It all started like play on a WhatsApp platform. But today, Mayowa Akinpetoye has transformed it into a big venture. In this interview with Bukola Aroloye, she recalls how she came about Chronicles Empowerment Foundation.
ow do you empower women entrepreneurs and what inspired this?
Our focus is to empower women to fund their business with 5000 per head to start a business for rural woman. How to save and give them financial tips while chipping in things on violence. Rural women die in domestic violence. Empowering them will save them from domestic violence.
Tell us about your life and the lessons you have learnt over the years
Life to me is designed to be fully enjoyed, while fulfilling God’s ordained plans. We are all here to fulfil purpose. This purpose might be to generate new ideas or improve on existing ideas, either way problems are solved. The onus lies on us to identify where we are needed and fix problems.
What are some of the things that make what you do different?
Precisely last year April, I registered an NGO under the name Kronikles Empowerment Foundation. It first started as a dream but with the help of God and committed friends, the NGO has since kicked off. To be honest, we have more than enough NGOs doing similar thing with ours, especially in the area of women empowerment.
However, the difference with what we do in our organisation is that we make use of real life stories and experiences to connect and empathise with women. Women connect better with empathy than expectations. As a matter of fact, the word “Kronikles” was gotten under the inspiration of God, not mere fantasy. That is why “Experience is the best teacher” is our watchword.
Why did you decide to go into this area?
My decision to pursue this line of service is due to my personal experience in life. Growing up as a teenager, my mum was a strict woman who believed that being strict with female girls was the best way to guarantee that they are not led astray. Somehow, I didn’t get a clear understanding of why she was being strict in her gestures to me especially. But sooner I learnt why.
I got involved in few relationships while growing up, but one got really messy and bad. This relationship moved from good to worse to sour, because at some point trust and every form of respect was lost.
After this ordeal, I summoned all of my experiences up. I knew my experience was to help other people facing similar challenges. It was only structured to help us connect better.
How did the interest develop?
I have had this passion for a long time, but somehow the interest developed after walking out of the messy relationship I found myself. On leaving the abusive relationship to restart my life, I was financially grounded. I received the grace to pick up again and face the new life I found myself. With the support of friends and family members, I started to sell vintage baby wears, while I continued looking for jobs. After few months of doing this, I got a job.
The thought of vulnerable girls and women in rural settlements who are in abusive homes and relationships have since not left my mind. How do these women get back their lives after exiting abusive marriages or relationships? How do pregnant teenagers get back their lives? How can we reduce the number of girls exchanging their bodies for tokens in the slums just to feed and clothes? These were the problems I was interested in solving.
I remember my mother worked as a Centre Supervisor for Maryam Babangida’s “Better Life for Rural Women” project, in connection with UNICEF in the old Ondo State back in the days. I was always with her at the centre waiting for her to close from work.
At the centre, women were taught life and vocational skills, which produced many viable businesses owned by Nigerian women. All these contributed to the developed passion.
What were you doing before this?
I have always been in full time employment. Presently I work with one of the foremost Share Registration Companies in West Africa as Customer Relationship personnel.
What do you consider as some of your achievements over the years?
There are quite a number of achievements but I can only share but few of them. A lady contacted me on one of my social platforms of what she was going through at that moment. She had no source of income and was abandoned by the husband. She was left with her kids. The NGO was able to empower her with funds for her to start a business and in the space of five working days. She has since sealed a catering job deal with a private school in her state.
Another lady from the northern part of the country also supported us. Members of the group were able to rally round her until she got back on her feet. She is a teacher and baker today. She is one of our strong and committed members impacting lives in the north as I speak.
I also remember a young lady I mentored, while staying in Ogba area of Lagos. I met her on the street and we became friends. I saw a beautiful woman in her and I asked if she could please allow me mentor her. I became her friend, got to know her parents and helped in grooming and influenced some of the choices she made. Today, she is married with kids, and runs an event outfit.
When I look back and see the women whose lives have been impacted by programmes and activities of our foundation, I cannot but thank God for the opportunity. I sincerely owe my achievements to God almighty who turned my mess into an inspiring message, all members of Kronikles Empowerment Foundation home and abroad. I want to say l am nowhere close to where I am destined for, but certainly not where I used to be!
What are some of the challenges you encountered?
One of the major challenges I encounter is low educational levels of women. Most of the women we deal with lack education, hence communicating vital points to them is a bit difficult.
Also the population of women who live below average in Nigeria is alarming. Women make the majority of the poor population in Africa. They are directly and indirectly affected by the financial and economic crisis.
Some women are still keeping mute about their situations. They are scared of being stigmatised in the society. They therefore prefer to die in their pains rather than speak out for what they believe. They stylishly allow various forms of abuse without knowing they have rights to say NO.
If you have to compare what you do with your counterparts in other parts of the world, what would you say?
I want to say with the support of friends and family, I am making progress but I can do much more.
The role of education cannot be over emphasised in empowering women. The education level of majority of rural women is very poor. Hence, I would like to partner more with volunteers who are willing to teach rural women how to read, write and speak basic English. This will help to spread literacy in more rural settlements.
Nigeria is blessed with mineral resources and our women are making good use of these resources as means to generate income for themselves. However, despite the ideas these women have, they lack equipment to maximise their outputs. Helping rural women to access financial support from rural development agencies, micro finance banks would help to utilise local resources and local market.
I would encourage more women to come out to support women who are already involved in social engagements with rural women. This is because we would achieve more together. I need women in technology to come up with social apps that will help us connect better with rural women. Apps that would enable rural woman get quick response to domestic violence cases even in remote villages across Nigeria, Africa and all over. We need more donors to prioritise funding women’s empowerment at this critical time.
Let’s talk about some of the memorable moments in your life and on the job
I would say the most memorable was the day I met my man. He’s been such a wonderful husband, and my number one complement.
I run an event outfit named SimpliiAriya. I am also a Certified Traditional Engager (Alaga Iduro and Ijoko). I do this mostly on weekends. In my spare time, I enjoy brushing up on my skills and learning about any developments in the social enterprise world. I attend local seminars, go on shopping and spend quality time with my lovely family.
What changes would you like to see in the sector?
I desire to see more women leading in all sectors of the economy. An empowered woman will make an empowered society.
What is your assessment of the impact of the sector on the economy?
Empowering women benefits all. This is important for any economy. Most countries that have invested in empowering women in financial and basic life development programmes are doing much better than countries where women are suppressed and caged. Hence for any home, community or society at large to economically progress, women empowerment must be a topmost agenda.
What is your advice for women?
I have so much to tell women, but these few would do for now. I would like to encourage every woman, especially those experiencing difficult times in their lives. Stumbling only makes us stronger, and when you do, never remain on the floor.
What you pick after any fall matters. Some pick rubbles, others pick rubies. Only you can choose what you make out of every situation. Take responsibility for your life, don’t run your life based on people’s opinion about you. Don’t compare yourself with others, it only promotes envy. Accept criticism as compliments, in this manner you would only become better. Trying to please people will only frustrate you. Get a mentor and improve on your skills, volunteer when less busy. Be good to yourself.
Who or what do you consider as the greatest inspiration in life?
One great inspiring woman in my life is my maternal grandmother, Chief Mrs. Matilda Agunbiade. She is ninety-seven years old but she looks younger than her age. My grandmother is a courageous woman who hardly has negative feelings about life no matter what challenge she’s faced with.
