NRHJN Mourns BoT Member, Hauwa Shekarau

•Describes Her As Amazon Of Diverse Parts

Members of the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, (NRHJN) mourn the sudden death of one of its founders and foundation Board members, Dr. Hauwa Shekarau whose demise occurred Thursday, September 15, 2021.

Shekarau was one of the pillars at Ipas, Nigeria as a Policy Advisor when the Network was founded in 2010.

She later became the Country Director of Ipas, Nigeria at the time the Network was ready for its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The love Shekarau had for the Network right from its inception was so deep that, Hauwa committed her resources as well as commissioned a Legal Officer from her Chambers to ensure the Network got registered in record time”.

Her immeasurable human resource was equally expended as she continued to support the Network with legal and human resources until her last moments.

Dr. Shekarau was amazon, an inspiration to many younger women as she offered consultations probono through her Women, Law and Development Initiative.

As a media advocacy group on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Hauwa Shekarau did a lot to enhance training capabilities and opportunities for members both locally and at international fora.

An Amazon and advocate of gender-based violence, Hauwa offered her legal expertise to canvass and mobilise support for their t passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP).

As a Policy Advisor and later, Country Director, Ipas, Nigeria, the passion with which she took the campaign on sexual assaults of the abducted Chibok Girls, the Gender Equity Bill amongst others in the Feminine Group was effectual.

It was natural to pick Hauwa alongside erstwhile Transmission Monitoring Group Chair, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and chair Technical Working Group, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning, Dr. Ejike Oji as the Board of Trustees members of the NRHJN as the trio had in common, the affinity for gender equity and equality.

Safe space for medical termination of unwanted pregnancy occasioned by brutal sexual assaults, rape, incest, gender-based violence among others were some of the passionate displays of our dear Hauwa.

As the first female chairperson of the Unity Chapter, Abuja Nigeria Bar Association, Hauwa Shekarau would be sorely missed.
Her contributions as a former President, FIDA, are immeasurable.
Her contributions to her Southern Kaduna community and as a political contestant in the 2019 elections Hauwa touched so many lives.