Everyday Heroes: Nana Aichatou Foumakoye (Niger)

Her political path has been equally rich. Twice elected Deputy, she has also served on the High Council of the transitional government (Haut Conseil de la République au parlement de transition), as president of the African Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians, as presidential representative at the United Nations regarding children’s issues (2000–2003) and as Minister of Social Development, Population, Promotion of Women and Protection of Children (1999–2003). Since 2004 she has served as Niger’s ambassador to Canada and Cuba.

In these various posts, Foumakoye has seen first-hand the injustices that women are girls are subject to, in particular their lack of access to education, confirming her view that: “To educate a girl is to educate a nation.”

She sometimes spends long hours behind her closed office door working on papers and speeches about the promotion and development of women and girls. Some examples: a text advocating adoption of the Quota Law, as well as a decree about creating the post of Advisor on Gender to the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister. Her motto: “To love and to have faith in what you do.”

Her Viewpoint

According to Foumakoye, the political participation of women rests in securing the ability to fully exercise their political rights — in other words, having equal access to political life and active participation in decision-making bodies. She believes this must be done in partnership with men, who continue to play the game of “divide in order to better rule.” This has the effect of sowing mistrust among women who are elected or nominated to leadership positions.

Certain political subjects concerning women touch her deeply, such as polygamy, forced marriage, excision, inheritance rights and the status of women in the home. She views women as separate human beings, just as men are, with their own aspirations for their development. In the name of what moral law, she asks, can one force a girl to marry a man whom she has not freely chosen or who has already married multiple times?

For Foumakoye, these practices violate the basic, fundamental rights of women. Moreover, the majority of governments have ratified the international legal accords on protecting the rights of women and children.

As for the current situation in Niger, Foumakoye says that all hope rests on this period of transition and in the military junta regime in power since February 2010. So far, she says, it has demonstrated its good faith in the organization of civil elections that are free, democratic and transparent. Since independence, which came on August 3, 1960, the people of Niger have only known constant instability.

Now is the time to give a new hope to current generation and the generations to come. Today, more than talk, what the country needs is concrete actions such as coherent programs of development.

Parents always play a major role in shaping the spirits of their children, and Nana Aicha Mouctari Foumakoye is no exception. Asked to name her role models, she speaks of her father and her mother, whom she describes a symbol of courage and strength. Her mother was widowed quite young, Foumakoye says, and made many sacrifices while raising her five children with dignity.

As for herself, her wish is to leave to future generations solid values such as fighting for the promotion of human rights, in particular for those of women. There have certainly been advances made, but the battle is far from being won. Today, more than yesterday, the place for women is beside men, to work in partnership with them. “There is no women’s power,” she declares, “without women in power.”