In case you missed it, Zikoko’s HER docuseries is back. In the past few months, we put out three episodes of the docu-series, featuring women doing what needs to be done in their various fields. Episode 1 featured Ibukun ‘IBK’ Akinola, payments director at PiggyVest. Episode 2 was all about Omotara Tomisin, the multitalented henna artist. And Episode 3, the last you heard from us, focused on Nneka Nnanna, who turned her love for all things Korean into a rewarding career.
Episode 4 is now out, and we’re taking you through the life of Hassana Maina. Since she’s been able to, Hassana has become many things to the women around her. In this article, we list four things we love about her.
1. Hassana Maina Is Many Things At Once
Hassana’s chosen discipline is law; somehow, it’s cascaded into many related and unrelated parts of her life. She is also a gender activist and founder of the Anti-sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative (ASIVOL). Her work and background prioritise women’s rights through policy advocacy, support services and awareness campaigns. Hassana also runs a laundromat that provides accessible and affordable laundry services. In addition to all of these, she has a heart for literature and expresses this through deep and personal poetry.
2. She Was an Active Member of the #ArewaMeToo Movement
In 2018, Hassana joined the #ArewaMeToo, which started from a tweet by a young woman who experienced sexual and domestic violence. One tweet led to a movement for and by women across five states. Hassana saw the movement and picked it up in Maiduguri, Borno state. She visited schools and communities with other women to speak on the shame and silence northern women endured. The people around her emphasise on how this act showed them how selfless Hassana is. Despite not having experienced these things, Hassana’s commitment to the movement was unwavering.
3. Hassana Is Passionate About Building Young Advocates
After her master’s degree program from the University of London in 2022, Hassana moved back home and set up an NGO, Anti-sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative (ASIVOL). Her work at ASIVOL takes her into deep and remote areas across Nigeria to provide humanitarian support. One of her major concerns was having young people interested in and participating in the movement. She targeted young people who are volunteers at heart to deepen their understanding of sexual and domestic violence issues. This vision led to the start of the Changemakers Fellowship, which has become one of the most impactful initiatives of ASIVOL. The program equips young aspiring advocates to continue the work that has already begun.
4. She’s Building Businesses To Support Her Passion
In 2024, Hassana opened Huma Laundry & Linen to sustain herself, especially her passion and ideas. Hassan started this business to fund ASIVOL, having recognised how much would be required for the work. The laundry service exists to offer herself and women a sense of financial freedom. ASIVOL, despite being an NGO, was also started to support a mission that Hassana cares deeply about. Hassan doesn’t just wait for things to happen; she makes them happen.
Watch the full episode here!
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