl is married at 14 or 15 years old, and then has a fistula, her husband abandons her. What happens to her? It's not fair.

All this revolves around the schooling of the girl. It is she who must be educated. When I am told that parents must be sensitised to avoid early marriage, it is difficult for them to understand. And early marriage still happens. But when a girl is aware, when we focus on educating her, it is not even worth talking to her about family planning afterward, same for early marriage. It is unnecessary. If she is alert, educated, and aware, she will defend herself.

That is right! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Dr. Aissa! 

This conversation is part of a series of interviews with women from West Africa on the theme of resistance. Click here to see all the interviews.