Hajia Bola Muse is the  Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bomarah Integrated Travels and Tours and  also, founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Bomarah Foundation which cares for the underpriveleged. She speaks with SOJI AJIBOLA also on  politics and marriage among other issues. Excerpt:

Your activities are weaved round  supporting the underprivileged and children generally in the society. Why the focus on  these groups?
SOME people were born with silver spoons in their mouths but, my parents could be classified as low income earners and this forced me to venture into petty business at a tender age. My mother was supportive, but my father, like a  typical African man, was not all that there for us. With the kind of experience I had  as a  child, I always feel the pain whenever I come across any child that shares the same economic background with me. This and many other factors necessitated the establishment of my NGO, which has the  primary goal of assisting the under privileged. I know there  are  lots of kids outside there who  share the same  childhood experience with me. I come across a lot of them in the course of my charity activity and from there, the little  the  Almighty Allah has blessed me with, I am using it in assisting the needy. Ii am someone who   hates  seeing people suffering. There was a programme we  held  last year— African Child we had almost thirty-six schools from primary and secondary school levels in attendance. The participants were so excited as they have not been opportune in their lives to interact with the people above their social class, but the programme afforded them the opportunity. Aside the entertainment aspect of it, the kids were able to display their academic dexterity in various competitions they took part in such as  Quran recitation and cultural dance.

How  do  you  fund  such activities?
I am not keen about the cost, but the excitement. The cost is enormous, but the satisfaction is something that matters most. At times, nobody is willing to support you except you support yourself. My manager once advised that we sought financial assistance from individuals and private sectors, we did but nothing came out of it. What we are doing is neither for the public to appreciate us sing our praises or for monetary gain, but we are doing it for God to reward us and the little sacrifice that I have made will  go a long way in lifting lives.  Take for example the last programme we held  at Sheraton Hotel.  We had a lot of students in attendance. Some of them did not even know where Sheraton is. There were questionnaires seeking to feel the impulse of the people on the programme. Some were asking, ‘Where is Sheraton Hotel  and why its choice?’

Some  also asked, ‘Does it mean, we want to show off or ‘ Why cant we  hold it in Agege, Ajegunle, Badia?’   I answered,  it is not for show off, but it is the lesson we want to bring out, the knowledge we want to impact, the memory we want these kids keep  throughout  their lives.

It’s observed that many  people who are involved in activities like yours have a  hidden agenda...
People have been asking if I’m involved in these  various activities  because   I want to venture into politics or I’m  trying  to  seek  relevance. I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow, but for now, I will say no because I don’t have the zeal for it. I hate cheating and the kind of politics  we are playing now in Nigeria is just not it  and so I’m not interested. I rather nominate somebody and be a passive player  than an  active one.

Looking at the political scene, do you think the presence of women are   felt more these days?
I think its getting better, especially during this present  era, President Goodluck Jonathan’s government.  You can see that we have many  women in his cabinet. I am happy for them they are doing fine but I still want more women to come on board because I am still optimistic that one day a woman will emerge as the President of this country.

How will you rate President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?
I am not in a  good  position to rate him. This is a country that Jonathan  met. Some people had been ruling for the past God-knows when and for somebody to just wake up one day and promising that  I’m going to give you this or  I’m  going to do this overnight,  is not possible. We  just have to  exercise patience. President Jonathan is not a magician, let us give him time. By the grace of God, Nigeria will not break up, let’s all be praying for God’s intervention.

Where do you do your shopping?
I shop anywhere. Apart from travelling out and  buying anything  I feel is good, I  do my shopping at any boutique around.

My security personnel even do the shopping on my behalf at Ajegunle,  likewise my cleaners.

Who is your favourite  fashion designer?
I don’t have favourite designers. I design  my clothes myself. I am a designer. I have sewing machines at home. I have even thought my house help to sew and she’s now good at it. How easy has it been managing  the home front?

In life, God has  a purpose or plan  for everyone  and when he has a purpose for you, you should work towards its fulfillment.

Nobody is perfect, except Almighty Allah. one thing  which I always have at the back of my mind and  which keeps me going  is the fear of God and whatever I am doing I always make sure that I do it with God’s fear. If I want to make trouble in my office, I  will resume at 8:00 am and whenever that happens, everybody knows that there is trouble. and whenever I’m  coming here, I make sure that I don’t allow home front issues  to affect my office. My job is a very sensitive one.

Immediately you miss it, you are in a serious problem and I always let my staff know this. As we all come in into the office, we  drop our problems at the  door and wear a new look and when you are  through with the day’s  job,  it’s   left to you to pick whatever problem you left at the door or not.  Everyone  prays  for a good partner  who will understand  him or her.  I thank God for my husband, he understands the nature of my job and he’s  always trying  to make sure, at least when there is problem to  stand by me. When customers are on my neck and are complaining that  their  containers have not been loaded and he is telling me that I have not cooked, then  there is going to be a problem. I do the cooking by myself. I don’t allow the house help to cook for my husband. He will not even allow it. I live in FESTAC and with the heavy  traffic  from Apapa, at times, I go to bed around 11:00p.m and I have to wake up by 5:00 a.m, to say my prayer and  set out  for work.

What I do everyday is what you can refer to as  check and balance.

What does your weekend look like?
I go to parties. You know I am a Yoruba woman. At  weekends, Saturday in particular, I mostly  relax with my friends. And if I’m not attending  a party,  I stay  at home with my family.

Can you tell us your  favourite musician?
Have you seen any foreign artiste that sings better that King Sunny Ade, Ayo Balogun, Adewale Ayuba, 9ice and D’ Banj?

Even when you travel outside the country, people play Nigerians’ favourites. Or is it an oyinbo man that you will call to come and play for you even when abroad?

Your choice of perfume?
Waoh. I love perfume. My latest  is Solet.  When  using perfume, I can wear ten.

What do you hate most?
I hate the word house Wife. What are you housing? What are you doing at home. Women should come out  and work.