SOKOTO VARSITY RECORDS FIRST FEMALE GRADUATE OF GEOLOGY
Abdulrahman Yahaya reports
Jamila Adamu, a native of Birnin Kebbi, in Kebbi state has graduated from the Department Of Geology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; becoming the first ever female to graduate from the Department.
The department which was inaugurated at the beginning of the 2012/2013 academic session has had its second set of graduates at the end of the 2017/2018 and Jamila Adamu is the only female among them.
NEWSDIGEST gathered that Geology is a course that many, especially in the north, believe is a no go area for female students. This is due to the numerous field work involved in studying Geology.
Jamila, who initially was admitted to read Microbiology, explained to NEWSDIGEST how she found herself studying Geology
she said : “In my first semester, the school shortlisted about 90 names and pasted them on the noticeboard of the admissions officer. My name was one of them. I learnt the 90 students were needed for the 3 new courses established: Nursing, Radiology and Geology. I was sent to the Geology department.
Jamila admitted she accepted to study Geology because she wasn’t okay with with Microbiology. ” I wasn’t down with MCB and I was encouraged to go for the new course(Geology). That was how I received my confirmation”
Despite discouraging assertions by some friends and relatives, Jamila made her switch to Geology happened, “
along the line, many tried to discourage me, saying Geology is only meant for men and I would be going out for field work”
She described as fallacious the notion people hold against Geology,
“some think geology is not for a Muslim lady. Saying how will a female spend over a week in another town with male colleagues? Unknown to them, I receive special treatment in terms of camping. I don’t think even in the south, females would be allowed to camp together with males, let alone in Sokoto.
When ask if she intends to continue with Geology , Jamila responded ” When I started I use to say after first degree I’ll forget it but as it is now, I am so much in love with the course that I intend to further and specialise in petroleum geology.
She advised other female students not to be discouraged by anybody, They should be focused and determined, ignore talks that discourage,pray hard, have faith, be dedicated and success will be achieved, God willing.
Speaking with our correspondent, Mallam Habib Ibrahim ; a lecturer with the Geology department, who happened to supervise Jamila’s project, said the young lady is an inspiration, ” I think she is an inspiration for other female students who think geology is not suitable for ladies. She was able to complete her course with out compromising her values as a young Muslim lady.
Mallam Habib also admitted that many ladies avoid Geology due to its rigorous field works requirement, ” Geology involves a lot of field work and that’s what the ladies shy away from.Muslim ladies in particular, because field work requires you dress in certain ways to ensure your safety.
But Jamila is an example of someone that was able to adequately balance this requirements”
Responding to question on whether there has been improvement on how Northern female students encourage the course, Mallam Ibrahim added that there has been increase in the number of female student in the department,” Yes, though not as much as we could have wanted but at least there are female students in every level.”
He, however, encourage especially, female students to shun the notion that Geology is only for male students and of course a misconception, ” It is a misconception, I encourage more females to study geology as it puts them in a good position in the labor market.This is because there are not many female geologists out there.”