Oluwatoyin Olayemi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science from Delta State University, Abraka. A Fashion Designer(unisex clothing),An experienced, Competent and Passionate Teen Coach and Child Safety Advocate trained by Piece of My Heart Foundation.
She is currently the program manager at Piece Of My Heart Foundation (POMHF)
Driven by love for change, humanity, helping teenagers live a healthy and purposeful life, Oluwatoyin Volunteers with POMHF to coach teens.
Oluwatoyin is keen at helping to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4&5 by helping Women and children understand the concept of sex education, seeing that children have a healthy and safe upbringing void of abuse via sensitization_
Oluwatoyin has a platform @chatwith_toyin where she reach out to teenage girls in her community.
She was the president of her fellowship during her undergraduate days also the NCCF Kwara State Sisters Cord while serving her father’s land.
She is a Yali Member, a Public Speaker, a passionate youth advocate and a serial Volunteer with years of experience.
She shares her “Ruby Girl” story with the team .
1. Let’s meet you. Who is Oluwatoyin Olayemi?
Oluwatoyin Olayemi is the 4th child from the family of seven parent inclusive.
I’m a graduate of Library and Information Science from Delta State University..
Oluwatoyin is a passionate lover of Jesus Christ, a change maker, a hope giver, a teen coach and a fashion designer.
She lives because Christ lives in her.
I am the programs manager @piece of my heart foundation, I have a platform where I reach out to teens @chatwith_toyin and I’m also a co founder of Rhakel’s couture.
2. What inspired you to study Library and Information Science ?
Hmmm, inspiration ke? Well, I studied LIS because I didn’t have any choice.
I did Pre Degree, I was admitted to study Geography and Regional Planning but I didn’t have Geography in Waec so I was transferred to LIS which is the second option for social science students who enrolled for pre degree. That was how I became a Library student.
3. As a volunteer, what has it taught you.
Volunteering has taught me to be kind and compassionate, to love more and to appreciate God more for who and where I am. Volunteering has also helped me to appreciate the gift of men.. People! We can’t do without people in our lives
4. What is the greatest challenge for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria?
As a young entrepreneur, there are so many challenges we face in Nigeria. Some of the perceived challenges include lack of information on what entrepreneurship entails , taxation and regulatory issues, limited understanding of market structure and lack of proper mentorship amidst others.
5. Why did you become a teens coach?
Being a teens coach was birthed from the desire to see young people tread on the right path. To lend an helping hand through the journey of teenagehood.
For me, I had no one to put me through life, I figured life out myself with the help of God.
My former boss said he graduated at 19 because he got it right on time. He had a mentor that helped him through his journey early enough.
6. What are the challenges you encountered as a teens coach and child safety advocate?
Some teenagers are hard to help, they feel they know everything and don’t like people intruding into their life’s affairs. So, you have to be very strategic to help the ‘I know it all’ teenagers.
Another challenge is that parents feel they know all too. For example, I am not married and don’t have my own kids yet, because of this some parents will be like ‘what do you know about children’? Go and give birth to your own first before you talk to us.
Most of these parents aren’t willing to come out of their ignorance.
3. Finance: Sometimes I wish to reach out to young girls in the slum but I don’t have enough resources to make my desire a reality.
4. The right against women and children should be well preserved by the Government and perpetrators should be brought to book irrespective.
7. There is a decline of Library usage by students, as a Library graduate what do you think is the way out?
We Nigerians don’t like to read, we aren’t even familiar with the library.
The only way out is for parents to imbibe a good reading culture in their children.
Thereby reading won’t be a challenge when they are grown.
Secondly, the Government should establish more libraries in all cities and make them very conducive for learning. This will help increase our appetite for reading.
Thirdly, they should make it free. I wanted to visit the Museum recently and I was asked to pay a sum of N300. That’s not encouraging.
8. What was growing up in a Nigerian home like for you? Did it in anyway contribute to everything you do now?
Beautiful question. Growing up for me was not fun. I played though but I went through a lot.
I battled with self esteem for a long time, I was a slow child and wasn’t doing well academically.
I had so much battles that I can’t even state here.
I didn’t have any body to put me through life which led to my desire to help young ones.
9. If you were to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what would you change?
1. Projects and Programs on a paradigm shift in mindset.. This country can only be better when we have the right mindset towards life.
2. Our Educational System
3. There should be a market price policy whereby no individual can just wake up to inflate the prices of goods and services.. Nothing should be monopolized.
4. Equal right to life. Ensuring that the human right is preserved.
5. Electricity
10. Mention 3 women who inspire you and why?
There are so many wonderful women in my life but I will mention just 3 as requested.
1. My mom. The super industrious and super amazing woman. A business woman per excellence. Very meticulous and accountable.
2.DDK… Debola Deji Kurumi is one woman that inspires me so much. How she balance her ministry, family and organization so well amazes me.
3. Adebara Adebimpe. Her passion, her resilient spirit, her commitment is second to none.
11. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself ministered to over 5000 teenagers. I see myself taking Rhakel’s Couture to the next level and I also see myself doing whatever He (God) says I should do.
12. How do you juggle being a teens coach, child safety advocate and running a fashion house?
For now there is no much juggling because I’m just coming up. Taking things one step at a time.
13. If you were allowed to address a group of young females five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?
This is the best time to marry yourself and birth the best out of you. You are enough with God on your side.
Comments are closed.