On the occasion of the 2020 International Women’s Day celebration, Class of 2017 Speaker Ms. Murna Mamman, charged young women to pursue their educational and life’s dreams not minding the circumstances they find themselves.
“The future of our country is in your hands and how you choose to live your dreams will determine how well Nigeria meets our collective expectations. Your education must come first and foremost. The educated woman is the mother of a prosperous nation”.
One of AUN’s most decorated students, Ms. Mamman, who studied Accountancy received the Federal Government’s YOUWIN! business grant from 2015 to 2017 to process and export agricultural produce, advised young women to remain focused, stay determined and never take their eyes off the ball, adding that with education and financial independence any woman will be empowered to live her dreams and fulfill her potentials.
In October 2016, then final-year student Murna awarded scholarships to 100 pupils and students from Primary Four to Secondary schools as part of her Community development initiative. During her four-year program at AUN, she gave out numerous scholarships to young girls in neighborhood schools.
Herself a scholarship student, Ms. Murna Mamman, who attended Ohio State University as an Exchange Student from AUN, single-handedly raised the funds from her upkeep money admitted that she enjoyed a sense of fulfillment by giving a chance to young girls to pursue their education and live their dreams. On other occasions, she visited local schools to distribute sanitary pads, soaps, and other personal healthcare products to the girls.
At her Commencement Ceremony where she held the audience spell-bound with her powerful oratory and inspiring speech, Class Speaker Murna also received the AUN President’s Award for Community Service in recognition of her outstanding contribution to uplifting female students in the Yola-Jimeta area.
A proud graduate of the AUN Emerging Leaders Academy in 2016, Ms. Murna, who was also a recipient of the Stallion Nefteos and Individual Pride Awards in 2015, attended the Model United Nations Conference in New York, also in 2015.
Currently, a Graduate Assistant at the Taraba State University, who has concluded plans to further her studies in the United States attributes her passion for helping young girls to her AUN education.
"Coming to AUN and receiving a quality education, having the privilege to meet like-minded individuals as well during my exchange program overseas, all inspired me to want to lift others especially indigent young women. Nothing is more painful than seeing a young woman who cannot live her dreams because of financial or social obstacles. I prefer to do something, no matter how small.
She also advised women in good positions to go all out to motivate younger women and ensure that no girl is left behind.
“No female must be left behind. That should be the message at the International Women’s Day”.
Reported by Togor Passa