Professor Hauwa Ibrahim, a Nigerian, who once roamed the streets as a hawker, and now a lecturer in Harvard University, says she is back home on a mission to take away children from the streets and improve on their lives.
She spoke on her mission statement during a courtesy visit , along with her strategic visionary students, to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in Abuja.
Prof. Ibrahim who has been to 70 countries and taught in 12 countries, is back in Nigeria to teach children Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
In her words, “I believe the future is STEAM and in each of this children there is a rare gem. With a little push, anybody can be somebody.”Ibrahim, who is the President of the Peace Institute, said she and her team wants to show and teach the children that they can be whatever they want to be in life with determination and love.
According to the Professor of Law with interest in women and children, she has been going round countries and impacting positively since 2019 in Nigeria.
Responding, the highly impressed Abike Dabiri-Erewa thanked the delegation which includes nationals of Italy, Germany and Kenya, for giving back to younger Nigerians in need. She said that the contribution of Professor Hauwa to humanity will go a long way to solving humanitarian crises and engender national development.
The NIDCOM boss appreciated the delegation for their patriotism,assuring her of the Commission ‘s support in whatever way possible towards the realisation of her goals in Nigeria.Dabiri-Erewa reiterated that part of the efforts of the Commission is in harnessing the potentials of the Diaspora through brain circulation as opposed to brain drain .
Prior to joining the Harvard Divinity School as a Visiting Lecturer, Professor Hauwa Ibrahim was a jointly appointed Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, Harvard Law School and Islamic Legal Studies Program. A lawyer, author and mother, Hauwa built up a unique practice, representing in Shariah courts women and children.
In May 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her to serve on the Presidential Committee charged with fact-finding to help rescue the 219 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok, Northern Nigeria.
In 2017 Acting President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo appointed her to the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement. She is a Laureate of European Parliament (Peace Prize) 2005 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and resides in Massachusetts USA.
