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...