Nihmatallah Akashat Zibiri, known as Nyma, is a Nigerian lawyer and television host. She is co-host on TVC's daytime show Your View.[1]
Life
editShe graduated in law from Lagos University,[2] and was called to the Nigerian Bar.[3]
A practicing Muslim, Nihmatallah Akashat has declared that "My hijab is my identity".[1] She was inspired to go into television by wanting to increase Muslim representation in broadcasting. Having watched Your View since its inception, she applied and was hired after the show advertised for a Muslim co-host.[3]
Akashat Zibri continues to practise law. In 2016 she co-founded a law firm, Cynosure Practice barristers and solicitors, where she is a managing partner.[1]
In 2019 she controversially defended child marriage as preferable to premarital sex:[4]
The act is not necessarily 'Islamic'. But when sexual urges start to come, one of the best alternatives is to allow them to get married [...] If my daughter wants to marry at a young age, I would first have the necessary conversations with her to see if it is truly what she wants and also ensure that she is fit to some extent, but I wouldn’t stop her.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c Esther Ijiwere, ‘My hijab is my identity’– Nihmatallah Akashat, The Guardian, 14 September 2019. Accessed 10 May 2020.
- ^ Muslim TV icon Nyma Akashat reveals her most challenging episode of ‘Your View’, Muslim News Nigeria, 19 January 2020. Accessed 16 May 2020.
- ^ a b My religion has a great influence on my lifestyle and my work – Nyma Akashat Zibiri, Vanguard, 18 May 2015. Accessed 15 May 2020.
- ^ Allow child marriage when there’s sexual urge – TVC presenter, P.M. News, 17 APril 2019. Accessed 20 May 2020.
- ^ Gbenga Sijuade, TVC Presenter Nyma Gives The Only Condition For Acceptance Of Child Marriage, Naija News, 18 April 2019. Accessed 16 May 2020.