The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • Grow Women Leaders unveils in Nigeria to support women’s career growth

    Grow Women Leaders unveils in Nigeria to support women’s career growth

    Grow Women Leaders (GWL), a Canada-based organization with the aim of assisting women secure jobs, grow in their careers, and overcome employment challenges has been unveiled in Nigeria.

    Founded by Mrs. Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, the organization will provide job training, mentorship, job-matching services, and career development programs.

    Its goal is to support women at different career stages, whether they are job seekers, career changers, or aspiring managers.

    One of the key objectives of the organisation is to increase female employment by working with companies to create work environments that support women.

    The organization believes that addressing unemployment among women, especially single mothers, requires more than just job placement. Emotional support, mentorship, and community-based initiatives play a crucial role in helping women regain confidence and stability.

    To reach more women in need, Grow Women Leaders will collaborate with organizations and use referrals. The founder, Mrs. Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, explained that the group will use the SEED principle, Support, Encourage, Empower, and Develop, to assist Nigerian women in building successful careers.

    “Many women struggle to find good jobs, not because they lack skills, but because they don’t have the right support. Our goal is to change that,” Folorunsho-Barry said.

    Read Also: Awosika, Irabor, Ayida, others celebrated on International Women Day

    The Support pillar provides women with training and career guidance, helping them develop the skills they need to succeed. The Encourage pillar focuses on boosting women’s confidence and helping them overcome workplace challenges.

    “We want women to believe in themselves and know that they are capable of achieving great things,” she added.

    Through the Empower pillar, the organization connects women with potential employers, offering job-matching services to increase their chances of employment. The final pillar, Develop, ensures that women continue to receive mentorship and career support as they progress.

    “We are not just helping women get jobs; we are helping them build lasting careers,” Folorunsho-Barry emphasized.

    Since its inception in 2016 in Canada, Grow Women Leaders has trained thousands of women. The organization boasts a success rate of 70-80% job placements after training, with an ambitious goal of reaching 92%.

    On the initiative, Folorunsho-Barry said her own struggles as an immigrant in Canada inspired the initiative. “Despite my education and skills, I struggled to find a job. I saw highly qualified women, many with master’s degrees and PhDs, facing the same challenge, and I knew something had to change,” she said.

    Her first project, Canada One Fifty (2016-2017), celebrated immigrant women who overcame job market barriers to become business owners and executives. 

    The success of this initiative led to the creation of Grow Women Leaders, which has helped many women in Canada secure jobs.

    “One woman with a master’s degree faced months of rejection. After joining Grow Women Leaders, she got a job in just four days. The issue isn’t always employer bias but a lack of workplace adaptation skills,”  Folorunsho-Barry explained.

    To address this, the organization offers interview coaching, communication training, and cultural adaptation support.

    Folorunsho-Barry emphasized that Nigerian women face similar struggles, including gender bias, caregiving responsibilities, and workplace discrimination. “Many women carry the weight of family responsibilities, and employers hesitate to hire them. We are working to change that narrative by proving that, with the right support, women can thrive,” she said.

    She described the organisation as a global movement, not just for immigrant women in Canada, but for all women seeking career success.

    Folorunsho-Barry expressed gratitude to her husband for his support and acknowledged her team in Nigeria for their efforts in expanding the initiative. Looking ahead, she hopes to strengthen partnerships with employers and organizations to further increase women’s employment rates.

    She encourages women to recognize their potential beyond caregiving roles and to support each other in achieving economic independence.

  • Campaign to empower women businesses

    Campaign to empower women businesses

    Nigeria’s online marketplace Jiji, in partnership with the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), has launched the “Biz Queens Run the World on Jiji” campaign, an initiative designed to accelerate economic empowerment for female entrepreneurs.

    This campaign aligns with the theme for International Women’s Day 2025, “Accelerate Action” and is set to support women in business by providing them with digital tools to scale their ventures.

    Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute nearly 48 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with women- led businesses accounting for around 33 per cent to the total, according to reports by PWC.

    The report, however, said the challenge remains that many female entrepreneurs lack access to digital opportunities that can amplify their reach and profitability.

    Recognising this gap, Jiji in partnership with ASBON has decided to provide women entrepreneurs with access to essential business tools, including a brand new laptop, smartphone, or free business boost on Jiji to help them establish a strong online presence.

    The month-long initiative (1st – 31st March 2025) encourages female entrepreneurs across the country to grow their businesses online by simply registering on Jiji, posting at least one ad, and filling in their business details.

    Fifty women-led businesses will be empowered with business-boosting tools provided by Jiji, Nigeria’s SME most friendly online marketplace.

    Speaking on the initiative, National President of ASBON, Dr. Femi Egbesola, emphasised the role of digital transformation in strengthening women-led businesses.He said: “This month of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible role of digital transformation in empowering women entrepreneurs. Initiatives like Jiji Nigeria are pivotal in helping women-led SMEs thrive in today’s digital economy.

    Read Also: Women’s space launches initiative to address workplace challenges for professional women

    “At ASBON, we are proud to support these women in their journey to success, ensuring they have the tools and resources to lead and innovate.”

    According to a 2024 research by Genderpedia, 60 per cent of informal businesses in Nigeria are owned and run by women, which limit their potential for expansion.

    The Jiji for Women initiative aims to shift this narrative by equipping women with online business tools that would enable them to build sustainable and profitable businesses in digital commerce.

    Jiji’s Regional Head of PR & Marketing, Majolie Obaje, also highlighted the brand’s commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs:

    “At Jiji, we’re firm believers that when women thrive in business, the economy thrives. This initiative isn’t just about celebrating female entrepreneurs, but giving these business Queens the confidence and tools to succeed in the digital marketplace.

    “When they list their products and services on our platform, they gain visibility, credibility, and direct access to millions of potential clients.”

    Majolie explained that all they have to do is register for free on Jiji, post at least one ad showcasing their product or service, and complete their biz details for better visibility on the Jiji platform.

    She said through this collaboration, Jiji and ASBON aren’t just celebrating women in business but also providing tangible solutions to the challenges female entrepreneurs face.

  • Witty women

    Witty women

    This year’s International Women’s Day comes up this week on Saturday, 8 March, 2025, a day before the next edition of this column. It is therefore necessary for the column today to begin the celebration by featuring an array of women’s wit – their pithy, picturesque, persuasive rhetoric – their capacity to use language to arrest the attention of the listener or audience to varying degrees.

    This is important because of the long-standing global tendency to devalue women’s words. The clearest manifestation of this tendency in Yoruba Language is to describe their speech dismissively as “òrò obìnrin” (‘women’s words’). In English, one of the most misogynistic stereotyping of women’s speech is in the proverb, “Because is a woman’s reason.”  This proverb which is on page 38 of F.P. Wilson’s 1970 The Oxford dictionary of English proverbs and proverbial phrases originates from William Shakespeare’s The two gentlemen of Verona (Act I, Scene II, Lines 23-24), where the female character Lucretius says, when asked to justify her positive opinion on a male character: “I have no reason than a woman’s reason: I think him so, because I think him so.” The negative stereotype in the Yoruba phrase and the English proverb is that women’s speech is characteristically frivolous, and the stereotype seems to be aimed at keeping women mute.

    Women of note have therefore been challenging the female-silencing stereotype. Of particular note is the 18th to 19th century African-American amazon, Sojourner Truth. Ironically, it was other women who wanted to silence her ostensibly based on the colour of her skin and her dissonant class-based appearance which contrasted with that of the elite white female organisers of the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention, at Old Stone Church, in Akron, Ohio, in the United States. Eventually, she was allowed to speak. In her speech which has come to be famously titled, “Ain’t I A Woman?”, Sojourner Truth put forth timeless physiological, spirito-religious and moral arguments for recognising the value of women and granting women’s rights. Though there are some differences in various accounts of the speech, the key arguments are similar.

    The transcript of Sojourner Truth’s speech which has been set out below has been revised to make it comprehensible to a 21st century audience or reader:

     “Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ‘twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this here talking about?

    “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man – when I could get it – and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

    “Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? [member of audience whispers, “intellect”] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

    “Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ’cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

    “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

    “Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say.”

    Then there was Margaret Thatcher. She was an Oxford University graduate of Chemistry, who later studied Law, and was a woman of strong personality. Sensing this unnerving quality in her, she was denied a job following an interview. Years later, when she had become the first female Prime Minister of Britain, she got access to the interview report, and in it, as a 1 May, 2012 article, titled “The Iron Lady,” in chemistryworld.com stated, one interviewer noted: “This young woman has too strong a personality to work here!” She was Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 as Head of the Conservative Party, making her the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century; and her tenure was eventful, earning her the nickname Iron Lady, because of her tough character.

    Read Also: Akpabio vs Natasha: Letter to women politicians

    Margaret Thatcher was also a woman of deep wit. Examples of this, which were extracted from “Margaret Thatcher’s most famous quotes,” by Lucy Hutchings, in the British Vogue, Issue 8, April 2013, are shown below. On what is required to be a successful Prime Minister, she said: “Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.” Related to this, she asserted: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

    Margaret Thatcher also had witty words which marked her governance style. These include the following: “I am not a consensus politician. I’m a conviction politician.” “To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say. You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.” “I don’t mind how much my ministers talk, as long as they do what I say.”  And then, “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

    With respect to political discretion and tact, she said: “To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.” “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” “Defeat? I do not recognise the meaning of the word.” “It pays to know the enemy – not least because at some time you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.”

    Margaret Thatcher wasn’t just a woman of wit; she was also a woman of action. And her actions matched her wit in amazing ways. This played out, for example, with respect to her defeat of her country’s very powerful National Union of Mineworkers. She emasculated the union so much that even when she died on 8 April, 2013, some of the miners who confronted her in the 1984-1985 strike were still shedding tears of pain and regret.

    The Zimbabwean medical doctor and Pan-Africanist, Arikana Chihombori-Quao, who served as the Permanent Representative of the African Union Mission to the United States from 2017 to 2019 is also worthy of consideration. She believed that the imperialist and colonialist exploitation of Africa, which started with the Berlin conference of 1884, was not abating. In the following excerpts from a 1 November, 2024 speech titled “H.E. Dr Arikana put African leaders under fire with revolutionary speech is South Africa,” she deploys her wit to underscore the condition: 

    “As Africans, we are busy running away from our who we are. We don’t want to embrace our Africanness. Why not? If you refuse and don’t accept your Africanness, then who are you? … You are just like a ship without an anchor: the wind blows that way, there you go [pointing in one direction]; the wind blows that way, there you go [pointing in another direction]. … The truth of the matter is, we don’t need the world, the world needs Africa. But do we really know that and believe in it and are ready to stand up and proclaim who we are and let them know? But I’ve sat in meetings where I’ve seen [African] ministers [saying] ‘Ah, America, can you help us with this? Ah, Europe, can you help us?’ Begging endlessly for something we have? Whatever they’re giving you is what they stole from us and they’re giving you peanuts. When are we going to stop being outsmarted by these people? They come smiling at you. They come to give you aid. You know very well that’s your money, but we are so grateful.” Chihombori-Quao then exhorts, “Africa, wake up!”

    She also narrated her experience in Ghana: “I stayed at a beautiful hotel. When I walked into the room, right above the headboard was the humongous photograph of Queen Elizabeth, and I thought to myself, now I am going to bed tonight with the shadow of Queen Elizabeth hanging over me. What kind of dreams was I going to have that night?” So, the photograph was removed    for the night, so that she could have “good dreams.”

    In closing, let me note that I’ve encountered wit from my mother too, and it has come, especially, in the form of a proverb which has remained indelible in my mind. Her usage of the proverb has a story behind it.  My wife needed to collect her certificate from her alma mater out of town. On the day she was to go for it, I started to explain to her how best to travel to the school. Then my mother interjected, and said, in Yoruba, translated as follows: “No. You won’t tell her how to get there; rather, you would accompany her there.” My mother then gave the reason for her counsel by citing the proverb, “Tí a ò bà rí olójú, a kìí tìí.” (‘You need to be face-to-face with people for them to be shy of you.’) That is, my presence would grant my wife the best or swiftest attention. My mother was too persuasive for me not to follow her counsel.

    I believe the wisdom of that proverb is the reason why countries establish embassies and why organisations, institutions and even associations establish country or liaison offices to derive the benefits of ‘being on ground’.  It is also the reason why countries send official delegations to other countries to maximise their gains in bi-lateral and multi-lateral negotiations.

    To all witty women worldwide, “Happy International Women’s Day 2025!”

    (Erratum: In last week’s article on “Malcolm X’s moral dilemmas,” 1964 rather than 1968 was indicated as the year of Martin Luther King Jr’s murder. Error is regretted.)

  • LIFE empowers young women to prevent unsafe abortion

    LIFE empowers young women to prevent unsafe abortion

    No fewer than 40 young women from that ages of 15 – 35 years have been trained on the importance of reproductive health and the dangers of unsafe abortion in Lagos by Leadership Initiative for Youth Empowerment (LIFE).

    The three day capacity building workshop On Amplifying female voices in demanding accountability on preventable maternal deaths held at Sunfit, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

    It aimed at equipping young individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies and reproductive choices which will help reduce the number of deaths from unsafe abortions. The project aims to build the capacity of 40 of participants to educate others and create awareness.

    Research shows Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deaths due to unsafe abortion. According to recent research, over 2 million women in Nigeria are affected by unsafe abortions annually.

    Explaining the training, LIFE’s financial officer, Ajibola Mary, said that even though abortion is illegal, it is still common and often done in unsafe and unregulated conditions.

    “Abortion is illegal in Nigeria. That is not up for debate. But despite the law, people are still undergoing unsafe procedures, and this is a serious issue,” she said.

    She  explained that the goal of the ongoing project is to train at least 40 of participants, who will then educate their communities about reproductive health and the dangers of unsafe abortion.

    Ajibola noted that unsafe abortions are common in Nigeria mainly because people don’t get proper sex education.

    She explained that many young people grow up without enough knowledge about reproductive health because of cultural and religious restrictions.

    “How many of us had parents who sat us down and taught us about sexuality education?” Ajibola asked the audience. Only a few hands were raised.

    She pointed out that most Nigerian parents avoid discussing sex with their children, offering only vague warnings like, ‘If a man touches you, you will get pregnant.’ This lack of proper education often leaves young people misinformed and vulnerable to risky behaviours.

    Read Also: Alleged N2.5b fraud: Court acquits ex-NBC boss Kawu, others

    Obstetrician and gynaecologist, Mushin General Hospital, Dr Solaja Olufemi  raised concerns over the high prevalence of unsafe abortion in Nigeria and globally, calling for improved access to family planning services to curb the menace.

    He lectured on the topic, “The prevalence of family  planning and unsafe abortion issues among adolescent, youth and women.”

    He highlighted alarming statistics on unwanted pregnancies and abortion-related deaths.

    According to Dr Olufemi, over 80 million unwanted pregnancies occur worldwide annually, with approximately 46 million women seeking abortions. Out of these, around 20 million resort to unsafe procedures, often performed by unskilled individuals or in non-medical settings.

    “Every year, about 120,000 women die from complications related to unsafe abortion globally,” the gynecologist said. “In Nigeria alone, an estimated 10,000 women seek abortions annually, with approximately 100,000 women losing their lives due to abortion-related complications.”

    The lecture to women centered on the need for proactive measures to reduce unwanted pregnancies, which remain the primary driver of abortion.

    He emphasized the importance of comprehensive family planning services, stating that access to contraceptive options could significantly lower the rate of unsafe abortions.

    “Family planning is not just for married women,” the expert stressed. “It is for anyone who is sexually active. It helps individuals plan when to have children, how many to have, and the spacing between them. If every woman has easy access to family planning, the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies—and consequently unsafe abortions—will drastically reduce.”

    On understanding family planning and it’s role in preventing maternal mortality, Dr Olufemi lecture tackled common concerns surrounding contraceptive use, including fears about weight gain and other side effects. Some women, particularly married ones, have expressed hesitancy toward family planning due to perceived adverse effects such as bloating or irregular bleeding.

    He clarified that while different contraceptive methods have varying side effects, women can explore alternative options if one method does not suit them. “If a woman feels bloated or experiences bleeding with a particular method, she can switch to another. All methods have minor side effects, but none are life-threatening,” Dr Olufemi explained.

    Furthermore, he noted that lifestyle factors, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, often contribute to weight gain rather than contraceptive use alone. “Many women relax after starting birth control, thinking they cannot get pregnant. This can lead to unhealthy eating habits and reduced physical activity. With proper diet and exercise, weight gain can be managed.”

    He concluded that, “Once young people understand the risks of unsafe abortion and the benefits of family planning, they can make better choices for themselves,” he said. “Knowledge is power, and with the right information, they can protect their health and future.”

    Speaking on the topic “Understanding the influence of religion and culture on sexuality education”, Programmes Officer at LIFE, Oluwatoyin Mokwe explained that religion and culture shape attitudes toward reproductive health in Nigeria, adding that while they promote moral values, they also create stigma, misinformation, and fear around sex education and family planning.

    “Many communities see it as shameful for young women to buy contraceptives, yet men can do so freely,” Mokwe said.

     “This double standard makes it harder for women to take charge of their reproductive health.”

    She noted that restrictive policies also limit access to safe abortion services, pushing many women to unsafe methods like drinking harmful herbal mixture, using sharp objects and visiting unqualified practitioners. 

    “These unsafe practices lead to serious complications like excessive bleeding, infections, infertility, and even death,” Mokwe warned.

    She stressed that comprehensive sexuality education can help reduce unsafe abortions and maternal deaths. 

    According to her, this education covers anatomy and reproductive health, contraception and STI prevention, consent and healthy relationships, gender roles and societal expectations and the impact of sexual decisions on health.

    Her lecture also explored how gender roles affect reproductive health choices.

    “In many homes, who washes the dishes? Girls. Who cooks? Girls. But does cooking require breasts? No. It requires hands, and men have hands too,” Mokwe said, challenging traditional gender expectations.

    Similarly, while men buy condoms without shame, many women feel judged for purchasing contraceptives. This societal conditioning discourages women from making informed reproductive choices.

    To address these challenges, the workshop recommended four key solutions: integrating sexuality education into schools and community programs to ensure young people receive essential knowledge early; providing accurate reproductive health information to empower individuals to make informed decisions; challenging harmful cultural and religious biases that fuel stigma and misinformation; and improving access to contraception and family planning services to reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

    “Whether we talk about it or not, people are having sex. The least we can do is ensure they do so safely,” Mokwe concluded.

    Unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of preventable maternal deaths in Nigeria. 

    Addressing this crisis requires open conversations, proper education, and policy reforms to provide safe reproductive health options.

    LIFE advocates urge policymakers, parents, and religious leaders to break the silence and support comprehensive sexuality education. Without it, many more lives will be lost to unsafe abortion.

  • AWEF empowers over 500 indigent women

    AWEF empowers over 500 indigent women

    The Ajia Women Empowerment Foundation (AWEF), a non-governmental organisation has empowered over 500 less privileged women and widows in Lagos.

    The organisation recently supported over 500 market women with food packages, gifts, and offered mentorship programs to them.

    Its founder, Hon. Mrs Oluchi Akunne said the organization aimed to uplift indigent women and equip women with the tools to thrive, especially in these challenging times.

    She expressed that her motivation stems from a lifelong passion for generosity and helping people.

    “Growing up, I was always a generous giver. I love putting smiles on people’s faces—it’s one of my best hobbies,” she said.

    Read Also: Naira abuse: EFCC confirms invitation of Okoya’s sons for questioning

    According to her, she usually purchased food items and distributed them to the less privileged women. “Many times, I would enter the market, make some purchases, and call someone to gather less privileged women so I could give them the goods and money.”

     In 2022, she officially launched her foundation to reach out to more women.

     “Our focus is on creating long-term change by equipping women, both young and old, with the tools they need to thrive, especially in these tough times,” she emphasized.

     She urged individuals, corporate organisations as well as government agencies to support its mission of putting smiles on women’s faces.

  • ‘Women make better their world through home’

    ‘Women make better their world through home’

    Ezinne Azunna, the Chief Executive Officer of media and production company, Media Traction Ltd, has a bias for the Maritime Industry also known as the  Marine & Blue Economy. She is not only the host of Nigeria Ship Finance Conference & Exhibition (NISFCOE), but also the brain behind the Maritime Writes Project (MWP) and the African Maritime Art Exhibition (AMAE). In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, she speaks on how she is raising young ones to change Nigeria’s maritime narrative.

    How was growing up like for you?

    It was adventurous, fun and at the same time demanding. I was quite playful, I think I still am, my close circle knows…Every family has its culture, and expectation fueled by the experiences, beliefs and exposure of parents or guardians and my family is the same. Responsibility is demanded. Growing up was also a time of lots of travels, we moved from one part of Nigeria to the other once my father was transferred. He served at the General Hospital, Nnewi and the General Hospital, Gusau before he joined the Nigeria Police where he rose to become the Chief Medical Officer.

    We lived in all regions of Nigeria – North, East, West and South; my father is sold out to education, it was compulsory to wake up at 5am for your prep whether school was in session or on holiday. We had a timetable that ran at home, from Primary One, he gave us novels which he stacked before we were born to read. We had to read the encyclopedia, he regularly encouraged us to read the dictionary, I never did. It was boring for me as a child. We wrote essays once we returned from any outing/visit and submitted them to him. He made us read signages, go to church, told us stories of the war and challenges they had to go through, my favourite stories were those of resilience and heroic exploits. My mum, a teacher, was pretty much the English woman, the fashionista. She made us read the entire volumes of Queen Premier, Brighter Grammars! I read English without Tears and loads of African novels, she would wake up and its dictation time. We had our ups and downs but generally, I have loads of memories, some make me happy, others so so, they collectively influence /inspire me depending on my situation. 

    How would you say your background impacted the woman you became?

    I learnt hard work, resilience, to give new things a try, I learnt honesty, the value of the right friends or relationships and to quickly disassociate from people whose lifestyle do not match my value, my background emphasised the priceless value of education and reading, faith in God etc. Yes, my life has been greatly influenced by my background

    What does it mean being a woman?

    It means to add value at every opportunity: it means to enhance and make better the world starting from your little space called home. 

    What is beauty to you?

    Beauty is all encompassing, it is rounded like we say in literature …it’s not just physical attributes, it’s found in character, in our interpersonal relationships, in the way one talks, thinks, perceives or interprets stuff. It is the presence of the sublime in all parts of our lives. So, as we become more valuable, enhance ourselves, beauty is wholesome…you may see it in fragments around but it’s better when we think of ourselves as beauty and seek wholesomeness individually and as groups

    Read Also: Trump’s America First and Nigeria Air

    What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

    I love to travel, to read (I belong to a Reading Forum, I love our banter), I love to dance (not a good dancer but you will always find music in my corner). I love to have friends and family over, I cook very well

    How would you describe your fashion style?

    Subtle, Stylish enough, I hope. I just love my comfort, it is key.

    What is your favorite style to wear?

    In recent times I have been attracted to Nigerian brands- Imani couture, Cotton Loops, Xclamations, Dimeji Ilori, Mona Mathews, Femi bags, Ohloe to mention a few. It is usually quality and a subtle edge in style for me. Kubona deals with foreign shoes and I love some of them.

    What fashion item can you not do without?

    I can do without any fashion item. Fashion is beautiful, makes me feel altogether but over the years, I have learnt detachment from everything in case the need arises, it always comes in handy.

    How long have you been involved in the maritime sector?

    It’s my 24th year. I was a reporter with the Examiner Newspaper and the organisation posted me to the beat. I was barely in the sector for one year when Examiner folded up. I was approached by a senior colleague and we started Maritime and Energy Digest. We laid that to rest five years after. While MED was on, I explored the ideas of producing jingles and NPA, NMA now NIMASA asked me to work on their briefs. About 2006 -2008, I was very much into reading Harvard Business Review and I recall reading some editions on the importance of technology and how online journalism was going to take over the print. Those reports were prophetic in a way, people still found it hard to send mails! I also served as Press Secretary, Media Consultant for a few politicians. Well, one day I woke up, after a period of brooding over what I could do, I founded the Nigerian Maritime News (TNMN), the very first online news platform in the Maritime Industry and boy, it was difficult. People thought I was a joker, colleagues mocked me. Today, every medium has the web arm! I have learnt not to be deterred, people will eventually grow to understand the value you bring to the table and well if they do not, it is still okay as long as you have your conviction, your team does and the value you bring is tangible. It takes so much to birth things /ideas, if ideas wouldn’t usually consume me until they became a reality. I am sure I will not be doing this. I like soft life too. I also would love to be unnoticed. I am shy but many do not believe me. A good part of me is introverted, forget the optics. I would rather be living in a farm settlement or by the sea in Seychelles or Netherlands, tending to my family, but this is where God will have me now and it is important to synchronise our physical life and career with our walk with God. 

     What inspired the establishment of AMAE? 

    As a media company, it is easy to see gaps when you speak to several people with different perspectives in the sector. What we just did is ask ourselves what to do to bridge the gap. For the African Maritime Art Exhibition (AMAE), it happened after the Maritime Writes Project, we discovered the industry cannot thrive in isolation, we need the buy in of the society for our agenda/campaign to top the list of individual and once we started our broadcast arm, we were collecting photos of maritime areas many professionals and citizens had never been. I planned it for after my days in active journalism but one day, I told myself that showing people, Nigerians and other Africans maritime in photos may intrigue them and further influence them to support or be a part of the sector. The thought would not let me rest so I began researching; I found out that Maritime Art Exhibitions happened in advanced maritime climes. It is mind-boggling that when I am overtaken by the thoughts of these ideas, I sink my time, my funds, I drag friends and family into it etc. I have a friend who knows I will seldom take their calls then, it can be quite grinding. I am grateful for the support we get and obviously we need more.

    What inspired the establishment of the Maritime Writers Project as the writers’ hub?

    We open people up to the maritime industry and the opportunities it holds for them, their community/society while training and guiding them to write and publish literature on the industry. We are on a mission to create awareness of and grow public interest in the Maritime/Marine Industry through creative writing while teaching individuals and organisations to tell and own their stories.

    Our vision is simple, to annually train children, youths and women in creative writing and to publish compendia of fictional works on the Maritime/Marine Industry authored by the Maritime Writers Projects Participants. Early exposure to fiction with marine and maritime themes could be the panacea for sea-blindness so in the last five years we concentrated on works for children and young adults. We had a public presentation of three books of 17 maritime short stories last few weeks ago. There are over 100 Blue professions and we want emphasis on these, on the Blue Economy, on the settings and themes /issues that affect the sector. The works that we presented talked of climate change, marine plastics pollution, diving, seafaring, the port system etc. We equip participants with the requisite skills that we will do free of charge, At the end of the training, participants are expected to write their short stories, closely supervised by the Faculty, the best 10 are published.

    How has been the journey so far?

    Beautiful. The strides of our participants at MWP give us joy. Quite a number have gone on to win many competitions and they also reference their time at our Creative Writing boot camps, the Faculty are most supportive too. Many of them were my lecturers, some my mentors in the sector. That they commit their time and share much knowledge free of charge is most encouraging

    What fuels your passion?

    The need to close the gaps we identify, that humans could have better quality of life with the right exposure and structure in place. I am driven by the success we record also. It is always important to measure the impact of what one does- to review and adjust the idea or to totally jettison it if it holds no water.

    In your view, what potential does the blue economy hold for Nigeria? And are we there yet, what can be done to achieve it? 

    Nigeria can thrive on the Blue Economy but there is work to be done. It is not lip service or charade that is required. Real work is the demand and we have the capacity but attracting them is the thing. There is a lot of innovation going on and Nigerians are some of the people leading this world over. We see and know them so wonder why we seem to politicise many things that we should not. The goal is to create a platform where indigenes can thrive in the sector while investors bring in the best facilities or technologies…we must secure the future for the nation’s youths by doing the needful. Why is it difficult?   Like I say, no government can fix it all at once but can you focus on two key areas during your tenure.

    How can art help to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector?

    Every year we see people come in at the Exhibition and the Blue Economy is demystified. Maritime that appears like a very tough meat to chew is simplified. Causes, Effects and Consequences, Agenda and Campaigns for the Industry can be pushed forward using art more so, we can empower people with skills while at it.

    How can the next generation of girls and women be drafted or helped to understand/ explore the sector’s potential?

    Education, maritime could be added to the academic curriculum; opportunities for girls in terms of scholarships could be announced.

    Being the proponent of AMAE and creative writing projects, what is the one thing you would love to change in the maritime sector?

    I will love to see more literary works and other forms of creative expressions documenting experiences of persons in the industry, adventures at seas, lives of artisanal fishermen (who by the way in spite of the crude methods , void of technology account for 70% of the revenue from the fisheries sector) , I want to see bios and auto bios on people’s lives and sojourn in the sector, policy interventions and how they are come about,  culture and stories of coastal communities , Nigeria’s maritime heritages to mention a few. I want to read the story of a child whose family was displaced and how they pulled through, I want to see how government’s interventions have saved people using the Blue Economy in novels or plays or poetry for children, young adults and adults. believe strongly that when we are able to break down the crucial and intensive work the sector does to the point that various aspects are reflected in what literature anyone can pick up and read, then awareness will be gained.

    What were some of the challenges that you have been faced with so far?

    First challenge we faced was being understood. It felt strange to many that we were trying to marry maritime with literature but when we began to ask about the representation of maritime careers, settings and issues in existing creative writings, it became glaring that there’s a gap. Authors would rather have a character who is a medical doctor or lawyer than one who is a marine engineer, a ship captain, an ROV operator, a diver or a hyperbaric doctor. It’s not entirely the fault of the author; they work with terrains that are familiar to them. You do not want to make a slip in your novel because you do not know the jargon or culture of a sector. So, while the Maritime Writes Project is interested in building creative writing, we are particular about exposing the sector to writers. We have also had the challenge of funding, we found that just a few people above 40 are interested in learning creative writing. Writing as a skill is what people can retire to actually and really earn from. It can also be a side gig so, we will love to see more adults and agencies take advantage of the opportunities the Maritime Writes Project presents.

    What’s next or new?

    So much lined up for 2025 both as a broadcast company and for all we do. We trust God to help us.

  • Nigeria secures 50 million euros credit for womenpreneurs

    Nigeria secures 50 million euros credit for womenpreneurs

    Nigeria has secured a €50 million credit line dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs.

    This deal accompanied by an additional €825,000 grant for capacity-building programmes, was finalized in Abuja on Wednesday between the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) of France.

    The funding is expected to address key challenges hindering women-led businesses and promote their growth across Nigeria.

    Managing Director of DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, noted the significance of the funding, stating that, “this 50 million euros is specifically for women entrepreneurs. It complements the $130 million we previously received, which supported MSMEs in general. Our track record of repaying past loans has positioned us to secure this new credit line.”

    Okpanachi described the terms of the credit facility as favorable, aimed at helping women entrepreneurs overcome structural challenges. He stated that women-owned businesses constitute a significant portion of DBN’s portfolio.

    “If you look at our cumulative lending, about 74 percent of our loans have gone to women-owned businesses,” he said. He further noted that DBN partners with over 70 financial institutions nationwide to ensure a broad and inclusive reach to women entrepreneurs, including those in underserved and challenging areas.

    In addition to the credit facility, the 825,000 euros grant will be used for capacity-building initiatives tailored to women-owned MSMEs. Dr. Okpanachi explained that these programmes, held annually, aims to help women scale their businesses from micro to small, and eventually medium enterprises.

    “Many women who have attended these programmes have successfully scaled up their businesses.”

    This training is crucial, particularly for those in the micro and small segments, as they often face the most challenges in accessing credit and understanding financial systems,” he said.

    The AFD Country Director, Xavier Muron, outlined the programme’s objectives, which include supporting women’s entrepreneurship and job creation, improving access to finance for women MSMEs, and integrating gender perspectives within DBN and its partner institutions.

    Read Also: Business network empowers 250 women

    Muron noted the programme’s alignment with the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. He pointed out the transformative impact of economic empowerment on reducing gender-based violence, stating, “Communities that embrace women’s economic participation tend to witness shifts in cultural attitudes that help prevent violence.”

    The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, underscored how the programme aligns with France’s feminist diplomacy and the outcomes of President Tinubu’s recent state visit to France.

    “Women, youth, employment, and the economy were the cornerstones of discussions between President Tinubu and President Macron. This €50 million initiative fits perfectly with shared priorities between Nigeria and France,” Fonbaustier said.

    He also stressed the societal benefits of empowering women, noting that, “the more women we grow on the social ladder with autonomy, income, and capabilities, the better society becomes. Women are a lever of social transformation.”

  • ‘54,000 women gain from N3b grants’

    ‘54,000 women gain from N3b grants’

    Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele has said over N3billion has been disbursed to 54,000 women under the Individual Livelihood Grants of the Nigeria for Women Project.

    She disclosed this at the launch of Livelihood Collective Operational and handing over of Livelihood Collective Groups to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    She noted that the gesture was part of efforts to remove barriers limiting women’s participation in economic activities and contributing to nation-building.

    Read Also: FG, AU launch initiative to empower women, youth in livestock markets

    The deputy governor, who is also the chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Nigeria for Women Project in the state, said the Project had formed over 3,700 affinity groups, adding that over 67,000 women across Ijebu North-East, Odeda, Yewa North and Ikenne local governments have benefited from the programme.

  • Ozurigbo empowers over 2000 youths, women in Imo

    Ozurigbo empowers over 2000 youths, women in Imo

    In a bid to provide training and skill development opportunities to young men and women across the agricultural value chain, Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna (OZB) in collaboration with the Federal Corporative College, Oji River, Enugu State, have empowered over 2000 Imo people.

    The participants converged at The Place Event Centre, Owerri, venue of the watershed event, for accreditation before the commencement of the 5-Day program.

    The initiative, which is aimed at practically equipping Imo youth and women with functional skills, offers training in fish farming, poultry, palm oil processing, solar energy installation, and filmmaking, as the facilitators engaged the beneficiaries and participants on the various fields where they have expertise, training their minds on entreprenurship, self reliance, and financial independence for job creation and national productivity.

    Commending Rt. Hon.Ozurigbo Ugonna for always coming up with robust and practical empowernment programs to equip Imo people across all strata of life even when he is no longer in office, the representative of the Provost of Federal Cooperative College , Oji River, Enugu State, Mr. Chukwudi Okey Eze, saluted the leadership drive and tenacity of the former federal lawmaker, Ozurigbo, for proactively attracting such large scale of training to Imo State while expressing his willingness to collaborate with like- minds to ensure that Nigerian youths and women gain the requisite skills for self reliance which serves as a catalyst for their financial freedom; instead of perpetually hunting for elusive jobs at a time when government at all levels are struggling to pay workers’ salaries.

    Addressing thousands of already seated beneficiaries and participants drawn from the 27 local government councils of Imo State, the facilitator and major sponsor of the Imo youth and women empowernment program, Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna; immediate past member that represented Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency in the House of Represenatives, maintained that eventhough he is successful and blessed by God but he is always lonely at the top when his people are still struggling to survive the hard times.

    Read Also: Rivers council polls: IYC urges Arewa youths to recognise, respect regional boundaries

    According to him, the programe is designed to empower the participants with the vital skills needed to navigate through the agricultural value chain, sollar installation and filmmaking, so as to be economically empowered to be self reliant instead of waiting for handouts from their relatives.

    The empowernment program which goes beyond dashing participants biscuits and sweets, howbeit, has provision for seeds capital for start-ups after the participants have completed their trainings on palm oil processing, solar installation, poultry, fish farming, filmmaking; at the various designated centres; Orlu zone- UIPU, Owerri zone; The Place Event Centre , New Owerri, and Okigwe zone; Pego International Hotel.

    Both the beneficiaries and participants of the empowernment program have applauded Rt. Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna (OZB) for his interventionist approach at a time when Imo people are economically stranded and looking for a direction, describing the Imo youth and women empowernment program as the much needed training to cushion the effects of unemployment and bitting economy, creating opportunities for self reliance and financial independence.

    Among the resource persons and industry experts engaged to take the beneficiaries and participants on the various modules of the skill based empowernment program included, Mr. Okezie C. I. -Director of Procurement at the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, Chief Edward Chukwuma, Agribusiness Consultant, Mr. FCC Jones Onwuasoanya, Film Director and Movie Producer, Mr. Kingsley Agharanya, and Mr. Ihemanma Nnamdi Silas.

    Meanwhile, the Publisher of 4th Estate Reporters, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, also commended Hon. Chizobam .O. Chizobam , Chief Onyema Agbarakwe, Barr. Uche Dike, Hon. Chief Euguene Ohamara, Mr. Dike Philip, and other organisers of the event for the massive attendance recorded during the program.

  • Women community holds summit on safe internet for children

    Women community holds summit on safe internet for children

    Women Community in Africa (WCA), a coalition of  civil society groups  that addresses  social issues, especially those that affects women in  communities, has called for a collaborative approach between educators, parents and leaders  to ensure that Nigerian children are protected in the cyberspace  as it sets to hold  Cyber Safety Summit in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The group  made the call  on Friday in Abuja  during a news conference to unveil  its  programme for the 2024 edition of  its  annual summit with the theme, “Cyber Safety: Empowering Families in the Digital Age.”

    The  WCA summit is a trademarked programme under the Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiative ( BMCCI),  a gender-focused NGO  in Nigeria, devoted to the  social, economic and educational development, counseling  and mentoring of especially young  persons  in rural  and urban  communities.

     Mr Ademola Kasumu, Chairman Board of Trustee of BMCCI, said  as part of its avowed commitment to sustain the call for safe internet for children the group was  set to hold the WCA  summit  on October . 10 in the FCT will bring together,students, teachers, parents,  community leader, policy makers and  other stakeholders.

     According to him, the summit was an effort to urge stakeholders to wake up to the negative realities confronting children in the cyberspace.

    “The internet, once hailed as a revolutionary tool to streamline human endeavours, drive sufficiency , and foster growth, has  also unleashed  a myriad of challenges  and perils.

    “It   has dark underbelly has ravaged countless lives, leaving scars that may never fully heal.This summit is an effort to  tighten our  belts or wrappers as the case maybe  as African mothers/parents  to save our world from  the threatening  consequences of the cyberspace .

    “We must unite and join forces to protect our children from the clutches of cyber threats, ensuring they don’t become  collateral damages in this digital age.

    He  added: “Together, we can create a sanctuary of safety, where our children can thrive, learn and grow without fear of destruction.

    “The future of our society depends on engaging in discussions that can build  sustainable processes that will become our legacy of solutions.”

    Also,  the Global President of WCA, Dr  Adetoun Dally,  said as Nigeria navigate the vast expanse of cyberspace in the digital age,  safety and well-being of  Nigerian  children should be given utmost priority by parents, policy makers and other stakeholders.

    “So different organisations have come together under Women’s Community in Africa to amplify our voices, knowing that if we all sit in different corners, our voices will not go far enough.

     “We have come together to ensure that our voices, which are focused on contributing to achieving sustainable development goals, and ensuring that we have better societies.

    “The virtual world is our present reality and of course, all of us know that in years to come, it is the reality that we are going to face.

    “However, for every kingdom there is a culture, and if you do not understand the culture of the kingdom that you are in, you are  going to run into problems.

     “Our children do not understand the culture of the virtual world and cyberspace, and they are getting into problems, and we have seen a lot of it in recent times and that  is why we want to speak out because it is a   concern,” she said.

    Dr Maimoona  Salim, chairperson  of the WCA summit organising committee, said the internet with is tremendous usefulness, has  attendant risks, particularly for the vulnerable minds, and   has vices such as  cyberbullying and even exploitation.

    According to her, the summit is an opportunity to rally all Nigerians of goodwill  towards ensuring that  children are shielded from  cyber harms.

    “It is impacting on our children, our families and communities, and our children are not equipped enough to handle the dark web.

    “We are not enlightened enough to help our children understand the dark web, so we want to bridge that gap and hopefully, we will be able to fulfill that by having this summit.

    “It will not just be about the summit, it is about the continuation of this work and every organisation under WCA will now take this  campaign  to the next level.

    She pledged that “We will take messages from the summit and   have a program that will enlighten children in schools and in communities.”

    In her remarks, the chairperson, WCA Legal Committee, Barr Jade  Olise, lamented thata lot of Nigerians  do not know that  the Cyber Crimes Act exists.

    She said the   law would be simplified in pamplets for distribution to students, parents and other   participants at the summit.

    “We have also put in how to report a cybercrime and so all of that is what will culminates into the simplified version of the Cyber Crimes Act that we have worked on and will be launched at the summit.

    “These are some of the ways to take the advocacy back to the schools so that our children can be well guided,” she said.