Hadabi Haoua Bizo, the mayor of Kiéché, has a strong personality, Even though this has not always been so. “I started my career in education. In my job I was often confronted with the harsh facts of life. We all want our children to enjoy good education. To escape poverty, children need to learn, but in Jougala, the village where I grew up, the first primary school was only built in 1994! That is where my desire to go into politics was fostered. In Niger, there are many problems that require structural solutions. So, soon I understood where my personal area of interest was, namely in politics.”
In 2004 such a choice was not an easy one; it actually still isn’t. “Even though I enjoyed the backing of my family and my husband, around here the world of politics is and remains primarily a male realm. I still often hear that women remain subordinate to men: They must run the household and look after the children and they cannot interfere with public life in any way whatsoever. Such views were an extra reason for me to pursue my plan and go into politics.”
Hadabi has given the signal that women who want to be involved must be allowed to do so and come up for their rights. Today, she raises awareness among the families in her village. “In the past, I did not dare speak in public, but today you can put me in front of an auditorium – even with a thousand men – and I will speak out loud. ”
In Kiéché Hadabi is a real ambassador for women’s rights, and she is the spokesperson of the commune’s women. She helps them obtain an income of their own, to overcome traditional gender bias and to discuss sensitive issues. This really creates opportunities: ”I am aware that a complete change in the mentality is not for tomorrow yet. But I feel I have planted an important little seed, which slowly but surely will grow.”