Marriage Shouldn’t Cage Women, Says Prof Ummu Jalingo at CITAD ILERIS
Professor Ummu Ahmed Jalingo, the first female Professor of Economics in Northern Nigeria, has urged women not to see marriage as a barrier to achieving their dreams.
The seasoned academic gave the charge while speaking as a guest at the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS), organised by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Kano on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Drawing from her personal journey, Prof Jalingo narrated how she was married at 16 but went on to surmount challenges to rise to the peak of her academic career.
“The journey to reach the top is never easy, whether you are a man or a woman. It is even more difficult for women, but with resolve, commitment, and determination, you can navigate successfully,” she said.
She recalled how her father had enrolled her in school and nicknamed her “my doctor daughter,” hoping she would become a medical doctor. Though she did not take that path, she said she was proud to have become a Professor of Economics — the first woman to achieve such a feat from Northern Nigeria.
“Marriage does not stop a woman from fulfilling her dreams. I got married at 16, but today I am a Professor of Economics. The key is to stay organized, committed, and prayerful,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of CITAD’s Executive Director, Malam Y. Z. Ya’u, Senior Programme Officer, Malam Isah Garba, explained that ILERIS is a monthly mentorship platform designed to equip young people with leadership skills and insights from accomplished figures.
Prof Jalingo currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria and has lectured in the Department of Economics at Bayero University Kano (BUK) for more than three decades.
Born in Gombi, Adamawa State, she obtained her BSc and Master’s degrees in Economics at BUK before proceeding to Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, for her PhD. Over the years, she has authored books, published over 30 articles in reputable journals, and served as an external examiner to several Nigerian universities.
Her career includes leadership roles as Head of Economics at BUK, Head of Economics and Development Studies at Federal University Dutse (FUD), and pioneer Director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research at FUD. In 2014, she was awarded a Professorial Chair in Aviation Economics by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company.
Prof Jalingo is also a member of the Institute of Management Consultants, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the World Economics Association, and has consulted for global organisations including the EU, DFID, M4D, and the World Bank.
