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Hajiya Zainab Saleh, Managing Director of Brains and Hammers Facility Management, WhiteOak Management Services Limited and Robyn’s Realtors Limited, told Segun Kasali in this interview what inspired her to become a karateka.
HOW do you see yourself?
I see myself as the daughter of a late diplomat and a passionate karateka. I am a Nigerian professional, entrepreneur and sports leader whose career spans facility management, real estate, hospitality, business consultancy and sports administration.
Why this special love for karate?
Many of us grew up watching Bruce Lee movies. I remember telling my father, when we were living in Mexico, then, that I wanted to do what Bruce Lee was doing. So, he enrolled my brother and me in a dojo, where karate is practised. That’s where my karate journey began, over 40 years ago.
I trained and competed for many years. At some point, of course, I stopped competing as I grew older. But, I continued training and I still do to this day. Eventually, I moved into refereeing. Currently, I am an African Karate Federation (UFAK) Referee and a World Karate Federation (WKF) judge.
You must have been a tough person while growing up, then?
I don’t know why people ask that. How do you even measure toughness? Let’s just say I have never been someone you can bully or easily push over. I have been trained to the extent that in any situation that comes up, I should be able to defend myself. Karate teaches you discipline, movement, awareness and self-control. We are very disciplined people.
But have you ever had cause to use some of those trainings or skills to defend yourself physically?
Not at all. Even now, if someone looks at you, they will probably look twice before approaching. I have never been in a situation where I have had to physically defend myself.
But how did your peers see you then, since it was obvious that you started karate very early in life?
People often wondered why Karate, especially at a time when it wasn’t seen as a “feminine” sport. But for me, sport is sport. Any gender should be able to go into any sport they want. I never subscribed to stereotypes like that.
Most people knew I loved Karate and I never received any negative comments about it. Even today, people still ask, “Are you still doing your karate?” And, of course, as long as I can move my body, why not? There is no age limit in karate. We have people in their 80s and 90s, still practising.
For me, it has always been about what my body gains from it, not about fitting into people’s ideas of what I should or shouldn’t do.
Your mien also shows how brilliant you were in school, academically?
In terms of what? I have always seen myself as an average student. I don’t know if the brilliance came later or was always there. Who knows?
And you were never regarded as a tomboy?
Maybe when I was younger, some people might have called me a tomboy. But that was just me being myself, nothing to do with whether I had brothers or sisters. The way you see me now is the way I have always been.
Who was the disciplinarian between your mum and dad?
I would say my mum. Discipline comes in different forms, it could come in form of telling you to kneel down in a corner, face the wall or other measures. I prefer the term “discipline” to “punishment.” My father was a quiet man, but one look from him was enough. We grew up in a home where “that look” said it all.
What traits would you say you took from both of them?
From my dad, I think I inherited the ability to be very quiet when I want to be, and from my mum, maybe the tendency to raise my voice when necessary.
What was your ambition?
Like many children, I wanted to be a doctor. I always wanted to be in a position to help people. But as life went on, things changed. I did not end up studying Medicine; I studied Biochemistry instead.
Why the change?
While deciding whether to pursue Medicine, I had resolved that I would not study it in Nigeria but in the United States, where a pre-degree is required. If I were to pursue Medicine in the US, I believed Biochemistry would serve as a good pre-qualifying course. For my secondary and tertiary education, I studied both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
I learnt you were also at Queen’s College, Yaba, for your secondary education. What was the experience like?
My time at Queen’s College, Yaba, was nothing short of transformative. Yes, we received an excellent and well-rounded education, but what truly stood out was the environment. It was free from all forms of bias or sentiment. Everyone had equal opportunity to thrive. Living and learning alongside girls from every part of Nigeria taught me the true meaning of unity, respect and understanding. In that shared space, bonds were forged that went far beyond friendship; the sisters I gained there remain a part of my life to this day. Queen’s College didn’t just prepare us academically, it shaped our character, instilled discipline and gave us the confidence to carry ourselves with pride; once a Queen’s College girl, always a Queen’s College girl. I was already a karateka when I joined Queen’s College. When Karate was introduced to the school, I continued training there. I represented the school in Karate competitions, where the atmosphere was competitive, encouraging, and very supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Would you say being a karateka put fear in your schoolmates?
Some of them who got into trouble would come and hide behind me. They knew they could count on some form of protection. Then, of course, the troublemakers would disappear.
Any regrets studying Biochemistry?
Not at all. I have always been both science and arts-oriented. After my first degree in Biochemistry, I went back to do another degree in English Literature.
How sociable were you then?
Very sociable, and still am. I believe we experienced the best times in our lives growing up in 70s, 80s, and 90s. Those were good times.
What did life present to you after school?
My beautiful family, my career, which interestingly had nothing to do with Biochemistry. I started working in an architecture firm in Lagos as an administrative manager. That exposed me to the construction industry. I interacted with everyone in various teams, visited sites and learned the processes. It was a solid foundation.
Later, my aunt asked me to help manage one of her buildings. That was my introduction to facility management and the beginning of a new career path.
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