Access to high quality education is acknowledged as being transformative. But, across Africa, including Nigeria, many students do not have access to quality education. However, at Edukoya, an education technology (ed-tech) company and one of Nigeria’s most downloaded education apps, has moved to bridge the gap in access to quality education. The company’s founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Honey Ogundeyi, says its vision is to connect the next generation of Africans to online learning. CHIKODI OKEREOCHA. tells the inspiring story of one of Nigeria’s pioneering female technology experts.

The personifies the growing push by women technology entrepreneurs to challenge the dominance of the African tech ecosystem by their male counterpart. Through the work that she and indeed, other notable female tech entrepreneurs do, the founder/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Edukoya, an education technology (ed-tech) company, Honey Ogundeyi, has been leading the charge in demonstrating that female leadership, especially in the technology space, is possible.

Honey, who started her entrepreneurial journey in the technology sector over 18 years ago, is, one of the pioneering female technology founders in Nigeria. Her Edukoya, which leverages its online tutoring platform to offer personalised learning to students across the continent, has become the destination of choice for students wishing to get access to top-quality education, enabling them to achieve their goals and get ahead in life.

With the help of some of the smartest and most diverse minds across the continent, who are passionate about the problem of lack of access to quality education and united in bringing quality education to all, Honey was able successfully positioned Edukoya, in its launch week, as the second most downloaded education app in Nigeria. It also had over 50, 000 downloads in a month; the company has also recorded more than a million attempted questions on its app.

“This tells us that parents and learners are really engaging with our content. Beyond downloads and engagement, the feedback from users has also been very positive. In addition, we are getting feedback from parents and students across Nigeria telling us they are seeing a steady increase in their school grades since using the app. All of this within just about two months of the launch of Edukoya,” an obviously excited Honey told The Nation.

Describing the company’s phenomenal achievements so far as “very promising,” the ed-tech entrepreneur said she looks forward to more ground-breaking news as the company continues to grow. “I am really excited by the response to Edukoya so far,” she declared, pointing out that “at Edukoya, we’re reimagining quality education for all and it’s an audacious, incredible step and fulfilling mission that our team is dedicated to achieving.”

Giving more insight into how Edukoya is achieving its mission, Honey said, for instance, that its star product, ‘Ask Edukoya,’ is a one-to-one online tutoring platform for several subjects that connect the best teachers to students all around the country for real time short lessons on homework, exam preparation or doubt solving.

“Our tutors are available on demand and these questions are answered in real time – 24/7. Each Edukoya tutor goes through a world class four-step recruitment process, we typically admit 99 per cent teachers- it’s extremely competitive so students are essentially guaranteed a high quality tutor every time.

“We also audit sessions to ensure that conversations are appropriate and in line with our standard practice. Our parents and students are top on our mind when creating our products and features so, we ensure that everyone who uses or interacts with the app can be guaranteed of 100 per cent safety, Honey explained.

How it all started

According to the burgeoning female tech entrepreneur, the launch of Edukoya was born out of personal experience. Her story: “I grew up and was educated in Lagos, attending both primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. So, I have first-hand knowledge about the education system in Nigeria.

“I attended a Federal Government secondary school and I remember that with a class of over a 100 students,  teachers often with their best efforts were in many cases unable to give each student personal attention. A vicious cycle ensued: with little time to personalise lessons, the teacher would be unable to respond to every student’s requests to further explain concepts.

“Later, when the teacher would call on students to answer questions, but — not understanding the concepts — many, including myself, wouldn’t be able to answer.  Our learning experience focused mainly on memorising to pass exams and not to learn. This dynamic is not peculiar to Nigeria, it’s a global problem.”

In retrospect, Honey said personalised learning, which Edukoya currently offers to the next generation of students, would have had a great impact on students’ learning experiences at the time. Noting that across Africa, many students do not have access to quality education, she reiterated: “I have experienced how access to high quality education can be transformative.”

Creative and innovative, effortlessly beautiful and unassuming, Honey said she was driven by how she can use technology to make learning more accessible to more people on the continent. “Our goal is to educate the next billion learners and today, Edukoya already helps thousands of students to get access to top-quality education, enabling them to achieve their goals and get ahead in life,” she stated.

The Edukoya founder insisted that education technology (ed-tech) is the future of education in Nigeria. And she gave chilling statistics to justify her position: “With the predicted rise in our population, technology represents the only viable solution for connecting every African to high quality education. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has 30 million children who are not receiving any form of schooling, with Nigeria alone home to 11.4 million, the highest number globally.

“Some reports also suggest that SSA would need to train another 17 million teachers to meet the current demand. We don’t have the time or resources to make this happen as quickly as we need to if we take the traditional approach. However, technology gives us an opportunity to deliver the solutions we need in the most effective way.”

According to her, Edukoya is using technology to redefine how the next generation has access to education. “I believe this problem (lack of access to quality education) is worth solving. Our current focus is Nigeria, but our vision is to connect every African to high quality education,” Honey stated.

Although, she has since set for herself an audacious goal to look beyond the traditional approach and accordingly, leverage technology to achieve the feat, her capacity to deliver is certainly not in doubt, having been in the technology sector for a long time, working with several tech companies and garnering requite experience along the line.

For instance, Honey has worked in the technology sector for 18 years, working at companies like Mckinsey & Co, Ericsson and Google. She founded Fashpa, Nigeria’s first fashion commerce platform. “I built the first version myself and started the site from the bedroom of my flat in Lagos. I was solving a problem for many women in Nigeria at the time – access to good quality fashion items at decent prices,” she told The Nation.

Honey was also part of the founding team at Kuda, Nigeria’s first and largest digital bank today. “As the founding Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), my work was instrumental in helping the company reach millions of customers in less than two years,” she said.

As she emphasised, “I typically build companies around problems I have faced and I am extremely motivated to see better solutions using technology, be it across e-commerce, financial technology or education technology. I am passionate about using technology to uplift Africa and this has been a major driving force for my entrepreneurship journey.”

So far, so good

Eighteen years after Honey threw her hat into the technology ring, she said she is excited to be one of the pioneering female technology founders in Nigeria. “The African tech ecosystem has come a long way since I started out in 2009. It was very male dominated and there were not a lot of funding opportunities for startups in Nigeria.

“There were also limited female role models in technology in Nigeria. So, I am excited to see the tech ecosystem evolve now with fast-growing startups and several unicorns, a more evolved investing landscape with founders investing in founders, venture capitalists focused on funding women and training programs to help more people and in particular get access to careers in technology,” she said.

To further underscore the growing influence of female entrepreneurs in a largely male-dominated technology industry, Honey said although she recognises that representation is key, “I am excited to be at the forefront of pioneering the ed-tech sector in Africa. Our pre-seed round, for example, was the largest for an ed-tech company in Africa and for a female founder across the continent.”

She, however, expressed hope that this inspires more females to consider and start roles in technology.  “I don’t think there has been a better time to be a female entrepreneur and I am proud to see women stepping into roles of authority and literally building large and impactful companies,” Honey said, exuding so much confidence.

Although every day is different, Honey said her work as CEO of an ed-tech company involves product development, hiring and resource management and strategy. “I am in constant communication with our users, teams and stakeholders to ensure that we are delivering on our vision to connect the next generation of Africans to online learning,” she declared.

It was a declaration laced with the unspoken confidence of a busy top executive who has managed to achieve work-life balance. And she confirmed this, saying: “As a founder, it’s easy to keep your head down and just concentrate on running your business. You may look back on your progress from time-to-time, but you’re always focused on the next challenge.

Work-life balance is very important to me, but sometimes there are sacrifices to be made. A great hack for me is hiring super smart people, delegating, zoning out my calendar, scheduling everything professional and personal and not neglecting personal time and mindfulness. Outside of my day job as a CEO, I enjoy mentoring, angel investing, teaching and playing squash.”

Having made significant progress in her chosen field, Honey has these pieces of advice for existing and aspiring women tech entrepreneurs: “Focus on your strengths and amplify them. Surround yourself with the best team and step out of your comfort zone all the time! The journey towards accomplishing your goals may be long, but it’s important to recognise how far you’ve come – and to celebrate the wins.”

The expert is not done. “Network and invest in relationships. I have built great business relationships over the years and the diversity of this network has helped me at each stage of my career,” she added.

Fashion label Biola Brentwood is unrelenting in its push to rule the industry. The brand, which has an active arm in Toronto, Canada, where it sells ready-to-wear clothes, and a branch in Ikeja, Lagos, also plans to open a new arm on Lagos Island soon. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, which rode to success on the back of extensive exposure on the international fashion scene, Abiola Adeneye, shares the story of her journey in the world of fashion and her challenges with SAMPSON UNAMKA.

Her debut appearance at the ‘African Fashion Week Toronto (AFWT) 2021’ in Canada, followed by another hugely successful outing at the Paris Fashion Week in February this year, set the stage for her brand’s emergence on the global fashion scene.

Today, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biola Brentwood, a fashion label, Abiola Adeneye, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest international fashion brands. She has been holding her own in the global fashion industry, giving other international brands a run for their investment and creativity.

“It was nothing like I had ever experienced before. I’d never forget all the comments we got and how a lot of foreigners were all over my models. They were stunned. It was a proud moment for me and I didn’t miss the opportunity to say to anyone who cared to hear it that I was from Nigeria.

“Just being able to shine the light of my country to the world was such a big deal,” Abiola, exuding confidence, said of her debut appearance at ‘AFWT 2021’ in Toronto, Canada.

Her participation at the Paris Fashion Week this year – February, this year to be precise – was no less rewarding. “I took another huge step when I decided to go for the Paris Fashion Week in February 2022. I was selected out of thousands of other fashion brands.

“It was beyond mind-blowing. I unveiled a new collection called ‘African Beauty’ and this collection was almost sold out, Abiola, who is from Modakeke, Ife North Local Government, Osun State, told The Nation, adding that, since then, “I’ve been getting awesome reviews and referrals from notable people.”

For Abiola, who studied Business Education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and later moved to College Lasalle, Montreal, Canada, where she studied Fashion Designing, constant learning is at the core of her impressive footprint in the local and international fashion industry.

“For me, learning is a continuous experience and to date, I still attend various lectures and trainings to expand my horizon and knowledge in fashion designing and other related fields,” the fashion entrepreneur said.

Before the launch of Biola Brentwood, Abiola worked at Melanie Lyne and The Bay, both in Toronto, Canada for three years as a wardrobe stylist for women’s luxury wear brands.

She has since brought her wealth of experience as a Canada-trained fashion designer and as a wardrobe stylist for women’s luxury wear brands to bear on Biola Brentwood. Today, her company is not an ordinary fashion brand, but operates as a full-scale organisation with every aspect in place.

Biola Brentwood has a finance team, for instance. “I take financial advice seriously and I would say that the business has benefitted from this greatly, she said, noting that her company had about 20 employees while plans were afoot to engage more talents and also expand.

“Any business that doesn’t plan to expand is literally planning to shut down. So, of course, we are working on expanding the business. We currently have an active arm of the business in Toronto, Canada where we sell ready-to-wear clothes. We have a branch in Ikeja, Lagos and would be opening a new arm in Lagos Island very soon,” the entrepreneur said.

But, of all businesses and vocations, what motivated Abiola to throw her hat in the fashion ring? Her response is telling: “Every time I’m asked why I decided to go into fashion, I remember my younger days when I would just sit and think of what I really wanted to do. It was a common question back then and for me, I was always puzzled because I didn’t think the answer should be black or white.

“As a young lady, I was quite good at several things so, I was looking out for that one thing that I could do for the rest of my life without getting bored and it’s safe to say I found it. I discovered that I had the skill to conceptualize ideas and bring those ideas to life. It gave me a form of an adrenaline rush just seeing the execution of my ideas and how people loved it.

“I’d sketch designs and make patterns and then make the clothes for people and they will be excited. There and then, I knew fashion was what I wanted to do and so I began the journey and I haven’t looked back till date. According to her, she has been in this business in Nigeria for about seven years.

In retrospect, Abiola said the satisfaction she gets from positive testimonies by her numerous clients home and abroad has been one of her key drivers. She said: “The satisfaction that comes from seeing my ideas come to life has been my strength. The smiles on my clients’ faces when they fit their dresses are awesome

“However, asides from the satisfaction, my work is not only providing for me, it’s also providing for several other people who by reason of Biola Brentwood, now have a source of livelihood and that for me is a remarkable plus of being an entrepreneur helping to alleviate poverty and boost the economy.”

Expectedly, women appear to be Abiola’s first line charge when it comes to helping to alleviate poverty and boost the economy. “Anybody that relates with me closely knows I’m an active supporter of women. I mean, I make women’s clothing so, you know, I must love and support women. I have a number of female members of staff that have worked with my brand and went on to start their own businesses that I continually look out for and support all the way,” she revealed.

Indeed, the entrepreneur, who has never hidden her resolve to dominate the global fashion stage and also leverage it to re-tell the Nigerian story, has been in the vanguard of encouraging women who want to start and run their own businesses successfully. For such women, Abiola dished out these pieces of advice: “Know your onions. Things are not entirely rosy out here in the business world, but knowing your onions saves you a lot.”

As she further added, “One of the things I tell young people is that before starting a business, there is a process of learning in the background. Learning how things are done, organisation and structure, etc. Get as much education as you can, learn, plan, pray, seek advice and don’t be afraid to start.

“Until you start, nothing happens. Don’t give excuses of family, children, and society etc., just start! And that’s really the same advice I’d give to anyone who wants to venture into the fashion industry. Know the skill well and give it your best.”

Abiola’s ability to apply some of the afore-mentioned success nuggets in the running of Biola Brentwood must have been why she has managed to navigate some of the peculiar industry challenging that came her way to the top. “Like every business, I’ve faced my own share of challenges, starting with establishing the brand and proving our worth,” she said.

According to her, it’s really easy for people to project the attitudes of other fashion designers on the brand, “so, we had to fight hard to win people’s trust and exclude ourselves from the stereotype.”

She another challenge she faced as a brand early on in the business was delivery outside the country. “It was always disheartening when after we had put in so much effort to ensure that our clients’ clothing is tailored to taste, all i’s dotted and t’s crossed, and all for us to have set back with international deliveries. You can imagine the level of heartbreak that will bring,” she recalled.

The business woman, however, expressed joy that the brand was able to find a trusted delivery company hence the challenge of delivery is now a thing of the past.

She also said another issue which, of course, affects every business, is the constant inflation rate that affects the cost of fabrics and other tools that she and other industry operators use. “One of the ways we have managed the situation is proper communication and we are fortunate to have very considerate clients,” Abiola told The Nation.

Not one to easily succumb to challenges, Abiola keeps charging on, motivated by the vision and the purpose she seeks to achieve. “I continually strive to be excellent and put Nigeria on the global stage and re-tell the Nigeria story my way,” she stated.

The robust support system she enjoys also helped. “I must say I have the most supportive husband ever. Being a wife, a mother and an entrepreneur are not easy roles to combine, but I’ve excelled on the wings of the best support I can have. That way, the home front doesn’t lack anything and the business is also thriving as well,” she said.

Seasoned accountant and tax professional Dr. Titilayo Fowokan is the Group Head, Strategic Tax and Compliance for Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), West Africa’s most diversified and fully integrated conglomerate. With 28 years’ experience covering financial services, oil and gas, manufacturing and service industries, Mrs Titilayo, who was the Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), Lagos Chapter, and now, Council member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), shares her thoughts on how to simplify Nigeria’s tax system, as well as some gender-related issues with TOFUNMI SANUSI.

The bestrides Nigeria’s corporate landscape like a colossus, drawing sufficient strength from her relationship management and interpersonal skills, which most of her friends, close business associates and subordinates acknowledge as top-notch.

Added to this her avowed belief that “until success is achieved, I don’t see that I’ve really done anything,” it is hardly surprising that seasoned accountant and tax professional Dr. Titilayo Fowokan sits atop West Africa’s most diversified and fully integrated conglomerate Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) as Group Head, Strategic Tax and Compliance.

“One of the things that have helped me is my interpersonal skills. The people I work with are people that always want to be by my side. I go beyond work to understand what they are going through because when they are psychologically fit, they’ll be able to deliver.

“So, I’ve had this strength in terms of relationship management, in terms of my technical skills and in terms of respect for my members of staffs, colleagues and even respect for myself,” Titilayo said of her career journey in accountancy and taxation which started with Price Waterhouse (now PwC)  in April 1994.

Titilayo spent 11 years and one month at Price Waterhouse, had a one year stint in the lottery business before moving over to the firm of Akintola Williams Deloitte in July 2006. After three and half years with the accounting firm, she moved to oil giant Oando Plc as the Group Tax Manager.

It was after six years of working in Oando Plc that she joined Dangote Industries Limited in April 2016 as the Group Head, Strategic Tax and Compliance. And in that regard, she is, till date, in charge of the Group’s tax affairs within and outside Nigeria.

Intelligent and unassuming, Titilayo is a goal getter. “I’m a goal getter. If I need to achieve something, I must get it done,” she declared, adding that her key motivator is to try and find solutions to problems and challenges by using her skills.

“I want to make a difference wherever I find myself. I’ve always seen myself going to these places to provide solution to challenges and issues that require resolution, and from practice, I have had to deal with clients and supporting them in their tax needs,” the graduate of Mathematics Education (B.Ed) from Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, told The Nation.

Titilayo also earned B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Accounting from Saint Monica University Cameroun (SMOUNC) as well as Masters in International Business Law (LLM) from University of Cumbria, Carlisle, United Kingdom.

She also holds a doctorate in Accounting with specialisation in Taxation from Charisma University, Turks and Caicos, British West Indies. “I always desire to learn new things, to unlearn what I learnt, move with what is current to the extent possible, so that has been the way I’ve been able to move seamlessly,” she said.

Her propensity to learn, as well as her near obsession with success, has been paying off. Today, apart from overseeing DIL’s tax affairs, Titilayo is a chartered accountant and chartered tax practitioner with about 28 years’ experience covering financial services, oil and gas, manufacturing and services industries.

She also has significant experience in preparation of accounts for small and medium-sized companies, audit and business assurance services, tax compliance and consulting services for both corporate entities and individuals. Her expertise in tax advisory also covers inbound investment advisory for international companies as well as expatriate tax management.

Titilayo’ membership of several local and international professional bodies has also given her an edge. For instance, she is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Association of Forensic Accounting Researchers (AFAR),.

The acclaimed team player is also a General Practitioner (GP) of the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), a Certified Internal Control Auditor (CICA) of the Institute for Internal Controls (TheIIC).

That is not all.The burgeoning tax czar is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN). She is a Council member of the CITN and the immediate past Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), Lagos Chapter.

Given her experience in accounting and taxation, Titilayo is naturally in the vantage position to point the way forward for Nigeria’s tax administration. So, when she said that with her experience in taxation, she doesn’t think that increasing the tax rate is the way to go, she obviously spoke as an expert well schooled in the dynamics of an efficient, result-driven tax administration.

She said rather than increase the tax rate, Nigeria should increase the tax base. “If we have more people in the tax net, little drops of water will become an ocean and you get more tax with wider net. Now, when we increase the rate and we are not doing anything about compliance and bringing more people to the tax net, we would be putting more tax burden on those that pay the tax and this will hinder business prospect,” she explained.

She further justified her stance: “You know tax is a cost to any business. It’ll deplete your return on investment. And to your investors, the more their returns are depleted, the more they are discouraged in terms of bringing more investments into the business. So, we need to understand this. For me, the base should be increased; tax payment and tax administration should be simplified.”

Titilayo added that the need for government to make the tax system better by lessening the burden on tax payers has become necessary in view of the prevailing harsh business environment. Her words: “People need a conducive business environment. By the time you add tax burden on them via higher tax rate, it becomes an issue.

“They’ve given some relief to small companies, but if we look at the Finance Act 2019 and 2020 and the amendments Act 2021 that affects small companies, it’s a matter of giving them zero tax and withdrawing their capital allowances which they can use in the future. Also, they are not fully exempted from withholding tax. People are still deducting withholding tax from them.

“For me, Nigeria’s tax system should be properly aligned with business realities rather than increasing the rate. This is the only way businesses can see the usefulness of the government policies on tax to the business. So, if they are happy doing their work and making profit, then the tax authorities can get more even without investing the tax.

“So, I think the government should look at that, widen the tax net, make charge simple, make business environment conducive so that people can do more and let it be easy for everybody to understand the law without any ambiguity so that there won’t be distrust.

“The social contract between the government and the people is also important so that they will be willing and they will see that government is doing something with this tax money and they are ready to continue to pay.”

Titilayo, who has since emerged as the shining light for women socio-economic and political emancipation, also bared her mind on this year’s celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme ‘Breaking the Bias, ’ insisting that the time has come for women to position themselves for opportunities.

“When you are talking about breaking the bias and you are not positioned to take on some of the opportunities that would make you to show that whatever the men or people generally may think about you is not as it is, then it becomes really difficult for you to show that you want to break the bias. So, my charge to women is that they should not be intimidated,” she said.

The tax expert also enjoined women to blow their trumpet. “People don’t know who you are if you don’t say and demonstrate who you are,” she said.

On the factors hindering women from participating in governance, Titilayo said women look at governance from various aspects, from the corporate sector and in terms of nation building.

Her words: “When you talk about the corporate sector, the jinx is being broken now. Women are now taking the lead in the Boards because organisations are consciously bringing up their women. There may be some stereotype of ‘what can women say,’ but women are now trying to make it clear that there is a lot they can say or do.

“Last year, we had six women who became CEOs of banks and these banks are doing well today. So, that’s a means of showing that women in corporate governance can pull the strings and make things happen. They are built to multi task and despite the fact that they are mothers, wives and they have parents, they still manage to deal with official matters and also carry people along. “

She, however, said when it comes to political governance, women cannot do the rough game,. “They want to do things with sanity, in a way that they put reasonable touches to whatever they do and because of this you may not see a lot of women, not that they are not aspiring, but the way the game is, it is too ‘dirty’ for women to participate and so they won’t want to soil their hands,” Titilayo said.

How does this tax expert and top business executive manage to strike the delicate balance between work and family? “It’s not been easy,” she admitted, noting, however: “I have a very supportive family, my husband, I give him kudos, my children they’ve been so supportive, they understand my passion for what I do, for my career and profession and they also even encourage me.”

Are there some challenges in her journey to fame and fortune?

“There would always be challenges in any journey,” Titilayo said, noting, however, that “I’ll take a cue from the words of Professor Tai Solarin, who, before he died, said ‘May your road be rough.’ It’s actually not a curse, I would say it is more of a prayer to sharpen you and make you a better person.”

She, however, said some of the challenges she had was facing tax authorities and mediating between the company and tax authority. “But I was able to navigate because of relationship, I was able to manage both sides and still maintain my sanity as well as my profession. So, it’s actually not a bed of roses, but it’s something that I’ve navigated and overcome,” she said.

Women across Lagos State and its environs gathered at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) for a seminar organised by the Centre as part of efforts to underscore women’s strategic and important role in building the society and also, to key into the yearly International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

The Centre for Management Development (CMD) is living to its mandate of providing services in the areas of management training and development, economic management and administration, research, consultancy, and allied services for improved performance in all sectors.

The Centre, which has never hidden its resolve to prioritise women empowerment and development, organised a one-day seminar as part of its efforts to underscore women’s strategic and important role in building the society and also, to key into the yearly International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

The IWD is held on March 8 yearly, to uphold gender values and celebrate womanhood. It is an occasion to spotlight the great achievements of women and girls and the meaningful contributions they have made to the world. In view of this, the Centre organised the seminar to key into the yearly international celebration of women and to remind women and girls to ‘Break the Bias,’ which is the theme of this year’s celebration.

According to the seminar Coordinator and head of Division (Women and Youth Development) at the Centre, Mrs. Stella Gabriel Edem, the seminar was aimed at encouraging further action on issues of gender bias as well as empowering women and girls in Nigeria.

Addressing participating women during the opening ceremony, the Director-General of CMD, Mr. Bitrus Chinoko, stressed the need to encourage gender sensitisation for a sustainable future through sustained education to break the bias in communities, workplaces, schools, colleges and universities.

He noted that the millennium witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in the thoughts about women’s development and growth. “With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and increased critical mass of women’s visibility, as impressive role models in every aspects of life, one could think that women are truly empowered to impact,” Chinoko stated.

Earlier, the Director, Entrepreneurship and Business Development Department, Mrs. O. A. Adeyemo, highlighted the objectives of the seminar to include celebrating achievements of women across the world, discussing issues around empowerment and growth of women, and ensuring that the future of the girl-child is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

Some of the critical areas covered at the seminar included Challenging Biases and Misconceptions, Supporting Women in Entrepreneurship, as well as Role of Women and Girls in Shaping a More Equal Future and Recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The event also provided an opportunity for United Nation’s Association of Nigeria (UNAN) to present awards to deserving women from various sectors of the economy to mark the IWD.

 

 

Women are literarily up in arms against members of the National Assembly for shutting down gender-related bills that would have bridged the gap in women representation in political and elective positions. Despite the nationwide protests against the non-passage of the bills, the Chairperson, Professional Women Accountants in Nigeria (PROWAN), Princess Elemanya Ebilah, says dialogue is still the way forward for women. The aviation industry professional with 32 years’ experience shares her thoughts on how women can break the glass ceiling with TOFUNMI SANUSI.

Throughout the week, the Nigerian gender space has been particularly charged. This followed the rejection of the five gender bills that would have addressed issues around women’s woeful representation in political and elective positions by members of the National Assembly.

The non-passage of the bills by the Ninth Assembly, which coincided with this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration  did not go down well with women including rights activists. This forced several women groups across the country to stage nationwide protests against the NASS’s action.

The IWD is marked yearly on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and take action for equality. Accordingly, this year’s edition was themed “Time to Break the Bias.” But IWD 2022 came in the wake of the rejection of the women-centric bills by Nigeria’s Parliament.

However, in the midst of the rejection of the gender bills in the on-going amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the NASS and the widespread outrage that followed, the Chairman, Professional Women Accountants in Nigeria (PROWAN), Princess Elemanya Ebilah, believes that dialogue is still the way forward for women to bridge the gender gap.

“The way forward is dialogue. We will keep talking and let them (Lawmakers) see why it is necessary to pass the bills, Mrs. Ebilah, who is an aviation industry professional with 32 years’ experience, told The Nation, regretting that the action of members of the NASS in throwing out the bills was retrogressive.

“It’s like setting us 20 centuries backward. We are in the 21st century so, when we go back to the 20th century, which means we are still in the caveman’s age and that also means that we have not achieved anything or that the men are not listening and that is bad news,” an obviously disappointed Mrs. Ebilah said.

Mrs. Ebilah while noting that “the way to go to bridge the gender gap in political representation is still dialogue,” said women cannot take up arms or get physical with members of the National Assembly. “But if it is possible, we can say all wives shouldn’t give their husbands food for one night and then ignore them so that they can feel the pinch that without women by their side, they are almost nothing,” she added.

Her hint on the possibility of women starving their husbands in order to draw attention to women’s push to be seen and heard may be extreme, and in fact, impracticable, but it underscored the urgent need to recognise the active role women plays in a men’s lives, which, according to Mrs. Ebilah,  “is very pronounced.”

“Actually, without the women, government is useless; that touch must be there and that touch must be seen to the world,” the Ebonyi State-born former Director of Finance & Administration for Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Fellow of both the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and Chattered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria (CITN), said.

Mrs. Ebilah, who earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Accounting in 1978, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2000, both from the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, however, said women also share the blame for their perpetual woeful representation in the gender space.

She said, for instance, that apart from the recent inhuman action of lawmakers in denying women their right via the passage of the bills, jealousy amongst women is also a major factor holding female gender down.

Her words: “Some women don’t actually like to see their fellow women succeed. They must always say something like ‘must it be her’. The ‘pull her down syndrome’ means that most times, it’s just a woman hurting another.”

According to Mrs. Ebilah, some women have low self esteem and that is when they conclude within themselves that they cannot do it. “Low self esteem is the reason despite all the encouragements, you still feel you are incapable. Most women also use their gender as a weapon.

“You hear things like, ‘don’t you know I am a woman,’ as if there are things that women don’t do. So, first of all, such a woman is already presenting women as weaker sex to be looked down on and use that to make unnecessary excuses,” she said, insisting that “women should, basically, be each other’s keeper. Protect your fellow women and don’t pull anybody down.”

The 73-year-old professional accountant, therefore, wants women to work on their self esteem, as that is a major factor holding women down and making them look like the weaker gender. She also said balancing the home and work is a gift that women possess because of their multi-tasking spirit so, excuses shouldn’t be tolerated in their push to hold their own in business and politics.

Mrs. Ebilah threw her weight behind women’s political inclusion and participation. She expressed her  support for women going into politics and making positive impacts. “I’m politically involved, but not particularly for any position. I give my full support to women interested in participating. At this my age, I should be a king maker and not in the fore front,” she told The Nation.

The aviation professional also said although the aviation industry is male-dominated, women need to show interest in it and get rid of their low self esteem. “Women should first of all show interest, if you don’t show interest in an aviation job, nobody will come to your house to drag you to do it.

“Then, the idea that aviation is technical and women can’t do it should be shunned. We have women pilots, there is nothing a woman wants to do that cannot be done. We should just make sure that if there is vacancy, the advertisement goes wide and everybody is encouraged to do it so, first thing first, show interest,” Mrs. Ebilah said.

Mrs. Ebilah is engaged in Training, Human Capital Development, Consultancy in Finance and Management Services and General Procurement, which she promotes through her registered companies; International Gazeille Limited and Elemanya & Co. She also does manpower development and training for both public and private sectors.

“I know that when I do that, I impact a lot of knowledge. Sometimes I go out of my way to even take some topics outside the programme just as a way to encourage others particularly women. I don’t have any empowerment programme for young and up-coming women entrepreneurs. I don’t have the financial capability to do that, but I definitely do what is in my capacity,” she said.

Interestingly, under her watch, PROWAN boasts 8,000 members across the country, with 15 chapters. She also said there are also plans to inaugurate more chapters that have shown interest in the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) of PROWAN.

While admitting that the increase in the association’s membership was a bit slow, she said current members are very committed.

As Council member of CITN, Mrs. Ebilah also shared her thoughts on Nigeria’s tax administration, noting, for instance, that increasing the tax net was preferable to an increase in tax. “If you have more people paying little tax, it is better than having few people paying huge taxes that they may not even be able to meet up, but if the base is spread, it gets better,” she said.

 

Dr. Rose Nkaku Okogbue is the Proprietress of Seed of Messiah Group of Schools, which she established between 2000 and 2001. Twenty years down the line, the educational facility located in Ilamose, Isolo, Lagos, has become the toast of parents and guardians in search of quality and affordable education for their wards. The entrepreneur shares the story of her school’s transformation into one of the most sought-after educational institutions in Lagos with JOSEPH ESHANOKPE.

She probably never envisaged that it would one day blossom into a destination of choice for Nigerians who cherish sound and quality education. But 20 years after it opened its doors for its first set of enrollees, Seed of Messiah Group of Schools, which was founded by its Proprietress, Dr. Rose Nkaku Okogbue, has metamorphosed into somewhat a behemoth in the nation’s education sector.

Seed of Messiah Group of Schools, which Dr. Rose established between 2000 and 2001, hosts a nursery, primary and secondary school. And the schools, located in Ilamose, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, have transformed into reference points for quality and affordable education. The mixt educational facility’s sterling performance in external examinations has continued to guarantee a steady stream of enrollees to the delight of students, parents and management.

However, more than anything else, Messiah Group of Schools owes its phenomenal rise to the hard work, resilience and tenacity of its proprietor, and of course, the robust support system offered by her spouse. At first, Rose, from day one, never set out to own a business or more specifically, own and run a school. Like any youth of her time, it was her dream and that of her husband’s after a sojourn in the United States of America, to get white collar jobs. Or course, with a Masters in Personnel Management, Rose was eminently qualified for a job.

Besides, with a background in banking, having done her compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Union Bank, Rose stormed the labour market armed with requisite qualification and experience. Unfortunately, however, there were no jobs, not to talk of offers for her. Not one to accept defeat, Rose and her husband started selling eggs to keep body and soul together until they were employed. “We would load our Peugeot 504 saloon car with eggs and sell to shop owners,’’ she recalled.

It was at that point Rose first discovered her knack for entrepreneurship. But before it started manifesting and eventually resulted in floating Messiah Group of Schools, mother luck had smile on her, as she secured a job at the defunct Mass Mobilisation for Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) as an officer in the old Imo State. That was in 1987. Her husband, too, was employed by a firm in Lagos. With the creation of Abia State from the old Imo State, Rose was promoted to an Assistant Director.

Despite being gainfully employed, the mother in Rose compelled her to take a decision that eventually changed the course of her life and career. It was the decision to float a school. And it all started in the course of her work when she had to leave her children with her husband in Owerri, the Imo State capital, who was to move to Lagos with them. She had to quit her plum job to join them. “I couldn’t allow myself to be separated from my children. I had to join them to give them sound training,’’ she told The Nation. Upon joining her children in Lagos, she became a full housewife. She was back to the employment market.

At that point, her entrepreneurial instinct was again in full swing. And upon an advice and support from her elder brother, she veered into selling fabrics. With a shop on Coker Road, Lagos, she was travelling to Aba by night journey to buy clothes for sale. “My clients were reliable. Every business relationship is based on trust. When there is trust and integrity, your customers will believe you,’’ Rose said.

Incidentally, her strong belief in the time-tasted principles of trust and reliability in business were some of the rare virtues she brought to bear on her business of running a private school after she established Seed of Messiah Group of Schools between 2000 and 2001. Her other success factor in business, she said, was passion, “because that is what will make you not to give up when you face challenges in the business.’’

Mrs. Stella Sunday Edet is the Director, De TNC Integrated Services Limited, a company which is into the production of bridal wears and accessories. Working with 25 employees (20 females and five males), the Akwa Ibom State-born fashion entrepreneur has taken the fashion industry by storm. Stella, who is also the founder, The Natural Women World Foundation, an NGO, shares her entrepreneurial story and her plans to expand her footprint beyond Lagos with Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

Fashion, by her admission, runs in her family. However, from the onset, the Director, De TNC Integrated Services Limited, a company which is into the production of bridal wears and accessories, Mrs. Stella Sunday Edet, chose to take the business to new heights via specialisation.

So, unlike some other fashion entrepreneurs, who, like the proverbial rolling stone that gathers no mouse, dabble into different aspects of fashion, Stella decided to carve a niche for herself in bridal wears.

Today, Stella is arguably, the numero uno in the production of bridal wears. De TNC Integrated Services Limited, which she established in 2018 to sustain her family’s age-long line of business, which is fashion, has become the destination of choice for low, middle and upper class women, especially would-be prides.

Working with 25 staff (20 females and five males), the Lagos-based company has been churning out quality and affordable bridal wears to the delight of its customers.

According to the Akwa Ibom State-born budding fashion entrepreneur, the series of positive testimonies and feedback from her growing clientele clearly attest to her company’s soaring profile in the Nigerian burgeoning fashion industry.

“They (customers) are always grateful and most of them think that we import the wedding gowns. They are looking forward to more because we work with their budget. Our bridal wears are extremely affordable, from N45, 000,” Stella told The Nation.

Prior to throwing her hat to the bridal wears production ring, Stella was into lace materials production. “I was into it (lace materials production) for 10 years quietly before registering De TNC Integrated Services Limited with the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC),” she said.

She explained that she was motivated to move into bridal wears production when she saw young women taking loan in the name of buying a wedding dress. “The demand was high so, I decided to go into that industry to make a difference,” she said.

Indeed, five years into the establishment of De TNC Integrated Services Limited, Stella appears to have succeeded in making a difference in the industry. Much of the difference she has been able to make came on the strength of regular trainings she undertook to further hone her skills. “Fashion runs in the family, but I needed to step up and add more verve to it. So, I went to New Skills Academy School, United Kingdom (UK) for more knowledge,” she revealed.

She said she has also gone a notch higher in the business by introducing innovations in order to stay ahead of the competition. “The competition in this bridal business is stiff, but I have been able to leverage quality and innovative service delivery to delight my customers and stay ahead of the competition. My materials are sourced locally while some are imported. My prices and styles also speak for me,” Stella said.

Apparently encouraged by her exploits in the business so far, the fashion entrepreneur told The Nation that her next plan of action was to expand her company’s footprint beyond its current location in Lagos. “In five years’ time, I hope to transform the company into a household name in the fashion industry. De TNC Integrated Services Limited should be in at least three African countries and four States in Nigeria,” she said.

Hard working and focused, Stella, who said she detests unnecessary excuses, is a strong believer in women empowerment. “I believe in women rising up with all their strength to face and fix problems. I hate to be pitied and I also hate self-pity,” she declared. And this must be why she has since prioritized helping other women to achieve their full potential.

For instance, beyond Stella’s flourishing bridal wears business, she is also founder, The Natural Women World Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), for young and old women who are willing to overcome self-pity and add value to themselves She is also the founder of the group called Women in Business (Faces of Strength), a group of women that come together to help start and spread their businesses in all part of the country.

While The Natural Women World Foundation, according to Stella, has groomed and supported over 16,000 women so far, Faces of Strength currently boasts membership strength of about 20 women. Both organisations have proven to be robust platforms for Stella to propagate her various empowerment programmes for women, both young and old.

Describing her experience in both fashion and women empowerment as ‘great,’ despite a few ups and downs, Stella, however, advised up and coming women entrepreneurs stay focused and patient in order to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in business. “They should not forget to give a helping hand and coach the younger generation,” she added.