Adamawa Divorcees Lament Exploitation: “Men Take Advantage of Our Hardship,” Says Association Chairperson

By Admin

Hajiya Safarau Yahaya, the determined chairperson of the Adamawa State Divorcees Association, has exposed the harsh realities confronting divorced women, widows, and victims of forced marriages in the state.

In a heartfelt interview, she condemned the exploitation of vulnerable women by men who prey on their economic hardships, while reaffirming the association’s mission to restore dignity and hope to its members.

“Men are taking our vulnerabilities for granted,” Hajiya Safarau lamented. “Because of our difficult economic conditions, many think we are immoral. They see us as objects of pleasure, but I always insist that not all of us fit that description.”

Known locally as the Zawrawa Association, the Adamawa State Divorcees Association serves as a beacon of support for women struggling with the stigma of broken marriages. Hajiya Safarau, who once felt humiliated by the label “divorcee,” now embraces it as a symbol of strength.

“I used to get angry when called a divorcee,” she confessed. “But now, I accept it. It’s my destiny, and I’ve made peace with it.”

The association includes widows, divorcees, and women abandoned by their husbands. Sharing distressing examples, Hajiya Safarau recounted cases of members deserted for years, left to raise children alone. “I personally know three women whose husbands have been gone for over seven years,” she said, highlighting the depth of the problem.

The Zawrawa Association offers these women a sense of community, a place to share their experiences and pool resources to help one another. “Sometimes we contribute money to support members who have nothing,” Hajiya Safarau explained. “We do our best to lift each other.”

She praised the late philanthropist Abubakar Gombi for his past support, recalling how he sponsored marriages and provided seed funding for small businesses. “Since his death, that assistance has stopped, leaving a huge gap,” she said.

According to Hajiya Safarau, forced marriages and polygamy remain major causes of marital breakdown in the region. “Many marriages fail because they were forced or because men take new wives without considering the feelings of the first,” she noted.

Despite the challenges, the association remains focused on empowerment. Plans are in progress to establish small-scale businesses to help members achieve financial stability and reduce their exposure to exploitation. “Some women are hard to guide because of their financial struggles,” she admitted, “but we keep encouraging them.”

The group’s efforts are already yielding success. Through its mediation, several members have remarried and rebuilt their lives, challenging the stigma surrounding divorce. “We are not bitter women,” Hajiya Safarau emphasized. “We are survivors determined to start anew.”

Reflecting on her personal journey, she expressed pride in how far she and the association have come. “People mocked me when I started, but today, I am proud to lead women who refuse to give up,” she said.

Through the courage of Hajiya Safarau Yahaya and the Zawrawa Association, Adamawa’s divorcees are reclaiming their dignity and proving that, even in the face of hardship, resilience and unity can rewrite their story.