Oluranti, wife of a member of the House of Representatives from Ogun State, Hon. Mukaila Olayiwola Kazzim, is a registered psychiatric nurse and consultant, who has practised in the United Kingdom for many years.
Kazzim currently represents Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/ Odeda Federal Constituency.
The articulate and beautiful woman’s childhood ambition was to become a lawyer, but providence had a completely different plan for her.
“My childhood ambition and my father’s hope for me was to become a lawyer. But as you know, you need to have a combination of some subjects before you can do a course. So, I wasn’t able to get the required subjects. What, however, prompted me to study nursing is this: I actually studied Hotel and Catering in the United Kingdom. I worked as a chef and I even opened my own restaurant in London. There was this time that the economic downturn affected UK and people that used to patronise my restaurant started to owe and things were going quiet. I then decided to go and study something else. I went online and I discovered the School of Nursing was admitting and I applied. Meanwhile, I had the privilege of knowing how women go through different kinds of problems at home. I know of a particular one that led the woman to become a psychiatric patient. So, all these experiences, put together, made me to make up mind my mind to do nursing,” she says.
Little wonder, when asked what excites her as a person, she quickly says, “My job! My job gets me excited and I’m sure you picked that up since you have been here. I get very excited when I talk about mental health, how it affects people and that is because I love my people. Also, my children, my husband excites me.”
What then is behind the level of passion and commitment she demonstrates in carrying out her duty as a psychiatric nurse? “Believe me, my level of excitement of following this path; graduating, being qualified and registered to practise in this field is unquantifiable. I’m very obsessed with my job but I find time for all these because we are all human beings and we have factors that make us. You have to allow time to socialise because that also helps to reduce the tension. I can honestly tell you my professional life has not disturbed my social life or personal life,” Oluranti explains.
Despite her busy schedule as a health expert, she always appears very trendy and fashionable. But in exhibiting her style of fashion, Oluranti abhors skimpy dresses.
“Moderately fashionable, I would say. Talking about my style, I like my traditional wears. Don’t forget I lived most of my life in Europe. So, English style is also part of me. But I would say you will never catch me wearing anything above the knee,” she says.
Oluranti is already over 50, but the amiable consultant is not looking it. What is the beauty regimen that has made this possible? “First and foremost, it is the glory of God. I believe I have received divine favour, and when you receive that, everything works in your favour,” she says.
One thing she never prepared for was her husband’s foray into politics in Nigeria. So, when he announced his decision to her, she was at first very scared and afraid for his safety and their marriage, especially with the not too palatable tales she was being assailed with by other people.
“When my husband decided to embark on this journey (politics), it was something that was very strange to me. People were telling me all sorts of things, things that could affect the marriage, especially since I lived in the UK. But I kept on saying that getting married to each other was not to stop each other from progressing in life. Our principle is to support and encourage each other. But I must tell you I was disturbed, especially because of his safety. But he kept on reassuring me that he would be fine; that all he needed and still need from me is my prayers and support and I know with God’s grace, he will continue to be fine and be successful,” Oluranti enthuses.
Now that she’s constrained to stay longer back home in Nigeria, how’s she coping with issues associated with integrating into the society?
Oluranti says, “Yes, one of the challenges is the idea I brought back to Nigeria. It’s evident our people need support in this area. However, the awareness is not there. And one of the things done in the Western world is to create awareness. For example, the month of October is mental health awareness, where every school, even primary school, will have activities to discuss mental health. So, that awareness is a challenge, but I am not going to relent and God will help me. I feel challenged when I hear ‘Were ni’ (He’s a mad person). Go and check, every one of us has that minute of madness in us; the level of it is what differs.
“When you are angry and they are pleading with you and you’re not yielding, uncontrollable anger, yes, it is! When you go through such anger and you’re later looking for Paracetamol because you have headache and you’re regretting your actions, probably because you feel you over-reacted or you feel you said too much. If you were conscious when you were saying it, you would not have. What do you think that is? So, we need people to break it down. That is why I’m expecting people to contact me, invite me to your establishments, invite me to your secondary schools.”
She discloses that she first met her husband at a party, and since then, the couple has remained inseparable, not even by distance and time.
Oluranti recalls, “I was invited to a party by a family member who happened to be his aunt as well. And the party was a family party as well by his aunt. It was at this party we first met. Though, his younger brother had known me many years earlier, but it was at that party I first met my husband.
“No matter what you do in life, being intimate is key. Being intimate is not just sexual; it’s gisting, keeping each other’s company and the rest. We facetime, video-call on whatsapp, when he’s away. I rarely leave my bed without saying good morning darling, how are you? And my children, I rarely leave bed without sending prayers to every one of them.”
Quote: When my husband decided to embark on this journey (politics), it was something that was very strange to me. People were telling me all sorts of things, things that could affect the marriage, especially since I lived in the UK. But I kept on saying that getting married to each other was not to stop each other from progressing in life.
