By Imam Nojeem Jimoh
Everyone has his or her own idea of who a role model is – and rightly so. So do I. As a dutiful wife to one’s husband and wonderful mum to her children, I have not found many I would place ahead of our own Rashidat Salisu.
Fate brought us together four decades ago as innocent, young co-students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (MSS in our days, not MSSN) became a glue which bound us together. Her marriage to my good friend, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (the world famous SAS) cemented the relationships forever.
Young Rashidat Adenopo was two years behind her future husband and my humble self – finishing her degree in 1988 as we completed ours two years’ earlier. This story wouldn’t be complete without the mentioning of a certain FBO – Abdul-Fatai Bolaji Owodunni – also of our 1986 set and, for me, the closest person to SAS. SAS and FBO are two of the people I count as friends for life. To SAS, FBO is family and vice versa. Sister Rashidat was to become the most educationally-awarded of us – at least by virtue of her PhD – also from UNILAG.
While SAS is the better known (between husband and wife) in terms of wordly achievements, the truth is that Dr. Rashidat is right up there with him – the difference being that she is a quiet achiever – after all, politicians don’t achieve things quietly. As a couple, you cannot separate them in terms of intentionality. SAS is very intentionally a politician – his wife is no less an intentional teacher – teacher, not lecturer. I am not sure that there are still many of her type around.
Many there are among our wives who fulfil their roles as wives at the expense of their careers – May Allah keep blessing these noble women. Dr. Salisu is one of those for whom the same role is fulfilled while combining it with a full career, and without any known detrimental effect on the family. Many there are who sacrificed the opportunity to have many children because duty calls. Dr. Salisu is one of those who has her full quota of children – five wonderful boys – even in spite of a highly demanding career.
A natural-born activist – be it in the MSS from her young days, at the Criterion where she is a prominent figure, UNILAG Muslim Alumni (UMA), Ansar-ud-deen College, Isolo – the opportunity to have lived next to each other in the same housing estate provides a true measure of the person. She is one of the most respected women and mothers in the estate – respected by men and women alike. Dr. Rashidat carries herself with dignity and self-awareness of a person to whom many look up to. She is a controversy and scandal-free arena.
Having attained career excellence variously as teacher, Head of Department, Vice-principal, school principal and ultimately director with the Lagos State Ministry of Education – picking up awards along the line, I congratulate our own Rashidat Salisu as she retires today. This congratulation extends to her wonderful and supportive husband, the boys and three daughters-in-law who have found in her a mother rather than dreaded mother-in-law.
I had never stepped inside a prison before – as I’m sure was the case with many inside Lighthouse Estate – until her yearly-organised visitation took us to Ikoyi Correctional Centre where the inmates were presented with generous gifts and advice as to how to turn a new leaf. As your Imam, I am grateful to Allah for your life and those of your family. I am happy that our paths crossed. And I cherish the memory of the past 40 years.
إلى الأمام ان شاء الله
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