Rahma Indimi Hints On How She Is Fighting Poverty & Inequality In The North As She Covers Pleasures Magazine’s Latest Issue

Rahma Indimi, one of the daughters of billionaire oil magnate Mohammed Indimi, looks all shades of stunning as she graces the covers of Pleasures Magazine’s May/June issue.

This edition the Magazine is dedicated to celebrating Rahma who is fighting poverty and inequality through the effortlessness of highly skilled volunteers and collaborative partnerships through her NGO, Yakolo Indimi Foundation, by empowering women and youths through education, skill acquisition, micro enterprises, farming, enforcement of their human rights, financial aid and psycho-social interventions.

In a chat with the Magazine, the divorced mother-of-four, 42, who is driven by an unwavering passion and determination to support the less privilege gave an insight into how she is giving succour and saving the lives of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-East via her foundation, aptly titled; Rahma Indimi: A Look at The Thousands of Lives saved and improved by her Yakolo Indimi Foundation.

Read excerpts below…

On the making of the NGO, Yakolo Indimi Foundation, Rahma said:

I grew up watching the generosity of my father, Dr. Muhammadu Indimi, OFR. He is always trying to solve problems for people. He speaks often about poverty and how it can be diminished. He instilled in us the awareness of heartbreaking issues in society.

Like every parent, he worked hard to make his family comfortable. But he taught us to adapt to different situations. So, the idea of the Yakolo Indimi Foundation was born from lessons shared by my father. I saw the smiles on the faces of those helped by my daddy.

I wanted to be like him, helping people. Before Yakolo Indimi Foundation was created, my team and I had been investing in humanitarian activities. Empowering people is one of my greatest motivations. It brings immense happiness and peace in my heart.

On why Yakolo Indimi Foundation seem to be focusing on the North-East geo-political zone:

Presently, the impact of the insurgency in the North-East is overwhelming, particularly in Borno and Adamawa. The people need all the help they can get. Although the IDPs are in other states, the conditions in the North-East are dire.

To make things worse, insecurity cuts off access to many parts of Borno and that makes it impossible to save thousands of children and families. In spite of the long distance, my team and I do not hesitate to go home again and again to help our people.

For example, the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation created by my father developed homes for 100 households. The Yakolo Indimi Foundation reached out to the women and gave them sustainable means of earning revenue. Several IDPs have been given sewing machines and flour processing machines. They also received training as well as start-up finances.

Little by little, all IDPs will be empowered. That is the vision. Periodically, the Foundation visits to conduct surveys on the needs of IDPs, in collaboration with the office on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in the North-East.

Additionally, the Yakolo Indimi Foundation recently started a food security project. We equip beneficiaries with modern farming skills and provide an environment to do so. Livelihood is restored when they can sell produce and keep their families nourished.

Yakolo Indimi Foundation’s intervention in the health sector:

The Foundation collaborates with a medical team during its outreach. We support the team with medicine. The recent trend of increased pregnancies in the IDP camps was a concern. You could easily come across a woman with 20 children and you would see children roaming the streets.

So, the Foundation sensitized the women on birth control. It was successful because some of the women showed interest. The health challenges in the North-East are overwhelming, but not insurmountable. We believe partnership would increase and accelerate impact.

Rahma got married to Mohammed Babangida, son of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, IBB, several years ago and they have four kids together. However, their union ended in 2016 after Rahma shared an audio message via her Instagram page to confirm the separation. (read here).

For the past three years, Rahma and his estranged hubby have been in a bitter battle for the custody of their children.

Mohammed was said to have initiated the custody battle. This was later resolved leaving two of their four kids with him, while the other two are in Rahma’s custody.

Photo credit: Pleasures Magazine