Woman of Substance: Honouring the Life and Legacy of Hajiya Umma Lawal Dodo – By Aminu Lawal Hussein

By Aminu Lawal Hussein

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un!

Hajiya Umma Lawal Dodo, our woman of substance, returned to her Lord on the 7th of February 2026 in Cairo after a long illness, at the age of 52. She was born on 2nd February 1974 in Kano, where her journey of faith, learning, service, and love began and blossomed. From her earliest days, it was clear that Umma was not an ordinary soul; she carried within her a rare combination of strength, compassion, and quiet dignity that touched everyone who crossed her path.

Born and raised in Kano, she began her education in the city that shaped much of her character and outlook on life. She attended her nursery and primary school in Kano, before moving on to Taura Girls Secondary School in Jigawa, where she continued to distinguish herself with discipline, intelligence, and focus. Her passion for justice and fairness led her to study Law at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, a choice that reflected the values she lived by: integrity, responsibility, and a deep sense of right and wrong.

Professionally, Umma Lawal built a career that mirrored her commitment to public service and ethical conduct. She worked with the Kano Anti-Corruption body, standing firmly on the side of accountability and justice. She later served in the banking sector with Union Bank and Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), where her honesty, hard work, and reliability earned her the respect of colleagues and clients alike. Eventually, she transitioned into the world of academia, joining Northwest University, Kano, as a non-teaching staff member. Through dedication and perseverance, she rose to the position of Chief Registrar, a role in which she continued to serve with humility, professionalism, and grace.

Beyond her achievements on paper, it is the story of her heart that truly defines who she was. In the family, she was not just Umma Lawal, she was our beloved “Anty Umma.” To call her a sister, an aunt, or a relative feels too small; she was a pillar, a shelter, and a source of strength to us all. She married Alhaji Garba Aliyu Hungu, and together they built a home rooted in love, respect, and mutual support.

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Anty Umma was a woman who loved beyond the normal boundaries people set for themselves. She carried everyone in her heart, her mother, her siblings, her extended family, and even those who were not related by blood but became family through her kindness. She worked round the clock to support her mother and siblings, always putting others before herself, always asking, “How can I help?” long before thinking of her own comfort. That is why I call her a woman of substance: because her life was not defined by what she had, but by what she gave.

Although Allah, in His infinite wisdom, did not grant her biological children of her own, He placed in her the heart of a mother. All the children in the family saw Anty Umma as their mother; they all call her MAMI, a safe place to run to, a voice of guidance, a hand of support, and a lap of comfort. She attended to their needs, celebrated their successes, corrected them with love, and prayed for them with sincerity. To the younger ones, she was a role model. To the older ones, she was a dependable anchor. To her peers, she was a true friend. To her mother and siblings, she was a blessing that cannot be replaced.

Illness tested her body, but it did not break her spirit. Even in times of pain, she remained patient, composed, and surrendered to the will of Allah. She faced her trials with the same quiet strength that she used to carry the burdens of others. Her life reminds us that true honour is not in how long we live, but in how deeply we touch the lives of others while we are here.

Today, as we mourn her passing, our hearts are heavy, and the loss feels impossible to describe. We have lost a daughter, a wife, a sister, an aunt, a colleague, a guide, and a friend. But we also know that Allah does not take anything except to give something better, and that the soul that lived in service, sincerity, and compassion will find its reward with Him.

In the midst of this fresh and painful loss, our hearts are also drawn to the loved ones we have recently returned to Allah from the same family. We remember with deep sorrow and gratitude our beloved mother, Hajiya Aisha (fondly known as Anty Iya), who passed away on 21 December 2024, our dear uncle, Alhaji Aminu Hussein (Abbaaah), who left us on 18 February 2025, and our elder brother, Alhaji Kabir Elhussein, who returned to his Lord on 24 August 2025. Each of them was a pillar in their own way, and their departures, followed now by that of our cherished Anty Umma, have created a chain of grief that only Allah can help us bear. Yet, even in this succession of losses, we find comfort in knowing that they lived lives of love, service, and faith, and we pray that Allah, in His infinite mercy, reunites them all in Jannatul Firdaus and grants us the strength to remain steadfast and patient.

On behalf of the family, and as her uncle, I, Aminu Lawal Hussein, offer this tribute with love and deep respect for the beautiful life she lived. Words will never be enough to capture the fullness of who she was, but we pray that these lines bear witness to her goodness in this world and become a means of mercy for her in the next.

We pray:

Ya Allah, forgive your servant, Umma Lawal Dodo. Have mercy on her, overlook her shortcomings, and accept all her good deeds. Make her grave a garden from the gardens of Jannah. Grant her light, comfort, and peace in her resting place. Raise her among the righteous and admit her into Jannatul Firdaus without reckoning.

Ya Allah, reward her for every smile she brought to our faces, for every burden she helped us carry, for every child she nurtured, for every tear she wiped, for every sincere prayer she made for others. Make her legacy of kindness continue to benefit her as sadaqah jariyah.

Ya Allah, grant her husband, her mother, her siblings, all the children who saw her as a mother, and all those who loved her, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. Fill our hearts with patience and contentment with Your decree, and unite us with her again in Jannatul Firdaus.

Ya Allah, we especially remember her husband, Alhaji Garba Aliyu Hungu, who stood by her side from the beginning of her illness until her last breath. You are the Knower of what is hidden and what is open; You alone know how he never grew tired, how he carried her pain in his heart, how he sacrificed his sleep, his comfort, his strength, and his time for her sake. O Allah, reward him for every night he stayed awake, for every hospital visit, for every worry in his chest, for every silent tear he shed, and for every dua he raised on her behalf.

O Allah, he did not abandon her when the sickness became long and heavy; instead, he became her companion, her support, and her shade of mercy in this world. He remained patient, loyal, and steadfast, proving his love not in words but in constant presence and service. Ya Rabb, turn all of that into mercy and light for him on the Day of Judgment. Make every step he took for her, every naira he spent, and every moment of exhaustion he felt a means of forgiveness and elevation of his rank.

Ya Allah, make the love they shared a testimony for them and not against them. Let the angels bear witness that he fulfilled the trust of marriage with ihsan and that she bore her illness with sabr. Reunite them in Jannatul Firdaus, in a place where there is no illness, no separation, no fear, and no grief, only peace, joy, and Your eternal pleasure.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Hajiya Umma Lawal Dodo our Anty Umma, our woman of substance you will forever live in our hearts, in our duas, and in the many lives you shaped with your love. May your soul find eternal rest in the mercy of your Lord.

Aminu Lawal Hussein