Balkissa Chaibou

1995 to present

Early life.

Once there was a girl who wanted to become a doctor since she was 12, her name was Balkissa
Chaibou and she was really good at school. One day, she discovered that her uncle promised
her to marry her cousin.
Balkissa was horrified. “You cannot force me to marriage! I want be become a doctor!”
Unfortunately, Niger, where Balkissa lived allowed parents to marry their daughter when they
are still children.
“Just let me stay in school for five more years”, she begged her parents. Her parents agreed to
postpone the wedding.
Major events
But after 5 years, Balkissa’s love for learning only grew stronger.
The night before her wedding, she escaped her house and ran to the closest police station for
help.
Achievements
She decided to challenge her uncle in the court.
She was terrified her whole family will be against her but her mother quietly encouraged her to
fight. The judge agreed with Balkissa, when her uncle threatened her, he was forced to leave
Nigeria.
Impact
“The day I won the case and put my school uniform on, I felt my life was renewed.” She says.
Today, Balkissa is at university studying to become a doctor. She also campaigns other young
girls to follow her to saying ‘no’ to forced marriages. She speaks to schools and tribal chiefs
about the issue.
“study with all you might. It’s not easy but it’s only your hope,” she says.
She is also a Women rights activist.
Moral
From Balkissa Chaibou, I learned that the strongest word to protest is ‘no’. saying a little word
change the mind of people.
Many early marriages are still unprotested, she taught me to stay on the right path, aim my
goals and show people what I can do with life.
“I WILL SHOW THEM WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY LIFE” is my favorite quote.