Zubair Qureshi
Elise Paraiso, 24, a citizen of Niger, is perhaps the first from her country to have opted for Pakistan to learn English and pursue higher studies later.
She arrived in Pakistan exactly at a time when “Engage Africa” conference was in full progress and Pakistan’s top leadership including President, PM, Foreign Minister, and diplomats from African countries were assembled under one roof advocating vigorous policy to woo Africa and have access to its huge market.
Elise in a way has become a symbol of Pakistan’s renewed African pursuit and says she is lucky to have come to Islamabad at a time when everyone is talking about a stronger bond of friendship with Africa.
It all began when Pakistan’s former charge d’affaires in Niger, Ahsan Wagan met Elise Paraiso at a farewell party for Deputy Head of mission of France in Niger’s capital city Niamey.
During conversation I told him about my plan to go to Ghana for English learning.
“Why not try your luck in Pakistan as there are plenty of African students and other foreigners learning in various disciplines,” said the Pakistani charge d’affaires and suggested her to ‘google’ Pakistan.
So she did. Contrary to my perception, I found Pakistan “quite a modern country with many educational institutions, developed cities and civilized people.”
One more factor that might not have a direct link to her choosing Pakistan was that the French diplomat Monsieur Yves Manville at whose farewell party she met the Pakistani charge d’affaires was also on his way to Islamabad to join as Deputy Chief of Mission here.
So it stars were on Pakistan’s side and she is here in Islamabad for her educational pursuits.
Elise is a vocal champion of women’s rights and back in Niamey was actively engaged in various initiatives aiming to empower women particularly through social media.
She has co-founded Association of Young Bloggers of Niger that provides a platform to young entrepreneurs to promote their small businesses through social media.
Women in Niger are now using various means including social media to get their voice heard and their businesses projected, she says. She gave example of Hadiza Ibrah, first petrol engineer of Niger who first went to China and then France for her studies and learning. “She is a blogger now and a célèbre (a French word used for celebrity).
Niger is a country of 21.5 million with 95pc Muslims. It is also a member of the OIC. Niger’s 50pc of land consists of desert and it is the third largest uranium producing country after Kazakhstan and Canada.
Elise Paraiso said she found Pakistanis very hospitable, friendly and kind. “I can draw many similarities between the women of the two countries and am very exciting to go ahead with my course of discovering the country, its culture and cuisine,” she said.
