Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau: First Female Chairperson, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Abuja
The quest for more women to occupy positions of authority thereby champion the cause for the protection of rights of women in Nigeria received a huge boost in 2020 when Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau was elected the first female chairperson of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Abuja, after 36 years of existence.
The Senior Youth and Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) specialist, human rights expert, was returned unopposed in an election conducted on June 11 by the NBA Electoral Committee chaired by Steve Emelieze.
She was inaugurated alongside the Unity Bar’s executive on June 18, 2020, at the Ceremonial Court of the FCT High Court, Abuja.
Who is Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau
Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau is a distinguished Chevening Alumnus, gender advocate, human rights activist, a professional Mediator and Conciliator and a lawyer with over 25 years post-call experience in women’s rights advocacy, conflict resolution, social research, and consultancy.
She obtained her first degree in law from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Nigeria in 1991 and had her Law School professional training at the Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos. She was thereafter called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1992.
In 2006, she won the British Government Chevening Scholarship and proceeded to London where she trained and obtained a post-graduate law degree in Law and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London in 2007.
She is a registered member of the International Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Mediation and Conciliation, Nigerian Bar Association, and a Life Member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
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Ms. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau was the National President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria) between 2012 and 2015, where she was responsible for providing leadership for the professional organization which has State branches spread all over Nigeria.
FIDA is a voluntary not-for-profit organization of women lawyers committed to the promotion, protection and preservation of women and children’s rights, through the provision of pro bono legal services.
She was a nominated delegate to the Nigeria National Conference 2014 where she represented the Women Groups under the auspices of FIDA and was part of fashioning out recommendations that was expected to usher in a new Nigeria if implemented.
She has served as a board member of several NGOs including ActionAid International Nigeria and Nigeria Women Trust Fund. And currently serves on the Board of several other NGOs including the League for Human Rights, El-Shaddai Widows Outreach.
She was a pioneer participant of the British Council funded InterAction Leadership Programme in 2005 and the US State Department/Fortune 500 companies funded International Women Leaders Mentoring Programme in 2006.
The new NBA chairperson is the immediate past Country Director of Ipas Nigeria an International Non-Governmental Organization that works to promote women’s health as well as advance their reproductive health and rights where she led the Country Team from December 1, 2015, until November 29, 2019, when resigned to run her law consulting firm, H. E. Shekarau & Co. in Abuja.
Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau was a regular commentator and public affairs analyst in Nigeria. She is a recipient of several awards from different organizations and institutions.
Dead
Hauwa Shekarau died on Wednesday September 16th 2021 after a brief illness.
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