Growing up was a bitter sweet experience for the little Helen Oritsejafor. She had a loving and caring father who pampered her and she lacked for nothing. The pain of losing her mum at an early age and a dear cousin who took ‘’her death’’ tinted her childhood memories with some great sadness. Mama Helen as she is fondly called encountered God at a very tender age, and sure knew she will be used in God’s vineyard. Marrying a renowned man of God however was a dream she would have considered lofty. She dropped all her ambitions, wealth, and political status to support her husband, the renowned Rev. Ayo Oritsejafor in the ministry. She has no regrets, and will do this over and over again. Amazons Watch magazine crew met with her in her Warri office where she took us on a journey of the coincidences that triggered up this…

Commitments toward formally educating girls in northern Nigeria dates back to almost seventy years. And from the mid–eighties to date, there have been more than 10 government policies, mandates, and programs, made to improve and encourage girl child education. What are the effects of this age long commitments on recent statistics and how are Northern Nigerian women faring? Amazons Watch magazine had an exclusive interview with Dr. Mrs. Hannatu Adamu Fika, Executive Secretary /CEO, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Nigeria, where she bares her thoughts on the issues ranging from the education of Northern women, leadership and stories of her travails and achievements in her journey to the top of Nigeria Civil Service. Dr. Fika is audacious and unrelenting in the pursuit of her dreams. Click on this link to read her inspiring story.