The Nation Newspaper

Category: Women in Action

  • Women of Rubies Marks 10 Years of Empowering Women Worldwide

    Women of Rubies Marks 10 Years of Empowering Women Worldwide

    Women of Rubies, a leading platform dedicated to celebrating, empowering, and supporting women, has marked its 10th anniversary with remarkable milestones.

    Over the past decade, the initiative, founded by media strategist and women’s advocate Esther Ijewere, has spotlighted more than 3,000 women, supported over 600 entrepreneurs, and equipped countless others with media tools through programs like the Media Visibility Bootcamp.

    What began as a Nigerian initiative has grown into a global platform that connects, mentors, and celebrates women across industries and backgrounds.

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    Reflecting on the milestone, Ijewere said, “Celebrating 10 years of Women of Rubies is a humbling reminder of the power of community, resilience, and intentional support. We are inspired to continue creating platforms where women are celebrated, supported, and equipped to thrive, both locally and globally.”

    As it enters its next decade, Women of Rubies reaffirms its commitment to expanding innovative programs, media initiatives, and community-driven projects that amplify women’s voices worldwide.

  • Confronting the rains with tea, shoveling

    Confronting the rains with tea, shoveling

    August came the rains disrupting our regular meetings under the ebelebo tree. It was what forced the Women’s Corner crew to take the birthday bash in my honour indoors at Jolaolu’s place. Come to think of it, it was a wise move; if not, the whole estate would have joined in the fun. Not that I am that popular, we’ve all become like family, sharing joyful and sad moments together. And to tell you the truth, I am always one of the initiators of most fun gatherings – but I’m no party freak.

    “Na God save us say we carry your party inside o. If not, where we for get the money to cook food wey the whole estate for chop,” observed Tamara as we made to join the gathering of women in the estate under the ebelebo tree.

    Each was holding shovels, cutlasses, buckets and more tools for clearing the gutters. “We were in for some serious work today. I just hope Mummy Ogochukwu prepared her signature tea o – I don’t  mind if it is hot,” I whispered to myself as Sexy Jola interjected from behind us, “Babes, you are on point o. Some people still dey beef me over the matter – say we no invite them. In fact, my neighbour Dorothy no dey let me hear word. E be like she dey monitor me; anytime she open door or she see me, she go start her complaints as ‘we no gree put her for our caucus. She want make I take my full mouth talk.”

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    “You no tell am how we start. You no yarn am say we been no want crowd. But as our people dey talk, good thing no fit hide. Women’s Corner now dey open for women, particularly for our estate. But we get those wey dey facilitate things – the crew. Na we dey make things flow. And  we wey we be crew no plenty,” Tamara said as we approached the larger group.

    “You can all see how devastating the rains has been, especially in the last three days, bringing with it the kind of flood we have not experienced in a long while,” Christabel, our estate Vice-President was saying “We cannot continue to wait for the men. Let’s do something to ensure this does not continue.”

    “If you ask me,” Tinu, our tech genius began, let’s hire more hands to clear the gutters and it should be a regular thing.”

    “Well said, Tinu. But I would like to add that women are social change agents: let’s teach our children good hygiene etiquettes by living by example. For instance, how do we dispose of our wastes? Chris dear, can we have dedicated and well labeled drums for food waste, plastic wastes, etc. but we all must play our part from the homefront,” Nurse Cordelia suggested.

    “We had those labelled drums that even won us an award. But after some time, everything went back to normal. Can we all agree to take a stand going forward?” Barrister Ada asked. We all pledged to be the change we want to see. Armed with our cleaning tools, we then followed Christabel and Ada who divided us into groups, shoveling and cleaning ourselves away.  We were later joined by some young ones and our men, which made our work easier. And by the time we were done the gutters around the estate were looking sparkling clean.

    “Let’s not rush back. We have some light refreshments. Mummy Fawaz, Tinu, Mummy Ogochukwu, oya over to you” Christabel urged. They were joined by other women; the rest of us went to wash our hands.

    Mummy Ogochukwu dazzled us with her signature warm hibiscus/ginger tea with a blend of tonic  and pineapple juice – and we munched ourselves away.

  • ‘Arewa girl’ building digital bridges across continents

    ‘Arewa girl’ building digital bridges across continents

    In an age where technology often feels cold and distant, Chinelo Okonkwo stands out as a warm, purposeful force of change blending brilliance in engineering with empathy for people, and harnessing innovation for social impact. From the arid plains of Sokoto to the towering boardrooms of a Fortune 500 company in the United States, in this write-up, EVELYN OSAGIE writes that her journey is a testament to resilience, clarity of purpose, and a relentless desire to build not just systems, but lives..

    My beginning

    “I was born and raised in Northern Nigeria; my story is neither typical nor accidental. My early life in Sokoto instilled in me a deep-rooted sense of cultural identity, discipline, and grace. Yet, it was my bold decision to journey over 6,000 miles from home that marked the beginning of a transformation not only for myself but, as I would soon realise, for many others.

     Being a woman

    “I see myself as woman that is family-oriented and fearlessly ambitious.  Being a woman, I believe that one’s dreams should be large enough to invoke a little fear. I live by this creed daily, constantly pushing boundaries not for applause, but for impact.

    In classrooms in Nigeria today, young girls are being told to “aim high.”

    Chinelo Okonkwo’s life is a living illustration of what that aim can achieve. But more importantly, her story issues a challenge to policymakers, development partners, and fellow professionals: create platforms, not obstacles. “Build ladders, not ceilings. Make the journey from Sokoto to success a road more often travelled,” she says.

     Chinelo’s passion, purpose

    For Chinelo, digital empowerment is a human right, and exclusion from the AI revolution is unacceptable. “People have always asked what drives me. I want to help build a Nigeria where the next Chinelo doesn’t need to fly 6,000 miles to thrive. In everything I do. I ask myself: ‘How does this lift others?’ In 2021, I founded Acencemec Global Solutions, a Nigeria-based firm operating in real estate, solar, and electrical installations. My goal? To bring infrastructure closer to underserved communities. But my impact doesn’t stop with brick and mortar. I see myself as a committed changemaker and advocate.”

    Chinelo is not just a product of grit. She is also a product of mentorship, opportunity, faith, and vision. She leveraged scholarships, fellowships and community support, and now she gives back proving that when empowered, one woman can power up entire systems. Indeed, for a woman whose roots are deeply Nigerian and whose branches now stretch across the globe, Chinelo is not just a rising star, she is praised for being a ‘North Star’ illuminating the path for girls in Sokoto, students in Owerri, and across Africa who dare to reach for more. With such clarity, passion, and purpose, Chinelo is indeed one of the finest exports Nigeria has ever produced. But more importantly, she is one of our finest returns bringing home hope, knowledge, and a burning torch to light up the paths of many more.

     Her journey from oil to code

    Armed with a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) Nigeria, Chinelo was poised to thrive in Nigeria’s energy sector. Her NYSC year saw her work at South Trust Global, with previous stints at CCNN, Aftrac Limited, and Tecon Oil Services in Port Harcourt. It was at Tecon that she created a structured internship system still in use, a hint of the changemaker within.

    Her academic footprint also includes co-authoring papers on cybersecurity, AI in education, and ICT integration in Nigeria’s public school systems fusing knowledge with national service. But Chinelo’s spirit was wired for more.

    “Drawn to the dynamism of technology, I made a calculated pivot and earned a master’s in Computer Information Systems at Prairie View A&M University, Texas.” Her brilliance was quickly recognised. She earned top scholarships and invitations to the world’s most prestigious tech forums; Grace Hopper Celebration, Richard Tapia Conference, the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute, proof that even across borders, excellence knows no silence.

    Today, she’s not just another Nigerian in the diaspora; she’s a Software Engineer in the Data Engineering and Machine Learning division at FedEx Corporation, a tech powerhouse behind global logistics. Prior to this, she led innovations in the Retail Customer and Revenue Systems division, managing over 18 enterprise applications, spearheading digital rollouts, and earning herself multiple Bravo Zulu Awards, Purple Star Awards, and the rare honor of induction into the FedEx IT Hall of Fame.

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    But technology is more than a job title to her. “I see technology not just as a tool but as a bridge, one I am determined to extend across Africa. I am a supporting partner of A1000 –  Africa’s AI Literacy Network programme, a visionary initiative demystifying artificial intelligence for Africans, making tech education inclusive, localised, and practical for young learners and emerging talents aged 5 -13, in partnership with the World Youth Foundation, introducing them to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence in a fun, accessible way,” she says.

    Chinelo is also supporting the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, an ambitious programme by Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to mentor 10,000 learners in deep tech disciplines. She is also an advocate in the Work Experience Scheme (WES), in collaboration with WES Online and the 3MTT programme, providing mentorship that bridges education with real-world industry experience.

    She is also the heartbeat behind the Cecilia Nurturing Women Foundation (CNWF), named after her mother. Through CNWF, women and children across Nigeria receive access to basic needs, education, healthcare, micro-business support, and mentorship. And because she believes learning should be a lifelong, joyful pursuit, she created the L3 Book Club (Ladies Lifting Ladies), a sanctuary where Nigerian women grow through books on finance, fiction, self-help, and more.

     Beyond Algorithm

    For all her technical expertise, Chinelo is deeply human. A passionate storyteller, she writes children’s books and scripts with the same conviction she codes. Her words are as powerful as her lines of code – driven by a vision of a more empathetic, inclusive world. She has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children in the U.S., taught catechism to Catholic children, served on global award juries like the Globee Awards, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), GHC, and NSBE, and co-hosted the 9th Nigerian Pitch Awards in 2023, recognizing legends of Nigerian sport alongside Matchmakers Consult and the Nigeria Football Federation.

  • Fighting aging with tea (2)

    Fighting aging with tea (2)

    “I’m so looking forward to the secrets Mummy Precious, our sexy looking grandmother, has for us,” Jolaolu whispered as our eyes followed the daughter of our anti-aging coach, Ogochukwu, as she went around sharing the healthy snacks to the group.

    The beautiful teenager could pass for her mom’s younger sister. “I’m also looking forward to picking her brain. Nobody would say she’s 60. I wish we can just skip this break and go straight to the business of the day,” Tamara offered.

    “There is time for everything. It’s you people that would complain that there was no break in between the exercise routine – now that we’ve rested, you are complaining,” criticised Christabel.

    “I don’t like it when Christabel sits near us. We no dey flow at all,” complained Jolaolu, and before Christabel could reply, as if she knew what was going on, Tinu gestured to her to join her and Mummy Precious where they were standing.

    Seeing the fire in Jolaolu and Tamara’s eyes, and before they’ll make me a referee in a boxing ring, I pleaded, “Please ladies, be calming down.  Let’s not let this turn into something else.  We all are friends and should try to understand ourselves,” just as Tinu’s voice broke the silence. “Ladies…ladies…ladies. I’m sure we have all rested well. While we are still munching our snacks, courtesy our own anti-aging coach, let’s welcome Mummy Precious.”

    “I started early to live a healthy lifestyle. Even though it was not something I planned, it was out of necessity at the time because my last baby was through CS and I had some complications. My story is how God can raise one from the dust to a palace. I was a village girl who was lucky to have married a supportive man. Although not so educated, he had a great vision for family. I came clueless to his house and he sent me to school from secondary education to university. I was schooling and raising a family but with his support it was all so easy. But that is a story for another day.

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    “Back to why we are here, a long time ago I learnt these secrets to healthy living which I have followed religiously. If you say I’m looking younger, then, it means they worked, to slow down the aging process naturally, I chose to include physical activity in my daily routine. You can try walking, swimming or other activities you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be rigorous. Eat a healthy diet: choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol as much as you can. I try to reduce my stress by cultivating habits that relax me – that’s why I like what the Women’s Corner is doing. Those ad hoc gatherings are good for the soul. Even though I do not join you often, I like to sit by my window and listen to your gists under the ebelebo tree (laughs). Get enough sleep. I do not allow anything to take my peace. Most importantly, take a sachet of pure water first thing in the morning – although I prefer it warm. It works better. Make it a habit to include tea in your food routine. It doesn’t matter when you take it. Drinking tea, particularly green tea, can contribute to a slower pace of biological aging and potentially increase your lifespan due to its rich antioxidant and polyphenol content. Regular tea consumption, especially moderate amounts like three cups a day, has been linked to reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and improved overall health, potentially delaying age-related diseases,” our anti-aging coach stated.

    “This woman is truly intelligent. She said all that without looking at any book or paper,” Tamara observed.

    Mummy Precious continued, “Permit me to read from information on green tea I saw online. I found that this ever-so-humble drink has been revered for centuries. It is rich in EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a.k.a. an antioxidant that fights free radicals. Green tea also helps fight back those pesky molecules that accelerate skin ageing. It is also good for hair. For those of you ladies, whose hubby gets tired all the time, and “after small work”, they’d be breathing up and down, add green tea to his meal. You can brew it and make it into drinks like the one you are having now. It is also good for your hair too. These are my secrets to aging slowly. Thank you.”

    Her statements were followed by a standing ovation and an applause.

  • Amandla’s journey from modelling to the screen

    Amandla’s journey from modelling to the screen

    If evolution were an epitaph, Amandla Ebeye would have had it on her neck as a garland. From her name to career, she is constantly changing and adding value to herself and her environment.

    She was named Amanda, but currently, this Nollywood thespian has morphed into Amandla. The name change was a product of self-discovery and reinvention. Amandla believes that “our culture and identity should remain with us and be strongly embedded in all we do and express, no matter the part of the world we find ourselves in”. “On why I changed my name from Amanda, a Latin word for “worthy of being “loved” or “lovable”, to Amandla, a Xhosa word that means ‘power,’ it is inspired by Nelson Mandela, a man I admired and looked up to as a model during his lifetime. It was a chant spoken by him when alive. The change in name was informed by exposure and re-invention. I needed a name that resonates with our culture and identity as Africans,” she said.

    Amandla’s journey to prominence began in 2006 in front of her mother’s shop in Benin, Edo State, where, daily, she always received compliments for her physical appearance.

    The Delta State-born actress said: “Some of my mum’s customers always told me that I looked like a model and that I could make it in life as a model.  A modelling agency, Apple House, in Benin signed me. That was how I began to make a mark in that field. “After some time, I decided to expand my horizon by relocating to Lagos and became the face of brands such as United Bank for Africa, Unity Bank, Calypso, Etisalat through Apple House.”

    After exiting the sitcom with appearances in 39 episodes, Amandla left for Ghana to feature in Ifeanyi Onyeabor’s Tribe. The film earned her a best actress nomination at the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) in the United States.

    She later starred in Governor’s Babe, a movie produced by Uche Mbunabo. That earned her a Best New Actress nomination at the ZAFFAA awards in the United Kingdom (UK). She was also nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Award USA, Best of Nollywood Awards, and City People Award. She won the Classic media merit awards, CAMA and Garden City Fashion awards.

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    Amandla went on to star in many TV series such as Super Story, This Life, Extended Family and also did movies such as Promise Beyond and Tribe. In 2018, she decided to take her experience in the industry a notch higher. Amandla graduated as a director from Trebas Film Institute in Canada and went on to produce a short film, Horrors, which she starred in with her son, Chukwunyem. In the same 2018, she produced and partly directed a sitcom, It’s a Crazy World. 

    The sitcom became the number one series on Netflix Nigeria for 11 consecutive weeks.

    Currently, Amandla is also passionate about young girls. Her goal, she says, is to make them understand that “things like bleaching their skin are wrong and that they should invest less in wigs”. “I grew up believing everything black was inferior and everything white was top notch. We cannot let young girls think that way.  They need to understand how great they are and that when they walk in a room, they must command that space.”

  • ‘Gender not a barrier to braving ordeal’

    ‘Gender not a barrier to braving ordeal’

    Head of graphics section, Fine and Applied Arts Department, Dennis Osadebay University, Delta State, Dr. Anne Chika ThankGod parades a rich profile and is committed to her craft. She is the first female Nigerian PhD holder in Nigerian indigenous clip art in studio graphics. With over two decades as an art practitioner and researcher, she is currently advocating the importance of preserving and globalising Nigerian indigenous cultures through clip art. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, she speaks on her journey, gender barriers and more.

    Being a woman

    To me being a woman is bringing the complimentary female dimension of humanity to bear in any facet of life. That tender, smart and creative dimension of super solutions! The aspect that the regular kind often forgets to consider.

    Joggling my personal/ family life with my career

    There are things a woman is built for. She’s a natural multitasker and it hasn’t been any different for me thankfully. I also ascribe this grace to God the source of it all.

    My fashion style

    My fashion rule is COMFORT! I must feel at home in my clothes then my personality will not be hindered. But on a general note, I love simple, smart and creative fashion. Anything that flatters my personality is game. These can range from sneakers to skirts and smart tops. I think I have very cooperative feet and love footwears a lot. I am not so into headdresses.

     Being the first female PhD holder in my field in Nigeria

    It settles in me that gender is not a barrier to braving any ordeal and excuses are not for anyone who really wants to make an impact and input. I am happy that the major thing it took from me was time and I had it to give. As a result of the challenge of appropriate personnel for supervision, I suffered delay by patiently waiting till my borrowed supervisor could get a grip of what I was up to in my research. This afforded me more practice and explorative time. I was happy I submitted five different methods of clip art generation with the use of the CorelDraw X4. That intensity of practice afforded by delay came with a priceless value in precision that I couldn’t have gotten any other way. I don’t think it was a mere chance. I am persuaded that I was just blessed to be positioned strategically when the opportunity called.

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    Inspiration behind my decision to enter the field

    Clip art is a set of illustrative items usually used on graphic ads both digitally and on print. They are vector-based images and are quite interactive. As vectors, they have the advantage of not pixelating unlike ordinary photographs or raster images. They can enlarge endlessly and still retain sharpness and they could be easily reshaped, repositioned, re-coloured or resized without much ado. I was primarily directed towards clip art by Prof. Ojay Ogene. It was one out of the four untouched areas of graphics at the time in the study of graphics in Nigeria. It sounded interesting to me and was also graciously approved by my primary supervisor Prof. Osa Dennis Egonwa on that faithful 24th day of December 2009.

    Barriers women face in the fields of graphic design and art in Nigeria

    I do not see any insurmountable barriers and for the records, there are more women in graphics practice now than I ever knew. This may not be so obvious because most graphics practice is no longer a physical office affair but digital. I see loads of recruitment going on involving women. I admit, incidentally, that I know more female graphic designers than males. They get their jobs online, execute them online and they are used online. As we flip through pages on our phones, run apps and investigate topics in research, we quickly forget that the designs of those pages we swipe through are the present day graphics and the screen and not paper is the new surface we engage on. I am impressed that the womenfolk are well caught up in the shifting culture of graphics practice, currently.

    Challenges I faced as a pioneer in this field

    At least, locally no one had done anything on clip art. Even Prof. Ojay Ogene who recommended it could not help me, so the big cross was all mine to carry, and it looked like Golgotha was never going to be in sight, at first. I started an online search. Finding information was one thing and executing it at a period when electronic media was still a fresh addition in the learning process was not a mean feat. This research was a completely digital studio affair. I already had a good degree of digital literacy then but a lot more was required to pull off an independent research on indigenous clip art generation.

    My experience in pursuit of a PhD in studio graphics and indigenous clip art

    In the applied arts discipline, graphics to be specific, there have always been stereotypes which to me didn’t pose any challenge that made research interesting. The only available MFA programme in Graphics was in Printmaking. The area was saturated and those who dared were frustrated and stuck in there for upwards of six years. I was blessed to have had a brief window of a record two year deviation when advertising was brought in at the graphics MFA program by Dr Omokaro Izebvigie of blessed memory around 1994. When I heard advertising, my ears tingled with an air of adventure. Then I jumped right in. In 2007, in a similar scenario, it was at the Fine and Applied Arts department of the Delta State University Abraka. It was like the sound of music in my ears. A studio PhD in Graphics? A dream of a studio based PhD research study finally unveiled. It was the first of its kind. Though, this might have been propelled by the NUC decree and ultimatum for a mandatory PhD as a standard to remain relevant in academia, but for me it was an adventure door flung open.

    We were like guinea pigs as a pioneer set and battled many challenges like shortage of supervisory personnel and infrastructural limitations. Getting a research topic was a herculean task. I loved to work on wildlife photography but I was discouraged because the officer in-charge of me didn’t think it was a feminine and safe thing. After a long collaborative search with the support of Prof. Ojay Ogene I ended up with research on repositioning indigenous cultures by globalizing them via clip art. From the first step, I was glad I did because it was a worthwhile adventure. As I commenced my research, it dawned on me that the area of research as at then was very untouched. Through lots of sleepless nights and hard work, I had to break a number of virgin grounds to deliver the first documented research on indigenous Nigerian clip art. That felt really good.

    Ways indigenous clip art can contribute to cultural identity and societal issues

    Even the very illiterate persons are now able to use smartphones. Hence without any formal assessment or qualification they are already ushered into the world of digital literacy and are not doing badly at grasping it. In the digital space where the smartphones throw everyone out, we all inevitably speak with the language tools it offers us. Therefore, when indigenous clip art abound for most cultural items, the practice of losing your identity because you are online will be minimized.

    If we are provided with our indigenous dialect of the digital language we will not shy away from being ourselves or representing who we are in the digital space. Being patriotic digitally will become an exciting and interesting practice, boosting our efforts at it in other mediums as well.

    My advice to young women aspiring to enter the field or any other traditionally male-dominated fields

    The world is not looking for a man or a woman right now. It is looking for a solution. The one who has a solution is the champ. As long as you have something remarkable to offer, leave your feminine gender out of the work space. Bring your creative help to the table and you would have fulfilled destiny for which you would be remembered long after you are out of here. Life is no longer coloured in gender paint but in intervention and creative hues.

  • Chapman hugs to ‘Warrior Moms’

    Chapman hugs to ‘Warrior Moms’

    “I stood by my balcony that quiet afternoon, watching people passing by, tears rolling down my eyes, and something in me broke,” recalled a teary-eyed Mummy Gbenro that beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon under some ebelebo trees that stood in a semi-circle as if planted to serve as amphitheatre.

    She was recounting a near-suicide experience when her second baby, Omatsola, who is 16 and autistic, was three. The usual suspects of the Women Corner crew were at an autism awareness campaign by non-profit, FSS Foundation in partnership with Imari Life Recreation Centre. It was empowering parents and ASD persons. We were invited by a neighbour whose sister has a son who was living on the spectrum.

    It was an informal ambiance that gave timeout to parents with autistic wards like Mummy Gbenro while they shared experience and knowledge on coping with the condition.

    “I fixed my gaze on one woman, backing a baby and dragging two children on both hands while carrying a nylon bag full of groceries on her head; and nodded at her with understanding, wishing I could exchange my plight with hers,” continued Mummy Gbenro.

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    “A part of me reached out from somewhere inside me to those passing by. I found myself waving at them as if to say: ‘See me…Can someone just see me, my pain and rescue me’. I tried to speak but no words came out.  I couldn’t say for sure how exactly I was feeling. I was sad, tired, afraid, angry, fed up at the same time. All I wanted at that time was relief from all that I was going through. I just could not take it anymore. That was when suicidal thoughts hit me.”

    “But was there nobody around you at that time,” asked Jolaolu, who was already becoming emotional by Mummy Gbenro’s words, as she grabbed a glass of Chapman on the rock.

    “I had nobody with me at that time, just my five-year-old and Omatsola. We had just moved to Lagos from Warri and I didn’t have any friends or family members close by.”

    “What about your husband,” our Barrister Ada quizzed.

    “I was home alone with no support system whatsoever. My husband was not around: his job made him travel a lot at the time. At that moment, I didn’t care about my three years old son throwing tantrums and screaming his heart out behind me.  I just wanted to escape but I couldn’t leave, I was so stuck and it hurt. I blanked out: I couldn’t feel or hear my child, who was now joined by his elder sister, crying and screaming. All that was on my mind was how to end it. But two of my neighbours who heard the children’s screams came to my rescue. The story would have been different.”

    “I know the feeling. My wife had the same experience,” Daddy Anarachukwu, another parent, interjected. “I feared for her and the child because I saw the way she looked at him, especially when he was having his episodes. I became her support system. I quit my job and started a business which allowed me to work from home. That was before COVID. Today, we are the better for it. I have a happy wife, happy child and happy family. Our daughter is 14 now and she can talk and is doing great. The women are the heroes of the story. All that is needed is the right people and support for mother and child.”

    “The women are indeed the heroes of the story. You cannot do without a good support system,” Mrs. Zainab Shitta-Bey of Cedarville Private (Inclusive) School, who moderated a session, noted.

  • Tiffany-Annabelle’s art show fetes womanhood

    Tiffany-Annabelle’s art show fetes womanhood

    “Ebiren Oliuwa Prosi Prosi” marks a pivotal chapter in Tiffany-Annabelle’s artistic journey – one that celebrates womanhood as a space of joy, growth, and radical optimism.

    Echoed in the title of the exhibition itself, “Ebire Oliwa Prosi Prosi”, which means “women are still flourishing in her native Itshekiri tongue”, Tiffany Annabelle pays homage to her ancestors while celebrating a language that in itself is in danger of becoming extinct.  The exhibition, which opened last Friday and will run till May 17, is being held at AMG Projects in Lekki, Lagos.

    At the heart of this new body of work is a deeper exploration of the artist’s Itsekiri heritage, expressed through a vivid selection of flora that’s unique to her Niger Delta origins. The women she paints, depicted nude or embraced in intimate gestures, and are enveloped in lush arrangements of hibiscus, African orchids, and frangipani. These flowers, abundant in the Niger Delta region, transcend their botanical presence to become metaphors for identity and personal renewal.

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    Each bloom carries layered significance. The hibiscus, bold and vibrant, speaks to resilience and the beauty of transformation. The African orchid, rare and poised, embodies the strength and grace of women navigating their evolving selves. The frangipani, fragrant and delicate, reflects the rootedness of culture and the quiet power of rebirth. Collectively, they form a symbolic ecosystem – one that nourishes the spirit as much as it honors the land.

    Beyond aesthetic contemplation, this presentation also offers an urgent ecological reflection. The artist’s growing concern for environmental degradation in the Niger Delta parallels her desire to protect and preserve the region’s biodiversity. Her artistic choices echo this commitment: the flowers flourish on canvas as they are threatened in reality, making each painting both an act of beauty and resistance.

    In line with this ethos, Tiffany-Annabelle turns to brown paper as a deliberate material choice. Its unbleached, organic texture aligns with sustainable practices while reinforcing the exhibition’s themes of natural abundance and cultural continuity. Far from incidental, the medium becomes part of the message – a tactile reminder of the quiet ways we can live in harmony with nature.

    As she steps further into her power, the artist invites us to consider preservation of not just the environment but culture as well. Seeking to remind us that culture is not a fixed inheritance but an evolving living force that must be preserved and protected, one that is critical to the survival of our future generations.

  • Women’s indispensable role in nurturing talents

    Women’s indispensable role in nurturing talents

    For an educationist, author and media host, Noma Sodipo, ‘women play an indispensable role in nurturing tomorrow’s talents’. She is the co-founder of The Lighthouse Educational Services and SWAN Publishing with a deep passion for children’s learning and development. In this interview with Assistant Editor EVELYN OSAGIE, Mrs. Sodipo, who originally trained as an optometrist, shares thoughts on her creative journey and more

    Being a woman

    Being a woman, to me, means being a vessel reflecting God’s image, called to various roles and purposes, and endowed with a unique grace and strength. I believe that God’s purpose for a woman is rooted in love and involves nurturing and leadership. As a woman, I see myself as someone who is called to bring light into the world, whether through my work in education, media, or storytelling.  I am on a journey of becoming more like my Maker, growing in His grace and love every day.

    My thoughts on beauty

    Beauty is deeply rooted in the understanding that we are created in God’s image. True beauty, to me, is not just about outward appearance, but about the condition of the heart and the way we reflect God’s love and grace. It’s when the soul, body and spirit are in harmony, living in alignment with God’s purpose. While physical beauty has its place, real beauty shines through in kindness, humility, and a spirit of compassion. It’s seen in how we treat others, in our character, and in the way we reflect Christ’s love. Beauty can also be found in the small, everyday moments—a kind word, a selfless act, or the joy we find in God’s creation. Ultimately, true beauty is about living in a way that honours God, with a heart that seeks to reflect His love. Again, it’s an upward journey as we aspire to be more beautiful.

    Notion that book people are not interested in fashion

    It’s an amusing stereotype, and maybe true for some! But while I may spend a lot of time in the world of books and ideas, I do enjoy expressing myself through fashion—another form of storytelling. How you dress often speaks before you even say a word.

    I wouldn’t say I’m the one flipping through fashion magazines or sketching new looks, but I’m fortunate to have talented tailors and designers who know how to style me, without breaking a sweat. You could almost trust their creativity the way you trust your pen, hoping they don’t disappoint on delivery! So, no, I don’t dwell too much on fashion, but I do enjoy good style—especially when someone else does the fashion thinking for me! Lately, I’ve been loving our vibrant Adire and Aso Oke fusions, and in general, I lean toward elegant yet comfortable styles.

    Growing up that impacted the woman I became

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    Growing up, I was fortunate to be in a supportive environment that encouraged curiosity and independence. My family placed a high value on education, creativity, and resilience, which profoundly shaped my perspective on both life and work. I was raised during a time when Nigeria was undergoing significant changes, particularly with the movement toward Independence. I also recall the civil war and the powerful lessons it taught me about facing fears and overcoming adversity. Faith, discipline, and respect for our elders were core principles in my family, and they deeply influenced my worldview and sense of responsibility. I learned early that perseverance in the face of challenges, along with the ability to adapt, were crucial in navigating life’s unpredictable twists and turns. My mother, a constant example of strength and grace, skillfully balanced her roles as a caregiver, pharmacist, and homemaker and devoted Christian. Her resilience, particularly in the face of challenges, and her ingenuity made a lasting impact on me, teaching me to find creative solutions and to always put my trust in God. My father, also a pharmacist, alongside my mother, built a successful pharmaceutical laboratory drug manufacturing company and ran Karo Stores and Chemists. He was supportive, fostering a love of music in our home, and, along with my mother, taught us how to swim—instilling both discipline and joy.

    The values and qualities my parents instilled in me and my siblings equipped us for life’s challenges and helped shape the woman I am today—someone who embraces new opportunities, takes risks, and pushes through obstacles.

    My journey from optometry to creative writing

    My journey into creative writing wasn’t a deliberate plan but rather an organic evolution. In optometry, I worked with people’s vision, finding satisfaction in performing routine eye examinations, helping them see clearly through glasses, contact lenses, exercises, or diagnosing diseases and making referrals for further care. However, after returning to Nigeria from England with two young children, following my husband’s completion of his doctorate in law, I felt a deep sense of purpose to start something for children. I began a nursery school, initially with my own children, but it gradually grew as others joined, and our third child arrived. I’ve always had a love for working with children, and that passion naturally extended into creative expression through writing. Over time, I realised that creative writing had become a true passion. The desire to create something impactful with words motivated me to transition into writing, where I could craft narratives that helped shape young hearts and minds—much like I had been doing in the nursery school, but now through the written word.

    As I transitioned into writing, I developed a growing passion for crafting stories that were not only educational but also representative, offering a variety of cultural perspectives. I saw firsthand how stories could spark curiosity, foster emotional growth, and help children understand the world around them, especially when those stories reflect the richness of their own cultures and others.

    My passion for children’s books

    My passion for children’s books was inspired by my love for working with young minds and the power of storytelling to shape their understanding of the world. I believe that stories are not only a source of entertainment but also essential tools for teaching, emotional growth and cultural connection. Seeing how much children enjoy stories and how they can inspire curiosity and creativity in them, motivated me to create books that reflect diverse perspectives and empower young readers to explore their world in meaningful ways.

  • Margins to Mainstream: Why more women in power means better business outcomes

    Margins to Mainstream: Why more women in power means better business outcomes

    In the modern business environment, the long-standing perception of leadership as an exclusive male preserve is rapidly being dismantled. Once defined by control, aggression, and conflict-resolution, leadership today is evolving into a more inclusive paradigm—one marked by emotional intelligence, empathy, ethical integrity, and innovation. These are qualities increasingly recognized as being more pronounced among women in leadership. As businesses search for more sustainable, ethical, and dynamic models for growth, data-driven insights now suggest that more women in positions of power could be the transformative shift needed to improve not just corporate culture, but bottom-line performance.

    The historical entrenchment of masculinity in leadership narratives is hard to ignore. Leadership traits such as assertiveness, decisiveness, and the ability to manage conflict have traditionally been associated with men. This framing has, over time, created a corporate architecture that favors a specific behavioral style, subtly disadvantaging women despite evidence of equal—if not greater—effectiveness. Scholars like Hyde (2014) have shown that when measured objectively, there are no significant gender differences in leadership effectiveness. The problem lies not in capability, but in perception and access.

    Contemporary workplaces, especially in sectors like healthcare, demand swift, coordinated responses to crises—capabilities that both male and female leaders possess. Yet, studies have found that women in such environments are more likely to temper assertiveness with empathy, offering apologies or explanations to maintain team harmony. In fact, the emotional intelligence that characterizes many female leaders is now being recognized as critical to successful team dynamics and long-term organizational trust. The traditional masculine framing of leadership, according to Acker (1990), is a systemic construct designed to maintain discrepancies between men and women, often to the disadvantage of the latter.

    Despite this, the leadership landscape is gradually shifting. More women are entering the workforce with high levels of education and experience. Their increased visibility and contribution at all levels should logically translate into greater representation in top roles. However, gender discrimination remains a persistent barrier. Women disproportionately report experiences of bias based on gender identity, with a significant generational and political divide on perceptions of gender-based prejudice. These perceptions are not just anecdotal; they are validated by numerous global studies, including the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report.

    Women bring a unique lens to leadership. Their approach is holistic, relational, and forward-thinking. Female leaders often demonstrate a superior ability to connect the dots between different aspects of the business, fostering a broader vision that transcends the silos typically seen in male-dominated leadership structures. Traits commonly associated with successful female leadership include resiliency, inventiveness, ethical integrity, and the ability to navigate complex human dynamics with compassion and clarity.

    Studies have found that women are more inclined to advance the quality of life in their workplace, demonstrate honesty, and make value-driven decisions even under pressure. These qualities are not just good for employee morale—they are increasingly linked to better stakeholder engagement, brand loyalty, and financial performance. According to Council (2017), the core competencies of female leaders include influence, collaboration, multitasking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to challenge conventional thinking. These traits are not ancillary to leadership success—they are becoming central to it.

    Moreover, women leaders are frequently visionary and results-oriented. They possess the confidence and determination to persevere through obstacles, all while nurturing the teams they lead. Democratic in style and sociable in interactions, they encourage inclusivity, which has been shown to foster innovation and creativity in the workplace. This participatory approach is often in contrast to hierarchical, top-down models that limit collaboration and creative problem-solving.

    Still, the journey from the margins to the mainstream is not without barriers. The concept of the “glass ceiling” remains a powerful metaphor to describe the invisible, yet very real, obstacles that prevent qualified women from rising to top leadership positions. First introduced by Marilyn Loden, the glass ceiling points to vertical discrimination that persists despite credentials, performance, and merit. Cotter and his colleagues identified four characteristics of this phenomenon: gender disparities unexplained by job-related factors, those that widen at higher levels, disparities in career progression opportunities, and those that increase over time. These elements continue to shape the leadership terrain for women.

    Some critics argue that the glass ceiling is a myth, pointing to personal choice and family commitments as reasons women remain underrepresented in senior roles. However, this perspective oversimplifies a complex issue. Research shows that a male-normed corporate culture, biased organizational structures, and decision-making processes contribute significantly to the problem. Business managers often perceive women as more likely to experience work-life conflict, reducing their chances of being considered for leadership roles, regardless of actual performance or commitment.

    There are multiple dimensions to the challenges women face. On an individual level, women often juggle professional aspirations with familial responsibilities. Organizationally, opportunities for leadership are more frequently offered to men, either due to unconscious bias or entrenched stereotypes. Interpersonal dynamics also play a role, with fewer mentorship opportunities, limited access to influential networks, and reluctance among decision-makers to invest in female talent. Situational factors such as flawed hiring and promotion criteria, and a lack of long-tenured female executives, further exacerbate the problem.

    Yet despite these systemic hurdles, data continues to show that companies with more women in leadership outperform their peers. They report stronger financial returns, higher employee engagement, and enhanced reputation among stakeholders. Their ethical compass and relational approach to leadership foster transparency and trust—two qualities that are increasingly valuable in a hyper-connected, accountability-driven world.

    The time has come to move beyond tokenism and diversity checklists. Organizations must make intentional, structural changes that promote gender parity at all levels of leadership. This includes re-evaluating recruitment, promotion, and retention strategies to ensure that women are not just included, but empowered.

    As we rethink leadership in the contemporary workplace, we must recognize that the future of business lies not in maintaining outdated power structures, but in building inclusive, dynamic teams led by individuals who reflect the diversity of our global society. Women are not only ready to lead—they are uniquely equipped to guide businesses toward a more ethical, innovative, and successful future.

    This article draws from a recently published academic work by Dr. Abayomi Abidakun of the College of Management and Technology, Walden University, Minnesota, and Ebiye Mary Agbai of the Faculty of Education, University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada