In the grand town of Fantagori, Niger State, the title of Uban Dawaki holds prestige, and Alhaji Uwaisu Malami Ubandawaki, a wealthy patriarch, reigns over a sprawling household. His modern, well-organized compound houses his two brothers and their families, with his section being the most prominent. Married to Hajiya Halima, he has three sons—Abdul-Kadeer (a military major), Abdul-Kareem (a CBN accountant in Minna), and Abdul-Rahman (serving in Jalingo)—and one daughter, Ni’ima, nicknamed Mama. Ni’ima, a stunning Fulani beauty, outshines her family’s already striking looks, drawing suitors, including her cousins, whose advances sparked disputes. To maintain peace, Alhaji Uwaisu banned romantic pursuits of Ni’ima, insisting she focus on her studies at FGGC Bakori, a girls’ boarding school. His ambition is for her to become a doctor, unlike some relatives who envision her marrying a wealthy man or prince.
Ni’ima, now in SS2, returns home for the second-term break, greeted warmly by her family. Her father praises her academic progress but urges improvement in Biology to fulfill his dream of her becoming a doctor. Ni’ima embraces this goal, determined to succeed. During a visit to her aunt, Inna Mairo, she encounters Ahmad, a charming medical student from Minna visiting his grandmother. Smitten, Ahmad boldly expresses his love, undeterred by her father’s strict rules against suitors. Ni’ima, though drawn to him, explains her father’s stance and her commitment to her studies, urging patience. Her friend Baraka, aware of the family’s dynamics, advises caution, fearing her father’s and cousins’ disapproval, especially Ali’s lingering affection. Meanwhile, tensions brew as a local marabout, Boka Dillin, plots with Mal Yau to stir trouble for Ni’ima’s family, hinting at deeper intrigues as she prepares for her sister Amal’s wedding in Kano.
