Aida Sow of the Senegalese community in Nigeria. She is a businesswoman and a leader in the expatriate community., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Mama Of The Senegalese Community In Nigeria
SATURDAY, 01 JUNE 2013 00:00 BY OZO MORDI SATURDAY
MAGAZINE - LIFE & STYLE
Imprints Of A Woman Leader
Mrs. Aida Sow is an entrepreneur and Senegalese politician. She is also the Woman Leader of the Senegalese community in Nigeria. She has lived in Nigeria for about 20 years and has company, Vision Senegalese Limited. She shares the story of her sojourn in Nigeria and life as a woman.
SHE literally floated to the dance floor and when took a few graceful steps to the music, a robust shout of “Mama” filled the air. Such is the level of her popularity among her people – the Senegalese community in Nigeria.
Apart from her beauty and elegance, the statuesque fair-skinned woman is the Woman Leader of the Senegalese community in Nigeria, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian arm of Alliance Pour La Republique (APL), the ruling political party in Senegal.
On this occasion, she wore a flowing purple silk gown with eye-catching embroidery which was decorated with crystal stones. She stood out indeed. The occasion was the Senegal’s 53rd independence anniversary celebrations on April 7. She flew into Lagos from Abuja to make it a memorable event for her people who live in Lagos. According to her, Senegalese President, Macki Sall has dictated this because Lagos remains an important part of the Senegalese embassy.
In fact, Mrs Sow’s clout as an organiser is acknowledged even by her people as she is said to have single-handedly rallied the community in Nigeria and handed their votes which ensured that Sall won the 2012 general elections.
She is not nursing an ambition for a political office, she stresses, pointing out that she is satisfied with taking care of the Senegalese in Nigeria. She says that her people live in every part of Nigeria and not just in Lagos and Abuja.“You find them in places like Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna,” she enthused.
Woman leader may most times translate to mother-general, as even the affairs of the men are thrust on her. And she admits that it is no small job. But she is encouraged that her country’s president appreciates her efforts and trusts her enough to give her the job to do. “He trusts me and members of my party love me. That is why I am here.”
Taking care of her people may also mean getting involved with their problems. “I do everything. If it is a problem, I try as much as I am capable of doing even if it involves spending money. It can be difficult but when someone comes with a problem, I feel that I have to do something. I would not be happy if someone comes for aid and goes away unhappy because I failed him. I therefore chip in what I have to give hope.”
Mrs. Sow is an Abuja entrepreneur. “Business is my main calling”, she emphasised and declared that “Nigeria is a land of opportunities.”
She has lived in Nigeria for about 20 years and founded her company, Vision Senegalese Limited here. Vision, as she calls it, is borne out of a dream, adding that there are three subsidiaries under the entrepreneurship. She started by opening a fashion house, which was followed by a dry-cleaning business and a cookware and dealership in electronic appliances.
“I started small. I would bring things from Senegal to sell here and after a time, I opened the shop which was followed by the cookware store. Because I am aware about people’s complaints about how dry-cleaners handle their clothes, I decided to bridge that gap by setting up the business.”
She was married to a Nigerian whose name she does not want mentioned in the newspaper. They have been divorced for some years now, although she says that they remain friends. They have children who are in school overseas.
Prodded to talk about matrimony, she humorously asked, “Do you want to give me another husband?”
But the new man would have to be honest, she says, adding: “I would not live with a man who tells me lies.”
Irrespective of what caused the breakdown of her marriage, she says that she chose to live in Nigeria, stating that the decision informed her setting up a business here. “Nigeria is a great country and the ambassador of the whole of Africa. Nigerians are friendly and nice, and you feel at home when you live among them.”
She describes herself as a simple person. “Life is easier when you try not to be complicated. I can befriend anyone, even someone who has no material wealth. All that I demand is respect all around.”
She thinks that the Nigerian is friendly, noting that in all the male specie – black or white – behave alike.
On the Senegalese woman, Sow says: “She is brought up to take care of her husband. She takes care of herself and she knows it is a duty to be polite and civil to her husband. Generally, Senegalese women are happy people; they are hard working, quiet and quite creative with fashion. We have influenced Nigerian fashion with our style. Nigerians come to Senegal to buy our clothes. The Senegalese love fashion.”
She confesses that like most Senegalese women, she loves facial make-up. “I change dresses everyday. You would not see me wearing the same dress for two consecutive days. I like elegant people around me.”
Although she can be described as incredibly beautiful, Mrs. Sow sees mocks beauty as only skin deep, observing: “It is what goes on in the heart that makes a woman beautiful. Good thoughts will radiate and make a face attractive. And when you complement these good wishes with a good dress sense, you look outstanding.”
Her glowing skin is all thanks to nature, she says, revealing that it is Shea butter from Senegal that is at work. “I rub it in at night and bathe in the morning. It contains no chemical; it makes you look 10 years younger than your real age.”
Her philosophy of life is that to be happy, you have to give happiness. “I don’t accommodate hatred. When I feel offended, I complain to the person who makes me feel hurt. We talk it over and there is no bitterness. That is why I look young.”
Her biggest put-off is untruthfulness. “I want the truth no matter how bitter. If you lie once to me, I would not feel comfortable around you.”
She believes that the African woman is very intelligent and independent. “She does not wait for the man to make her happy or provide her every need because she works very hard. In this she is not really different from her male counterpart.”
She advises women to go into business as a career. “With a business of your own, you can plan your work to suit the running of your home”.
A female politician, she says it is possible for more women to become presidents of their countries in Africa, even in Senegal. According to her, Mrs. Sir Leaf Johnson is doing well in Liberia. And she describes Senegal as having a strong democracy, noting that the country has had only four presidents in 53 years of independence.
Pointing out that the country has never experienced a coup d’état, she emphasises that every president has been democratically elected.
Sow worked as an Air Steward with Air France for eight years.
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