When you are a woman trying to rise through the ranks and live your dreams in the workplace, it can be very challenging especially when you get to become the boss of some people or someone who has to supervise people. This happens more when you are working in a male-dominated work field. People judge you based on your gender not based on your competencies. It is like they're expecting you to perform below expectations just because you're female. This sometimes affects the way the ones you are supervising or are in charge of see you and relate to you. This is particularly true if your junior colleagues or subordinates are males because many of them do not believe that they should be led or supervised by a female. They would sometimes communicate these beliefs by disregarding or disobeying clear direct instructions just because it is coming from you. They might also talk down on your suggestions and act like you shouldn't be in that position you are now. Many times, t

Bachelors Degree in French ( First Class): Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Kwara  State Award for projects in gender advocacy: (Served in University of Ilorin, Nigeria) - National Youth Service Corps Master's Degree in French (With Distinction): University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I graduated on the 14th of November, 2019 at the University of Ibadan although in absentia. Hi. Life is a shade of awesomeness if we always look at the bigger picture. Do you believe so? A few years ago, I made a decision and challenge the status quo; I chose to study French in the university, jettisoning a lot of dreams — well, dreams that others wanted to force on me; not mine. It is not a big deal. Yes? You may want to rethink that thought. One of the deadly sins is slothfulness, and I detest nothing more. As much as it has always been ingrained in me to embrace diligence and determination, I have sought these pillars myself all my life, and I have devoutly held onto them for as long as I ca

19th November was marked as International Men's Day and I want to use this platform and opportunity to specially thank and appreciate all the men in my life. From time immemorial, I have had men who have contributed positively to my growth, progress and my success. My father, my twin brother, my uncles, my primary and secondary school teachers, my lecturers, my pastors, my project supervisors, my friends, my colleagues, my co-workers, my mentors, my bosses and my role models. These have at one point or another contributed to my success by inspiring me to work hard, dream and be the best that I can be in all my endeavors. Some of them still keep spurring me on to greater heights and I am grateful for their presence in my life. Being a man is sometimes not fully appreciated because most of the things they do are what is expected of them. They work for others more than they work for themselves. They give even when they don't have enough. They encourage others even when th

"Witch!" "Wicked person!" "Man!" "You should have just had a flat chest and scraped your hair to complete the look." "Should have? Abi she already has a flat chest and so she just needs to scrape." Maureen held her head high and sashayed down the street as the mumbled insults from different corners of the busy area whizzed past her ear from all directions. Smiling, she walked on undeterred. She had learned that people would never understand that she didn't choose to be this way. She had also come to appreciate her a different kind of beauty and didn't mind who didn't. But she wasn't always this confident. Right from when the first strand showed under her chin, she realized that people could be mean. They looked at her in a funny way like she had two heads or an animal head instead of a girl's. Then, they often wondered if a girl with so much hair would ever get married. They teased and taunted her at every chan

It is a Thursday evening. The day for brothers and sisters forums. Samuel and Grace, a brother and sister seeing each other live around the same area so they often prepare and leave together for the forum every week. Taking the cab to church together helps them save transport fares. Then, they can spend their spare money on a snack on their way home or buy whatever else they want. At church, however, they part. Samuel goes round to the back of the main auditorium while Grace walks into one of the halls in the building. The brothers' and sisters' forums hold their meetings in separate halls. The brothers prefer the outdoors so they stay in the field or in the canopy at the church backyard. The sisters stay in the youth hall. As Samuel meets the brothers that are already present, they hail him by his nickname and they greet and do the shoulder thing guys do. Then they settle down and chat with each other while they wait for more people to arrive before they can begi

After four years in a land far away from home, Jane had successfully bagged a degree in Economics and was ready to return home. She looked through the airplane window and smiled at the little country she was leaving. She had made friends here, seen beautiful sights and even found a church that reminded her of home but she didn't mind missing all that if it meant coming home to where it truly mattered. She smiled as she thought about the entourage that would welcome her at the airport and mummy's soup and semo that would be waiting for her. The welcome party was larger than she thought. "You have made me proud my daughter!" Mummy said, "And we must celebrate! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! We must tell the world that my daughter is now a graduate!" The people around cheered and clapped. Jane smiled and put her two hands to her eyes. Her mother was making her feel like a celebrity. Her father just smiled and nodded at what mummy was saying. He looked in he

Candidate 34 has been disqualified. The elections would have to be rescheduled.” Regina could not believe her ears. Just as she was about to be declared winner of the faculty presidential election, she was disqualified! What had she done wrong? Murmurings arose from among the voters, supporters and everyone around. Everyone was just as bewildered and perplexed as she was. The only person with a smirk on his face was Prince, her closest rival.  She followed the presiding officer out of the hall.  “Surely there has been some mistake, sir,” she said, huffing and puffing and trying so hard to catch up with his extra long strides.  “No mistake Regina. The Dean said you were not supposed to even contest.”  Regina’s eyes popped out of their sockets.  “But he was the one that gave me a recommendation letter? My grades are great. I have been an active member of this faculty and I have served in three offices which recorded successes since my second year. Despite the elections, I s

Some weeks ago, I was invited to speak with a group a individuals on the International Day of the Girl and when I realized I wasn't going to be speaking to a group of young girls, it birthed the idea for this post. Most times, gender advocates love to speak with and inspire young girls because they are the ones who have tons finally realize who they are and what they're meant to be but my interactions lately have shown me that beyond talking to these girls, we also reach them by interacting with the people who have the biggest influence over their life. So this months, this will be our focus. Under normal circumstances, no one influences a child's life more than his or her parents. From birth till adulthood, our parents are an undeniable force and a voice of reason in our heads. Our first morals and lessons were from our parents and till date, some of us still consult them from time to time for seasoned words of advice.  I would like to use this opportunity to appeal

This is the 3rd Edition of the event to mark International Day of the Girl Child I will be organizing. I have never been physically present for any Edition but I appreciate the support system I have in friends and those who key into this vision who ensure that everything goes on smoothly. Thanks to everyone who has been holding the forte, pulling this through over the past 3 years in my absence. The International day of the girl Child as celebrated by me in partnership with Teach Her Foundation was held this year with over 120 participants including boys and girls, in attendance. The program is aimed at telling young girls not to wallow in limitations. As the theme of this year connotes (I AM A GIRL, UNSCRIPTED ME, UNSTOPPABLE ME), girls were motivated against existing societal stereotypes to dream beyond expectations and live their biggest dreams. Different keynote speakers invited to the program including the wife of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan Dr. Eyiwumi Bolu

Today is the International Day of the Girl Child and the theme for this year is GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable. This is a letter from my heart to every young girl born or living in a patriarchal society like ours. I know that your identity and destiny has already been foretold even before your existence. Written down with seemingly indelible ink in the hearts of unfeeling and immovable men and women who seek to suppress and fit you into a mold that has been created for you from ages past. Although you are young and still trying to find yourself, they have started projecting these narratives on you - telling you who are; what you are made for and how your life is supposed to be. But everything in you screams against it. Deep down, you know that you don’t just want to be what they say you are supposed to be. You want to be more or just something else entirely. You are at a constant war with yourself. You are fighting endless mind battles because what you want or need to be is

TEN DAY COUNTDOWN In present-day Nigeria, the advocacy for the education of the girl-child has gained astronomical audience and enviable attention. Why? No one wants to be labelled unsympathetic towards the girl-child in a bid to realise her dreams, with or without her voice defining who she wants to be. The sixty-four-thousand-dollar question remains: when a girl-child is offered or given education, should she be offered a role or guided to choose her own roleplay in the society? At this year's International Day of the Girl-child, the paradigm will shift from limiting the girl-child’s expectations to providing her with rubrics that will guide her into choosing herself, at all times, and not who the society wants her to become. NINE DAY COUNTDOWN The society has conditioned a good number of the girl-child to appreciate every opportunity that comes their way without reference to their own effort. This reinforces a dependent mentality that inhibits the child’s quest to grow