By Shehu Muhammad Shehu
Girl-child education has been described as a powerful tool for development that everyone should support.
Professor Mu’azu Ma’azu Shamaki of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, made the statement on Saturday, 27th December, 2026, during the official launch of an entrepreneurship book authored by Saudatu Sadiq Gebe at Dankane Guest Inn, Sokoto.
The book, titled “The Entrepreneurial Journey: Story of Ambition and Women Empowerment in Northern Nigeria,” captures the stories of women’s struggles and resilience in business, ranging from the challenges they face to the successes they have achieved.
Professor Shamaki, who attended the event in a dual capacity as an invitee and as a representative of the Senator representing Sokoto East, Ibrahim Lamido, said that educating a woman is like educating an entire society.
He stated that what Saudatu Gebe has done is worthy of emulation by other women, noting that “She comes from Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where it is very rare to see a woman author a book, especially one who is not an academic”.
He added that women should be supported and encouraged, stressing that when girls are empowered, the entire society will develop and poverty will be greatly reduced.
Professor Shamaki called on the general public to emulate Saudatu’s achievement, noting that the book contains numerous business strategies, particularly on how to convert social media into entrepreneurship and profitable business ventures, rather than mere passion.
Speaking at the event, the author, Saudatu Sadiq Gebe, said she wrote the book to guide fellow women after realizing that many women and girls have startup capital but lack knowledge on how to begin a business.
Gebe, who highlighted her business struggles, dedication, and the success she has achieved so far, said the book explains how women can turn their dreams into reality.
She emphasized that empowering young women to pursue businesses would help reduce the high rate of marriage breakdowns and poverty in Northern Nigeria.
She further advised women to rise and begin building their businesses, noting that in recent times, men increasingly prefer to marry women who own businesses so that they can support each other.
More than N6.7 millions naira was raised during the event attended by many dignitaries including Alhaji Umar Ajiya, Ajiyan Sokoto, representatives of BUA and Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shatima, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) amongst others