Farida Mohammed joined the Association of Nigerian Authors 29 years ago. She is currently the Vice President of the Association. She had served as the National Treasurer earlier.
Farida earned the ‘ANA Amazon’ famous nickname from her committed role in advancing the cause of writers, especially young and old women. It began with her bold foray into the activities of her state chapter, Niger State. In 2008 she became the Vice Chairman, and in 2010 the Chairman, Association of Nigerian Female Authors (ANFA)-Niger State chapter. In the same year, she ascended to the Vice Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)-Niger State chapter, and in November 2012, she was elected as Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)-Niger State chapter. With her combined roles in both the women’s wing of the Association and the mainstream chapter, she set Niger State aflame with burning literary activities cutting across gender.
Despite her committed position as the Vice President of the ANA-National, she maintains her role as a Trustee of both the female wing and the mainstream chapters of the Association in Niger State.
Parentage and Educational Career
Born on 14th November 1967. She is a committed Pan-Nigerian writer and scholar. She obtained her First Leaving School Certificate from Madaki Primary School, Minna, in 1981 and afterwards acquired a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate from Women Science Teachers’ College, Gulu, in 1986. She proceeded to the College of Education, Minna, where she obtained a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1994 and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, 2005, where she got a degree, B.A. (Ed.) in English Language. The same year of varsity graduation, she armed herself with computer literacy by obtaining a Certificate in Computer Appreciation from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and added a Diploma in Computer Utilization. Thereafter, she obtained two Master’s degrees – one in Public Administration (MPA) from the National Open University of Nigeria, Minna Campus, 2012 and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in TESL-Teaching English as a Second Language from the ABU, Zaria, 2019.
Today, she has two higher degrees: a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria, Minna Campus, and a PhD in Teaching English as a Second Language from ABU, Zaria.
School Activities and Hobbies
While in school, she was Mail Prefect, Girls Guide Leader and a Religious Leader at Women Science Teachers’ College, Gulu. At the College of Education Minna, she was Treasurer of the Student Union Government and was popularly called the ‘Queen of the Campus’.
Farida Mohammed was a young sportswoman at school who played handball, volleyball, table tennis, etc. and even represented her school in table tennis and handball competitions. After her college graduation, she represented Niger State in national handball competitions. She enjoys watching football, boxing, reading and writing— even though she considers writing a serious business.
Civil Service and Teaching Experience
As a teacher she has worked through the Niger State civil service to become a Deputy Director, and currently awaits her next promotion as Director. She has also tutored Advanced Diploma students in Public Administration at the Fati Lami School of Legal and General Studies, Minna,2014, and currently lectures undergraduate students in English Language at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Minna, since 2018.
Community Service
She is the Chairman of Niyya Fadama Community Union (FCU) from 2005 till date. Fadama Community Union (FCU) is a union that comprises two hundred and fifty (250) Fadama Community Associations, (FCA) with full-fledged EXCOS and members, some of whom are high-ranking citizens like Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, serving or retired.
Also, she was Chairperson Retired Army Officers Wives’ Association, Niger State chapter, and former Chairperson, Women of Integrity, Bosso Estate, Minna, and former National Women Leader, Vision Nigeria.
Published Books
As a writer she has written four prose fiction books, one play and one biography: A Dance with the Ocean; Sand on the Foot of A God; The Breath Of A New Dawn; Language of The Spirit; Flying Arrows (Epic drama on a radical local hero, Gussoro king, who pitched his tent with the colonial government against his own people) and Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta: Footprint Of A Democrat (A biography of the Senator in the forefront of those who brought about the Hydropower Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC).
Marital Status
Farida Mohammed is happily married, and the union is blessed with beautiful and delightful children some of whom are happily married.
