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

“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.”

The association, locally known as the Zawrawa 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.”

Despite challenges, the association remains focused on empowerment, with plans to establish small-scale businesses to help members achieve financial stability and reduce their exposure to exploitation.

“We are not bitter women,” Hajiya Safarau emphasized. “We are survivors determined to start anew.”

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.