Meet Barrister Maimuna Yaya Abubakar: First woman to Chair NIPOST, first northerner to launch a fashion magazine
Interview by Aisha AUYO and Jamila YUNUSA, Abuja
In our quest to bring to our readers stories of remarkable Arewa women, Neptune Prime brought to you a remarkable lady who has made history in various fields of endeavor. Her hard work, persistence, and dexterity are something worth emulating. Barrister Maimuna Yaya Abubakar earned an LLB and a Master’s in Business and Commercial Law from Bayero University, Kano. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003, she started her career at the Corporate Affairs Commission and later founded Tozali Magazine and Limestone Solicitors in 2007.
Maimuna launched Tozali Magazine and TV to celebrate Northern people, women, and culture, expanding it to multiple pay TV platforms. She served as Chairperson of the NIPOST Governing Board from 2018 to 2023. Her journey is marked by overcoming challenges and achieving success across various ventures. Happy reading.
NP: We would like to know your name, origin, and educational background.
My name is Maimuna Yaya Abubakar, an indigene of Gombe state, and a Fulani by tribe. My parents are Alhaji Yaya Abubakar and Hajiya Farida Yaya Abubakar. I’m the 3rd among the 8 children in our family. I was born in the late 1970’s. I attended Federal Government Girls College Bauchi, after which I proceeded to Bayero University Kano where I earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Law.
NP: How did you start your career after graduating from the university? After law school, I got a job with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), where I worked for a period of four to five years before I resigned to set up my own business.
NP: Why did you choose setting up your own business over a corporate job?
As a child, I cultivated a deep love for reading magazines and novels, influenced by my mother, an avid reader with a vast collection of foreign magazines and novels. I guess, her passion for reading sparked mine, We always had magazines around, and I spent hours devouring magazines and novels, developing a lifelong love for culture and literature. Over the years, this passion grew stronger, leading me to pursue my dream of starting a publication. And that’s how Tozali was born.
NP: When did you start Tozali magazine and Tozali TV?
I started Tozali magazine in August 2007 and diversified to Tozali TV in 2017.
NP: There are different magazines out there with different target audiences, how did you come about your style and target audience?
Well, after surveying the northern print media, I realized there was no magazine covering lifestyle or celebrating the north or the northern woman, unlike the South where there are numerous types of such magazines. It was an untapped market, so identified the niche and ventured into uncharted waters. Although it wasn’t easy navigating it challenges here we are today.
NP: What are the challenges you face while running Tozali magazine and TV
When I started Tozali, as I said before, the northern market was untapped for such a concept, so yes there were backlashes, especially from the men. It didn’t sit well with most of them as to why there were pictures of their wives all looking fashionable and gorgeous on Tozali magazine pages and covers. But I always tell them, the motive behind the magazine is to showcase how modest and beautiful the northern fashion is. It was essentially a means of celebrating the uniqueness of our culture, and way of life. I always tell people, that media is power, if you don’t share or tell your story yourself; someone will share it inaccurately. Our magazines can also serve as a reflection for the young generation, providing them with a positive and authentic presentation of the culture, to know that they can look fashionable with our cultural and modest dressing. If we allow other cultures to infiltrate the minds of our young ones, they’ll grow up to see our tradition and culture as something backward.
NP: What are the challenges you believe are being faced by the northern woman?
Well, despite progress, the major challenge northern Nigerian women face is subjugation, which perpetuates gender-based discrimination. There is still a lack of equal opportunity and fairness in education, in the workplace, in political appointments, etc. Although this problem is not peculiar to only the north. I want a Nigeria where positions and appointments are given based on merit and competence, regardless of gender. I am not a feminist but I firmly believe women should have equal opportunities to participate in economic development and National growth. By harnessing their skills, talents, and perspective, we can unlock their full potential thereby fostering more inclusivity.
Our major challenge in northern regions is poverty and one of the key contributing factors or causes of this problem is the culture of total financial dependence of the women on their husbands as the breadwinners of the family. This verily limits women’s economic empowerment. We are the ones with large families due to polygamy and extended family responsibilities. If women are educated and empowered and given equal opportunity, the level of dependency and poverty will be reduced, drastically. To propel our nation forward and toward economic greatness, we need all hands on deck. First, we must ensure education for all, as it’s the key to empowerment.
NP: You were busy with the media industry, and boom!, you’re appointed as Chairperson NIPOST, how did that happen?
On the 28th of December 2018, I was browsing Facebook and I stumbled on breaking news of new board appointments a name similar to mine got my attention, although my surname was wrongly spelled. It never occurred to me that I was the one, until the next day when I received a call from a very important person, who confirmed that I was, indeed the one. A perfect birthday gift, as it was my birthday. However, I received the confirmation with mixed feelings, I was happy and excited on the one hand, and on the other hand, I felt apprehensive, as I have never chaired a board. But with Allah’s help, and with support and guidance from my mentors, I did it! I was the board chairman of NIPOST for six years before it was dissolved by the current government. Throughout those years, I gave NIPOST my best.
Under my leadership, we successfully revived the commercialization process of Nipost in collaboration with BPE. We actively supported the process which led to the establishment of two commercial entities under the post. Namely, Nipost Property Company and Nipost Logistics. This transformation marks a significant milestone in Nipost evolution. This endeavor had been impossible for decades, but alhamdulillah, we were able to see it end
NP: In the course of your endeavor, who and who had been your guardian angels?
I have a clique of senior business associates who are always ready to help me. They are my mentors, and also my friends. They guide me through every process and support me in every endeavor. There are three exceptional figures I will forever be indebted to. They have been my mentors for ages. They are, Mr. MK Ahmed, he is a father figure to me, he is an administrator and was the pioneer Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Pension Commission (PenCom). He is the most selfless person I know on this earth. His integrity and kindness are rare.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed with problems, I run to him, and all will be solved. The other two are exceptionally intelligent lawyers, renowned for their intellectual prowess. They are Barrister Siraj Yakubu Garba (Fmr Chief executive), and Rt Honourable Yakubu Dogara. (Fmr Speaker House of Representatives.
NP: How did you combine managing Tozali together with NIPOST?
Being an entrepreneur I had a lot on my table, so I’m used to multitasking. I always pen my plans and my events for the week, and make sure I accomplish them. I also leave room for unexpected developments that may come up. I have to be frank, it wasn’t an easy ride, largely due to my perfectionist tendency to tackle every endeavor with unrelenting passion and commitment.
NP: Do you still practice as a lawyer?
Yes, once in a while I do legal services for my old clients, and I also do pro-bono cases for the oppressed. Aside from that, I have Tozali where we empower women and the girl child. It’s my own way of giving back to the society.
NP: What do you do in your leisure time?
I love kids, so I have lots of my nieces and nephews around me. So, I spend my free time doing lots of kids’ activities. I also do lunch or dinner with my friends once in a while, where we dine and gist and enjoy the break from our busy schedules.
NP: What is your best food?
My best food is ‘Dumamen Tuwo da miyar kuka’. Roughly translated as double fire swallow.
NP: As a lady, what is that jewelry you can’t go out without?
Well, I think it’s the earring. I love bracelets and rings too. But I hardly use a necklace. I love gold because gold is gold, and for the fact that it’s a way of saving money for rainy days. I collect them!
NP: Being a versatile woman with vast knowledge and experience in many fields, what advice do you have for the youths?
My advice for the youths is to give your best effort in whatever you do or pursue, don’t be in a competition with anybody but yourself. Avoid shortcuts and quick fixes, and allow your endeavors time to grow. Let your business evolve in phases, with a clear purpose, objective, and vision. I’ll also advise the youth to have mentors, someone they can look up to, for guidance and support. However one should be careful when choosing mentors. Choose people with high morals and integrity. People who will always guide you to the right path.
Don’t forget to surround yourselves with only progressive friends. Lastly and most importantly, pray for Allah’s intervention in all you do.
NP: We really appreciate you for squeezing out time out of your tight schedule to grant us an audience.
Pleasure.
