? First to graduate six PhD students, why she is called superwoman

Professor Hauwa?u Evelyn Yusufu is the first female professor in the employment of the Kaduna State University (KASU). She is also the first professor to have graduated six PhD students in the Department of Sociology in the university.

In this exclusive interview, she shared her experiences rising to the peak of her career, balancing the home front and civil society space without one negatively affecting the other.

Excerpt:

I know you are wearing so many caps in the academic and social environments; can you lead us into a few of them?

Yes, thank you. By the grace of the Almighty Allah, I am a Professor of Criminology and Gender Studies at KASU. I have the distinction of being the first female professor to rise through the ranks within the university. Currently, I serve as the Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Research Culture.

In addition to my academic role, I am the National President of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Practitioners Association, a position I assumed in 2023. I also serve as the National Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Society for Criminology, a role I?ve held since 2017. Also, I am the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for the Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV). The idea for this centre came from my experiences interning at several shelters in the United States during my 2008 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) trip. That experience deeply inspired me to replicate a similar initiative back home.

How do you manage the home front, lectures and civil society space?

As an alumnus of the U.S. IVLP programme, I?ve continued to integrate global insights into local solutions. Beyond my academic and advocacy work, I am also an entrepreneur. I founded Evadex Organic Farms, which is dedicated to producing purely organic birds and eggs. Additionally, I own Evadex Table Water, which produces clean, bottled water. When I say I own these businesses, I truly mean it, though I must acknowledge the unwavering support of my immediate family. Perhaps this ability to balance so many roles is why some people call me a superwoman. Alhamdulillah, to the glory of God, I?m able to manage these responsibilities successfully.

You are yet to share how you are balancing the equations without one affecting the other.

A major reason I?m able to do this is the support of my husband, Prince Adefarakan Adedayo Yusufu, who has been by my side since my student days at the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria back in the 1980s. God has also blessed me with children who have fully keyed into my vision; so much of what I do is done in collaboration with my family. My siblings, too, are a strong source of encouragement and support. I must also say I?m enjoying the support of individuals too numerous to mention. Yes, I do a lot of things, but I make a conscious effort not to allow my primary assignment as a teacher to suffer. For instance, today, as soon as you arrived, I mentioned that I had classes. I teach from 2.00pm to around 4.00 pm, and tomorrow morning I?ll be in class again from 8.00am until about 12noon. So, whenever I have to organize or participate in programmes, I make sure they are scheduled strategically so that they don?t interfere with my teaching responsibilities?the very role for which I am being paid.

What philosophy or philosophical ideology is your driving force?

My passion lies in helping humanity and touching lives. For me, it?s not a choice, it?s a responsibility. That?s the philosophy behind everything I do. You?ve visited our shelter, you?ve seen the kind of work we do. We don?t charge anyone who stays there. Our services, including psychosocial and legal support, are free of charge. We work closely with professionals like Barrister Bukola Ajao and receive vital support from government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) that share our vision. Together, we are committed to making Kaduna a safer and more supportive place for everyone, especially vulnerable populations.

You still ensure teaching takes place even when you are not around, how do you do that?

(Smiles) That is through e-teaching and digital innovation. In fact, I was one of the first at Kaduna State University to embrace e-teaching. I started using online platforms as far back as 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the university?s e-learning platform became operational, I had already subscribed to a licensed Zoom account, which I used consistently for lectures. Because of that, some of my colleagues also use my Zoom account to deliver their lectures. So whether I?m in Kaduna, outside the state, or even outside the country, my classes continue without interruption. I still teach online, and my students know this.

BSC, MSc and PhD students, which is difficult to manage?

MSc students are the most difficult to manage. Some of them will take a French leave in the second semester only to show up three years later. You can imagine. For the BSc, there is not much of a problem because they are usually young persons.

Recently, there?s been talk that you might be the first professor in the Department of Sociology to graduate six PhD students. Is that correct?

Between 2024 and now, I?ve graduated six PhD students: four as the major supervisor and two as co-supervisor. These students belong to the very first set of PhD graduates from the Department of Sociology, Kaduna State University. So yes, I can proudly say I am the first professor to graduate PhD students in that department.

Why do postgraduate programmes take some students so long?

There?s a common concern about how long it takes to complete postgraduate studies, some people take 10 or even 30 years. The truth is that postgraduate programs have stipulated durations. Ideally, a master?s degree should last four semesters (two years). A PhD should be completed within six semesters (three years). However, there are often challenges that delay completion. For example, university strikes, institutional delays, funding issues, or personal circumstances can extend a student?s time in the programme. These are realities many of us have had to navigate. Sometimes, when I say a student ?ran away,? what I mean is this: you ask a student to go and make corrections on their work, and they begin to feel you?re being too strict or demanding. Instead of making the corrections, they disappear, sometimes for years. I know students who started a master?s programme here and disappeared midway, only to reappear two years later. Yet, when they speak publicly, you?ll hear them say, ?I?ve been doing my master?s for the past 10 years.? That?s often not true. Now, that?s not to say we don?t have instances where delays are caused by systemic lapses, either from the supervisor or the system itself. Those do happen. But in most cases, delays are largely the fault of students who fail to do their work when they?re supposed to.

Is the use of phones by students negative or positive to their studies?

In my class, I allow my students to use their phones for some reason. For example, some of them use their mobile phones to record the lecture so they can listen to it afterwards. Also, they use it for a deeper understanding of the lecture. To me, if used to acquire knowledge as applicable to their fields of studies, it is positive.

How do you weather the storm of gender barriers, especially in this part of the country?

This brings us to an important question I?m often asked especially in this part of the country. People say women here live under a ?culture of silence,? where they are taught not to speak out, not to pursue their dreams, and to suppress their potential. But I don?t call it a culture of silence. I call it a conspiracy of silence. A deliberate system that uses religion and culture to suppress women. You?re told, ?You?re a woman; you shouldn?t speak here,? or ?You?re a woman; you shouldn?t take up certain roles.? But for women like me, we?ve learned to navigate the terrain by understanding our potential and carving a niche for ourselves. I try as much as possible to stay on the right path. I don?t get involved in anything negative or criminal. Of course, no one is perfect, we all have our human shortcomings, but when you commit yourself to doing things the right way, you break barriers.

What will you tell women who are finding it difficult to break forth?

I always advise women: If you?re in a field like mine, academia, l don?t wait for favours to be promoted. If you need five academic papers for promotion, aim to publish fifteen. That way, you?re not at anyone?s mercy. Even if they disqualify some of your work for one reason or another, you?ll still meet the requirement. If you need ten publications, strive to have thirty. So when reviews happen, and some are removed, you still have enough. Let your work speak for you, not connections or compromises. Because once you find yourself having to beg for unnecessary favours, the terrain becomes more difficult. It leaves you vulnerable. People can take advantage of you if you have nothing to show for yourself but are still asking for promotions or privileges. That doesn?t mean that if you work hard, there won?t be challenges. There will be. But those challenges are easier to overcome when you?re standing on your merit. Basically, my message to women is this: Do more than is expected of you. Prepare ahead. Earn your place. That?s how you break barriers and change narratives, not just for yourself, but also for the generations coming after you.

Can you share a particularly challenging or defining moment in your career?

I?ve had my share of challenges. I wouldn?t call them sad moments, but certainly defining ones. Challenges are like fertilizer, they make you grow stronger. As you rise, especially as a woman, and begin to stand out, you face resistance. Some people feel threatened by your progress. I remember being appointed Director of Academic Planning at the university just about a year before I became a full professor. That appointment didn?t sit well with some people, possibly because I was a woman. After working for a few months during which I implemented several impactful changes, I was removed. It was tough, but I took pride in knowing I left systems in place that still serve the university well.

Tell us your contributions to your field of study.

Throughout my career, I?ve often been a pioneer. The first Indigenous Head of the Department of Sociology. Among the first Deputy Deans of Student Affairs. The Pioneer Director of the Consultancy Services Unit. The Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Education. I?ve had the privilege of building from scratch, turning untapped spaces into functional units. And I always give my best.

Can you remember any unforgettable experience you had with a student?

I had an unforgettable moment with a student in 2008 when male students walked into my office around 5.00pm. Then, I was running my PhD, so I used to stay a bit late in school. He said, Ma, has anybody ever told you are beautiful? I quickly noticed that he was having it in mind to harass me and I quickly sent him away. That was an experience I cannot forget. But I never allowed that to affect my class until he graduated.

How do you relax?

The good thing is that once I leave the office and get home, usually around 7.00 or 8.00pm, I put my phone on silent, aeroplane mode, or Do Not Disturb. That helps me focus on my family and get some rest. However, when necessary, I also work overnight especially when I need to write papers, grade exams, or meet deadlines. Over the years, I?ve built a reliable network of excellent mentees who assist me in different capacities. The only task I don?t delegate is teaching. As long as I?m in town, I handle my classes personally. If I?m not around, I may delegate some class activities to trusted mentees, but I still ensure that teaching takes place.

What would you like to be remembered for?

In academia, I want to be remembered for upholding excellence, always standing for what is right and setting high standards. Outside the classroom, I want to be remembered as a humanitarian. Someone who gave selfless service to humanity and became a voice for the voiceless. (The Sun)

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