Maimuna Umar Zarewa, 30, a native of Kano State, is currently completing her PhD programme. She speaks on how her parents played a critical role in resisting societal pressure and absorbed cultural tension to support her study, and other issues in this interview with OLATUNJI OMIRIN. Excepts:
Could you please tell us more about yourself and what you do?
I am Maimuna Umar Zarewa; I was born in Zarewa, Kano State, in 1995, and grew up in Maiduguri, Borno State. I began my early education at Blessing Osas School in Ngomari Costine and later attended Ruby Springfield College, Maiduguri, where I obtained my Senior Secondary School Certificate in 2012. I was the School Amirah during that time.
I proceeded to Northwest University, Kano, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, graduating as the best student in my department. I later obtained my Master’s degree in Chemistry from Bayero University, Kano, with sponsorship from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). In 2022, I was awarded a Deanship Scholarship at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), where I am currently in the final stage of my PhD research.
Looking at what you have achieved in terms of academic pursuit, could you share what motivates you, especially in the northern part of the country?
I got the spirit of loving education from my dear parents who despite many challenges, struggles, and financial limitations made sure I attended school from Creche to PhD. Right from childhood I have had a passion for education, my mother once told me that at the age of 5 in the year 2000 when our rented house got burnt and lost everything I was screaming and only calling for my books and my school uniform. I was born in a rural community where the dominant occupation is small-scale farming.
My community does not value education, especially girls child education. My extended family has an estimated population of 5,000, I was the first female to obtain a high school certificate, I was the first female to obtain a Bsc certificate, I was the first female to obtain Msc Certificate and I am happy to tell you that not only in my extended family and my village but in my entire local government I was the first female to start the Ph.D. programme. My local government, Rogo Local Government Area, Kano State Nigeria, has an estimated population of about 350,000 in 2020 with a 50.03percent female population (City-Focus.com). In addition to the generalised challenges of girl child education in the Northern states of Nigeria such as gender discrimination, cultural and religious limitations, poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, early marriage syndrome, and peer pressure; I faced a lot of other peculiar challenges from both maternal and paternal 4th-level grandparents who were both alive during my primary school age and also suffered rejection on my educational journey, due to ethnocentrism.
However, my persistence and resistance coupled with mitigating steps taken by my parents in providing the right conditions for me to attend to my full potential I have indeed seen light at the end of the tunnel. I graduated with first class. Failure is an orphan and success have many parents. Not only my extended family, but my entire community is also proud of me and is convinced and encouraged to send their girl child to school. Whenever I remembered that am standing for females in my community, I created a way for the advancement of girl child education, I am a model for every girl in my community I feel motivated and I developed extra effort and zeal to work even harder.
You spoke about ethnocentrism and early marriage syndrome. Aren’t you worried?
Ethnocentrism often creates resistance to change, especially when a girl chooses a path that deviates from traditional expectations. However, exposure and demonstrated success gradually weaken such resistance. When communities see tangible outcomes academic excellence, professional growth, and sustained moral integrity perception begins to shift. Regarding early marriage, I strongly believe that marriage and education are not mutually exclusive. The real issue is not marriage itself, but whether the environment within the marriage is supportive. I have seen women successfully combine both roles without academic decline, particularly when they have supportive partners. Therefore, the problem is not marriage; it is lack of structural and emotional support.
I also observed that some girls suspend their education while waiting for marriage, and when marriage is delayed, valuable years are lost. Education, unlike marriage, is a progressive investment it builds capacity regardless of marital status. Marriage should complement a woman’s development, not replace it.
In my own case, my parents played a critical buffering role. They reduced societal pressure and absorbed much of the cultural tension, allowing me to focus on my education. That parental support was decisive.
In the 21st century, you would be the first female PhD holder in a local government area. Don’t you think girls’ children’s education should be prioritised over being in other rooms in a conservative environment, and why?
Yes, I strongly believe that in the 21st century, girls’ education must be prioritised even within conservative environments — because education is not a cultural rebellion; it is a developmental necessity. When a girl is educated, the impact is multidimensional. It improves household income potential, health outcomes, child development, and social stability. Research consistently shows that educated women raise healthier and better-educated children. This directly reduces poverty cycles, social dependency, indiscipline, and even criminal vulnerability in communities.
However, prioritising girls’ education does not mean dismissing cultural values. It means redefining them in a way that supports long-term societal growth. Education and cultural identity can coexist. The issue is not conservatism; the issue is restriction without justification.
I have seen firsthand that there are many talented girls who are academically capable but structurally restricted. I was particularly concerned to learn about cases in my community where brilliant girls were sponsored through SSCE and JAMB, passed successfully, secured admission, yet were prevented from proceeding by their parents.
That indicates that the barrier is not intellectual capacity it is perception and social conditioning. I am encouraged that there are signs of change. Progress is happening. But traces of resistance remain, and that means awareness efforts must continue. This is why I intend to establish a foundation focused on girl child education not only to provide financial support, but to drive community sensitization. Scholarships alone are not enough; mindset transformation is equally important.
Let’s talk about your study. You are a PhD researcher currently pursuing a doctorate at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia with specialisation in materials design, advanced sensing technologies, and battery materials. Can you tell us how it has been?
Yes, my PhD has two components, I am rounding off the battery part, and I finished the sensor part, for the sensor, I utilise petroleum Waste Refinery Residue from Ras tanura, Saudi Aramco converted to a chemical censor- one of them is corrosion sensor. The core idea of my research was to transform petroleum refinery residue into a high-performance material through controlled chemical modification and materials engineering. The resulting corrosion sensor demonstrated strong sensitivity and stability, proving that refinery by-products can be repurposed into smart monitoring systems for industrial corrosion detection. This work has important implications for sustainability, asset integrity management, and circular economy strategies within the oil and gas sector.
While the initial phase focused on developing and validating the sensor at the laboratory level, I strongly believe research should extend to practical deployment. During the R&D process, I worked with multiple standalone instruments for corrosion detection and analysis. This highlighted the limitations of fragmented systems and the need for an integrated solution.
As a result, I developed a hybrid device that combines sampling, sensing, and data analysis within a single platform. The system integrates the waste-derived chemical sensor with artificial intelligence for real-time corrosion detection and predictive assessment. It is designed to operate with robotic automation for inspection tasks.
An important advancement is that the sensor material also exhibits corrosion inhibition properties. Building on this, the next prototype will incorporate an inhibitor reservoir. Once early-stage corrosion is detected and validated by the AI system, the device will automatically deliver a controlled amount of inhibitor directly to the affected area.
The objective is to transition from passive corrosion monitoring to an automated, responsive corrosion management system improving operational efficiency, reducing material degradation, and supporting sustainable industrial practices. This innovation was recognized with the Carbon Neutrality Cup 2025.
Talking about this innovation, you have developed; in what way do you think this would enhance security in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria?
First, corrosion is one of the leading causes of pipeline failure, leaks, and infrastructure degradation. In Nigeria, where pipelines often run across long and difficult terrains, undetected corrosion can result in oil spills, explosions, environmental damage, and economic losses. By enabling real-time detection and automated early intervention, the system reduces the risk of structural failure before it escalates into a security or environmental crisis. Second, pipeline vandalism and illegal tapping are major security concerns in Nigeria. While corrosion and vandalism are different issues, weakened infrastructure due to corrosion makes pipelines more vulnerable to rupture when tampered with. A smart monitoring system that continuously assesses material integrity strengthens overall infrastructure resilience and supports rapid response mechanisms. Third, the integration of AI and robotic automation minimises the need for constant human presence in high-risk or remote areas. This reduces personnel exposure to hazardous zones and improves surveillance coverage across extensive pipeline networks.
Finally, by preventing leaks and optimising corrosion inhibitor usage, the system supports environmental protection and regulatory compliance. Reduced spills mean fewer community conflicts, less environmental degradation, and improved public trust in the sector. Empirically, the first prototype was developed specifically for corrosion detection and mitigation. This can contribute to reducing product losses and strengthening infrastructure security within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Can you tell us what you intend to do to support young girls in your community?
Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I experienced significant resistance during my formative academic years, particularly as a young girl pursuing education in a conservative environment. I understand firsthand how challenging that journey can be.
While challenges and success often go hand in hand, my goal is to help reduce unnecessary barriers for the next generation. I believe young girls should be able to pursue their ambitions with structured support rather than constant resistance.
To that end, I am planning to establish a foundation dedicated to supporting women and girls in realizing their full potential. The focus will not only be financial assistance, but also academic guidance, mentorship, and moral support. Many talented girls do not lack intelligence but they lack access, encouragement, and structured direction. By combining scholarships with mentorship and community awareness, the aim is to create an ecosystem that enables girls to excel confidently and sustainably. I would just emphasise that my goal is impact both in technology and in society. I want my research to solve real industrial problems and my personal journey to inspire structural change for young girls. Innovation and empowerment can go hand in hand.
As women across the globe mark International Women’s Day this week, do you think empowering women will promote productivity and reduce poverty in the North?
As someone who grew up in Northern Nigeria, I know that northern women are already industrious. They trade, they produce, they sew, they process food, they run small businesses often with very little support. The entrepreneurial mindset is already there. What is missing is structured empowerment: access to education, capital, technology, and policy support that allows those small efforts to grow into scalable enterprises. Empowering women in the North is not about teaching productivity; it is about strengthening what already exists. With proper training, financial inclusion, digital access, and institutional backing, those small-scale businesses can expand, create jobs, and lift entire communities.
When northern women are supported, poverty does not just reduce, local economies transform. The capacity is already present. What we need is opportunity that aligned with potential.
