Women of Rubies
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GROWING UP AS A REJECTED CHILD FROM BOTH PARENT WAS A BIG LIFE CHALLENGE FOR ME – DEBORAH FUNMI MUPAPA

Deborah Funmi Mupapa was abused physically and sexually abused by her step father at the age of 12, after years of emotional healing and redefined life purpose she founded “Empowerment of African women” a branch D&Ks foundation, based in Finland , DRC Congo and Nigeria. She has a strong desire to help other women in Africa that are undergoing similar experiences and are not able to speak out. The Inspirational speaker, author, gospel singer and entrepreneur is passionate about providing a secure future to the needy especially in Africa.

For Deborah, it has been an incredible journey. She narrates how she feels when she sees her reflection in the mirror which is a feeling of success despite her previous life experiences. She also goes ahead to tell of how one cannot appreciate good health if one has never been seriously ill, neither appreciate the food if one has never faced a famine or even appreciate peace if one has never been at war.

Growing up as a rejected child

My childhood prepared me to do what am doing without looking back No matter what I will come across on the journey. I do understand when a woman cries to me and…Deborah i was abuse or someone is going through life challenges of nothing to eat

Growing up as a rejected child from both parent was a big life challenge for me.
My mother left me at a tender age of 2yrs due to her second marriage issues, with this I couldn’t enjoy my childhood. I was left with my grandma whom I came to refer to as my mum. Back then my growing was not very rosy, later at the age of 7 years I lost my grandma. This made me lose hope in life since my grandma was like an angel to me and losing her left an empty feeling within me. From then on my life started to turn to the worse and the whole experience started feeling like a movie.

When my grandma died, I was with her in a sleeping room for more than 2days.I never knew that I was sleeping with a dead body, I had no meaning of death at that time, I just woke up each morning played outside and later come back to sleep by her side. This was until people around the village came to check on her because she had not been seen for a couple of days and found her dead. People started crying but I couldn’t get the meaning of that, I just knew she was sick that’s all. I still remember her last words to me was that, Deborah try to share with others whatever God gives you as much as you can, she also said that I should know that God is in my heart as He is in heaven. I never understood the meaning of those words until I grew up and found myself in a real world.

After death had dealt a cruel blow by snatching my grandma, family members from different places had to come so that they could decide who would take care of me. Despite all these meetings no one was ready to take me in thus I had to be placed under some temporary care by an unknown family. While under this care the search for my mother continued. However while living with these families I faced serious challenges because I was used as a housemaid whereby I slept in stores where they kept their firewood and sheep. Sometimes I would experience severe beating and also sometimes I had to eat leftovers and stay without food, as far as I can remember there was a time I have to eat the dog leftover food.

Women are faced with many responsibilities and are also faced with a lot of problems such as discrimination and domestic violence, why? Because the role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades. However, people now share a different perspective of women and their role in society today. This has been achieved through empowering young girls and women.

The D&K foundation of Empowerment of African women is a non-profit organization which is in the forefront to ensure that women have restored their rightful and dignified status in the society.

Our mission is to empower women thorough micro-enterprise, education, jobs and skills acquisition e.t.c. We are also currently working on certain projects which will help solve problems which in one way or another affect women and young girls thus preventing them to fully exploit their potential and abilities, some of these projects include:

Abused by my step dad at the age of 12 & how I healed

I was united with my biological mother at the age of 12, however my stepfather didn’t want me in their house and my mother was powerless to change that course. This brought more and more suffering even in my mother’s house since I was physically and sexually abused by my stepfather at 12 years old. I was so humiliated, and kept asking why I had to experience all this and who can take these pains away from me. I felt like I couldn’t make it any more in life, I felt less of a woman and thought that no man could ever look at me because of all what I have been through in my life. I was told to keep within me..which kill me within every single day of my at that time
Loneliness, pain and despair started to take a toll on me. I thought all my dreams were gone and wondered: why I was here at the first place?

Those were very painful moments, but the very moment I realized that the point of every failure is to make me move on; I realized that each day of my life would always present a new chance.

With this I have been able to move on and be happy I have also learnt not to look back but always focus on what to come. I also believe I have a mission to show the world how important women are.

Education also proved to be my only way of my hope and I had to sell boiled eggs and yam to be able to pay my school fees. That was the only thing I had to do, since my step father hated me and he was not ready to pay for my school fees. Thus I had to do everything to make sure I finished my polytechnic in business Admin.

What and who inspire you….

God is my Power: There is beauty in my broken heart since I was able to identify who I am and I know that all what I went through and whatever I will face is never my battle, they all are process to another opportunities to the next level.. All I need is to find a way to pray and to look for His grace to be able to listen to what God is about to tell me for that very situation or Direction. Because I know in life, I have to break to be able to be through.

Though I learnt a lot from Oprah Winfey she INSPIRED me, I missed to meet her during WOMEN IN WORLD Conference. I have learnt to pick up my broken pieces to build my plan B, which became amazing. I have leant that I am here for a reason and that is bigger than my imagination, my thinking…Which I have to go deeper with God and able to move in real me.

Success story of our organization

The success stories D&Ksuomi foundation EOAW since 2008 is that today we can see the smile on the faces of women and children around in our field.
we have been able fight for the space that most of our young girls and women have been lacking by providing and ensuring women to get the opportunities they deserve.

Greatest Reward

My greatest reward is when I saw women and children were happy and sent video message of what God has used me for. I am so grateful and I felt like I am on my way to my goal..That is what I was called to do.

Where I see our Organisation in 5 years

In the next five years D&Ksuomi Foundation of Empowerment Of African Women..Between now and five years, we will be able to accomplished our goal on eradicating poverty throughout Africa with the plan of BlackGirlsLand which would be free education Centre for Africa girls and we will as well reach a Lange amount of women for the micro loan business.

Do you think women in the advocacy and development sector are appreciated enough?

I will say yes. Women in advocacy are less appreciated due to the disregard of their efforts, by saying women are not capable of the work that is required to be at Top
As a woman we need to believe in our self as pillar to build a solid foundation and to embrace the power in us can make a change. We need to let go of what the world is painting women that Women are not capable of doing the work that is required at the top.Women do not have the desire to be at the top,the change we need in our society is not require gender , These are structural preventing women from reaching the top and women in advocacy need to be appreciate more in our society.

Other projects and activities

BlackGirlsLand is one the programme that DKsuomi Foundation is working on. BlackGirlsLand is a mentorship program that works to improve the lives of Black women and girls in our communities, mostly throughout the Africa.
The main mission is to improve girls’ perspective towards education and Increasing girls’ sense of worth, giving encouragement to girls and provide support by helping Black girls to become self-sufficient in all areas.

Also, The pen is my power, Permission to heal; a sister to sister healing process for women going through abusive life , the D&Ksuom Humanitarian awards and the annual international conference which will be held in Nigeria this year.

Any plans to come back home and contribute to Nation building

I cry for my Nation, that is where I come from, it is my Image…my work is base there.We have a land in Nigeria to build the BLACKGIRLSLAND center. The micro business loan that will start in March 2018 is to support women and children of Africa. I calL STAR, they are my HIDDEN HEROS because I believe in them and the inner talents are hidden within them . Also, I am working towards my Cosmetics lines in Nigeria.

Giving hope makes me a Woman of Rubies

What makes me a woman of Rubies hmm, living a life of giving Hope for people in need, been the voice for the voiceless is Doing what i was called to do, to secure life for women and children Because the role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades and i am bless to be part of the solution.

Final word for a woman or girl out there who is presently going through abuse and keeping silent…

I want you all to know that we cannot keep silent than to break the silent, Breaking the silence is a big medication to your healing process and you have to let go your past and embrace the new you. Pick up your pieces and reform it to build a new you. There is power in all your broken heart; you have the power to change your life. Its written in there. All you have to do is to identify who you are, and remember before you can have a breakthrough in life, you have to break to be able to be through.

If I can make it….you can do better.

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#INTERVIEW|”I WANT VOLUNTEERING TO BECOME A LIFESTYLE FOR YOUNG AFRICAN WOMEN” – TOBBY LORDWILLIAMS 

Agusi Tobby Nazaar, fondly  known as  Gusi Tobby Lordwlliams, is a 21 years old driven young lady, an aspirant to the Nigerian Bar and founder of one of Africa’s fastest growing female volunteering network “Girlhub Africa” . Toby is also a talkshow host, and a professional make up artist.  The young serial entrepreneur who is very passionate about creating more opportunities for African women and dedicated to her humanitarian service believe women are a treasure trove of possibilities. In this chat she talks about not being tempted to give up, her eureka moment, why she created her platform and where she sees herself in five years.

Childhood
My childhood did a whole lot to influence what I do today. In fact I’m a product of the saying “Train a child the way he should grow…”My parents are my NO 1 fans…My mum is a GHAV herself (GIRL HUB AFRICA
VOLUNTEER)…They both have always encouraged volunteering to us when we were kids.. My mum will take us during school holidays and after
summer lessons, to the hair-dressers shop and tell the hairdressers that we were there to help them for free, I never understood why she did that until i was much more older, but i loved it. Eventually I
realized this was done so we could learn the hair making skill. On another holiday she will take us to the tailor, and she kept on taking us to various artisans until she found out our areas of interest,
then she encouraged us to carve a niche out of what we have learned and also to help develop our skills…especially at church events,
weddings and other programs, my mum will make myself and my sisters help the organizers, we didn’t call it VOLUNTEERING then (Laughs), my
sisters’ friends would even call us “Over sabi”, but my mum knew what she was doing. And I thank God I want through all that process. Having all those experiences, now I can bake, make hair, sew cloths, repair a generator (Laughs), make some simple furniture,  to mention but a few.

Meet me
 I am a 21year old Nigerian. The  last born of 4 girls from a family of 6. I started volunteering for social clubs back in my school days from my first year, and the impact/advantage it had on my life made me realize that a lot of people especially young ladies needed to engage themselves in several opportunities in other to really find purpose. I am currently the lead volunteer and founder of GIRL HUB AFRICA  a professional female Volunteering Network. I love meeting people, reading, teaching, and traveling. I am an addict entrepreneur. On an average day, when I’m not on the move, I’m in my shorts and top, exchanging emails and closing deals. I also spend time  praising God and running my other business. 

Inspiration Behind Girls Hub Africa
I noticed there is a gap in our society where we preach being our brothers keeper but we don’t teach or encourage it.  Our schools and society don’t necessarily provide a structure or avenue neither do they have a curriculum for people to give their time to a cause or movement without monetary reward. Our generation gradually have become self centered unlike previous generations, this days its all about financial gain or celebrity status, we are becoming desensitized, then I realized  when we volunteer, that humane side of us grows, we become more humble and value our place in society as someone who can do their little bit which adds to a collective achievement with the objective of a positive influence. I was also tired of seeing a lot of young ladies after school/NYSC say “My sister work no dey”, Yes I believe things are not so easy in the country, but life itself is not a bed of roses, you have to go out there and create what you want for yourself. There are alot of opportunities out there to engage these youths if only they are willing to be selfless about it.  I am glad to say since we started in April this year, we have recorded a 30% increase in employment among our volunteers, because what you do well for free can eventually bring you your fee.

How I feel about my achievements so far…
Graced… its simply a proof that there is more to be done. All these have made me realize that the sky is truly my starting point.


Projects and activities
I do have a lot of projects at the moment, but my pet projects which I have passion for are;
a) The TOUCH ME NOT CAMPAIGN by the AMAZING AMAZON INITIATIVE –
Speaking and counseling children in upper primary schools and secondary schools on the prevalence of rape, domestic violence and child sexual Abuse.

b) The GHAV project – engaging young minds in the act of volunteering, hence our *TEENS WHO VOLUNTEER* campaign,We basically make them understand that they can find purpose early in life as well as give back to their society simply by rendering a selfless service.

Greatest reward
That would be seeing my volunteers find purpose and also become successful at any niche they carve for themselves simply because they volunteered.
It brings me so much joy that these opportunities we provide are properly utilized by them.


Where I see my brand in the next five years..
As the Ministry of VOLUNTEERING in Nigeria 😄 (Laughs) Well we do have a plan…
We are currently talking with our partners.
our focus is people development, we haven’t crystallized our strategy but we have the resource to evolve and identify growing trends and
building up the relevant skills in our volunteers so that stay relevant.

In 5 years, we intend to have GHAV in all West African countries with a good membership strength of professional volunteers.

On giving up
Have I ever felt like giving up? Not at all,  but this is true, I have always loved this and as the day goes by, I want to do even more until VOLUNTEERING becomes a lifestyle for young African women.

Who inspires me
God is my first inspiration, and then my mother. She is a typical example of a virtuous woman. I would also say my GHAV’s  (GIRL HUB AFRICA VOLUNTEERS), they inspire me a lot, you need to experience the
feeling of seeing ladies unite just to render selfless services in our present day Nigeria. The joy and hard work they put in inspires me alot, now I believe that women are a treasure trove of possibilities. This one itself is so much more than inspirational.

I am a Woman Of Rubies
I am a WORrior because I believe the potential every woman has can be resourceful if given the right opportunities. Personally, I look beyond the ordinary, what every other person will deem impossible is
what’s possible to me.

Final words for women
What’s your passion? find it, work and focus on it, you are the best thing to happen in your community, you need to take advantage of every
opportunity so you can shine brighter than you can ever imagine but in doing that, learn to support every woman around you.

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Hawking At Age 10 Made Me More Determined- Adeola Olubamiji

Adeola Deborah Olubamiji was born oin Ibadan to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Isaac & Juliana Olubamiji. She attended Alafia Public Primary School and St. Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial School in Mokola, Ibadan, Nigeria. Despite her humble beginning as a child hawker, she surmounted all odds to become the senior prefect girl of her secondary school. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physics (with Electronics) from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria in 2008 and a Masters of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland in 2011. In June 2017, Adeola received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada and made history as the first black person to have received this PhD from the university. Dr. Adeola is currently the Lead Metallurgist / Material Engineer at Burloak Technologies (The Advanced Additive Manufacturing Division of Samuel Sons & Co) in Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Adeola is a consultant and the founder of 3D-Tech Centrix, Ontario, Canada: A consulting firm specializing in development of 3D-printing technology and related manufacturing solutions for use in different industries. In July 2017, Dr. Adeola was chosen and celebrated as one the top 5 of 150 black women making Canada better for her contributions in Science and Technology by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She was also recently presented a prestigious award as the Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Education by the Nigerian-Canadian Community in a ceremony held in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Adeola’s passion for community building through volunteering is limitless and unquantifiable. Dr. Adeola is an “ardent” STEM advocate and she has continued to serve as a positive role model to the inner-city black youths in her Canadian community and around the world. From her savings, Dr. Adeola organizes regular STEM events and industrial tours for black youths in Ontario’s black communities to help youths discover what engineers do, and to expose them to STEM career opportunities available to them. Adeola whose story went viral two weeks ago shares her inspiring story with me in this mind-blowing interview.

 

Growing Up

I have 3 brothers and my only sister is late. I was born in Mokola Ibadan and attended Alafia Primary School and St Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial School in Mokola, Ibadan. We didn’t have much, so my siblings and myself learned to share and work together as a team quickly. My parents worked hard to ensure that we had food to eat, clothes to wear and made it a point of duty to get us to our schools on time. My mom is a workhorse and she woke up at 3 am daily to go to “Shasha Market” in Ibadan to conduct her pepper buying business.

Although my dad was unable to attain tertiary education, he is from a well-educated extended family. A few of my dad’s family members had PhDs, so my dad hung their photographs on the wall in our living room. At every opportunity my dad got, he regaled us with their success stories and explained how education took them abroad. Therefore, I ended up following the footpath of one of my uncles, Professor Abiodun Francis Oluwole who is a Professor of Nuclear Physics, to obtain a BSc in Physics with Electronics from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

Hawking at age 10 made me more determined

Looking at my parent’s life, they both worked hard to care for us but we didn’t have any form of luxury. So, I learned quickly as a child that “to earn more, you must learn more.” In addition, the daily reminder was on the wall of our living room and it was clear that I needed to be “EDUCATED” to make valuable contribution to a knowledge-based society, to earn respect and to earn more money than my parents. As such, I promised myself to strive to know more critical facts, gather more information than the average person and be the best and nothing but the best.

 

 First black person to bag a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the university of Saskatchewan

Biomedical Engineering is a recently added branch of Engineering with capability to bring us closer to huge healthcare-related innovations and inventions. However, Nigerians and the black population in general are slowly just breaking into the field. In fact, it is almost impossible to find journal papers or conference proceedings authored by Africans (at least from the last names or first names) in the field of Biomedical Engineering. The shortage of blacks in this thriving field and shortage of women in engineering makes me feel “lonely” sometimes among my peers. Therefore, I will to continue to advocate for the introduction of the branches of Biomedical Engineering to Nigerian Universities, encourage and advocate for admission of more women into engineering disciplines, and to continue to encourage other engineers who are willing to transition to come and join me in this limitless, exciting and innovative field.

 

Choice to study biomedical engineering

Several health impairments and issues of failed diagnosis that could benefit from Biomedical Engineering technologies face Nigeria and Nigerians. With a BSc in Physics with Electronics, the Biomedical Engineering career path paved way for me to acquire the knowledge needed to help develop solutions to tackle the above-mentioned issues. Some of the areas that I am currently vast on are medical physics and clinical engineering, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, material development and 3D-printing, and e-health and telemedicine.

 

What and who inspires me

 

What Inspires me: As a Scientist, I am challenged and inspired by the possibilities and potentials of technology, and the fulfillment I get from solving difficult problems. As an engineer, I am inspired by industry 4.0 (e.g. 3D-printing) and its design and manufacturing capabilities. As a Nigerian, the complicated problems that I faced or my people in Nigeria face inspire me. On a daily basis, I go to work knowing that I am paying the price to acquire the knowledge and the skill-sets required to help bring back innovative manufacturing solutions to fix, improve, and tweak Nigeria’s mostly dead metal and plastic manufacturing industries.

Who inspires me: The humble background and huge historic contributions of Jesus Christ made Him my first inspiration. My middle name is Deborah and the realization of Deborah’s role as the First Female Judge in Israel, a Warrior, a Wife and a Mother made me choose her my second role model/inspiration. Furthermore, one of the men on the wall of our living room, Prof. Abiodun Francis Oluwole, inspired me to study Physics. At the moment, I have chosen Dr. Ndubuisi Ekekwe as one of my inspirations for his ability to combine successful academic credentials, technology and entrepreneurship. 

 

Greatest Reward

There are a few of them, after many years of research and development; the ultimate reward is receiving the PhD honour itself.  Seeing my narrative go viral to touch lives around the world provided me with the re-assurance that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, hard work and prayers are not old school and they in fact can make you a superstar. Then, securing a job as a lead engineer after my PhD and starting my career in a company that allows me utilize most of my acquired knowledge and skills made the whole process well worth it. Lastly, the smiles and tears of joy that rolled down my father’s face when he heard that I successfully defended my thesis was rewarding and very satisfying.

Recognition

In terms of recognition, I was recognized as 5thof 150 black women making Canada better during the celebration of Canada at 150 (link:http://cbc.ca.mevn.net/radio/upclose. I was also recognised by the Nigerian Canadian Association as a “Woman of Outstanding Achievement in Education” in celebration of Canada at 150 and the award was presented to me at a Gala attended by Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Bar. Ahmed Hussen, the Ooni of Ife HRM Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Mama Nike Davies-Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery and so on.

 

Challenges

My PhD was not plain sailing; there were setbacks, frustrating moments, doubts, failed relationship and several failed experiments. The isolation that comes with embedding myself in research and making it my boyfriend, family and best friend was a challenge. There were moments when I slept at the University for several days in order to collect data and only went home to shower. But the most challenging aspect of the PhD by far was the job search that comes at the end of the PhD by far was the job search that comes at the end of the PhD. 

 

Perception of Hawking

Child street-hawking is often driven by poverty, deplorable living conditions, illiteracy and unemployment. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is an offence to involve children in child-labour practices such as child hawking. However, this is the only mean of survival for some families and its eradication will be very tough.

 

Has there ever been a time that you feel like giving up?

The thinking of giving up is inevitable for every PhD student. Half way through my PhD, I felt like I could do something else with my life. I felt like the PhD was standing in the way of me starting my life, buying a house, finding love and getting married. I felt like it was a shear waste of time and energy and that an MSc was already more than enough.

Unfortunately, I lost my sister to cervical cancer during that time and that gave me the motivation to carry on. I thought I would do it for my sister and my dad who already started calling me doctor and never stopped encouraging me.

Contributing to Nation building back home

In recent times, the society and social media has continued to showcase role models who make education look ‘old school’, who make science look too hard, abstract and for the exceptional ones. Africa as a continent needs to start projecting scientists are role models and investing in productive education and technology aside entertainment, fashion, and cosmetics. As a STEM advocate, I’m willing to help develop hands-on programs to help motivate these students to learn and love Sciences and get exposure to Technology in a fun way. Since kids learn by doing, these programs will provide an avenue for them to connect the theoretical science taught in schools with practical science that results from these theories.

In order to conquer the extreme dependency of Nigeria and Nigerians on China and the West for metal and plastic goods, Nigeria must invest in digitized manufacturing now. The combination of “3D-printing technology” and some other manufacturing techniques will allow achievement of faster product development and consequently enable manufacturing of polymeric and metallic products at reasonable costs. This will also foster raising of young entrepreneurs and enable creation of more jobs for our engineering graduates who are forced to work in the banking sector, wait for years to secure a position in the energy sector, or move abroad to seek greener pastures.

As a scientist who has a large network of professionals, has explored both plastics and metal 3D-printing and tried several conventional manufacturing techniques, my team is capable and able to help with the set-up of a “Manufacturing Hub for Africa” in Nigeria if given a chance. 3D-printing technology is rapidly growing across multiple industries and applications: medical applications (e.g. surgical implants, prosthesis, dental, and tissue-engineered tissues and organs), aerospace applications (OEMs for airplanes and fighter jets), automotive applications (OEMs for car engines), energy industries (customized valves, heat exchangers), tooling for plastics processing, and manufacturing of customized consumer plastic products and decorations.

 

I am a Woman of Rubies

 My life and my journey so far have made me conclude that I am an unrepeatable miracle of God. 

Final word for women who have or about to lose hope because of certain setbacks.

Dear woman, with the advent of technology, the world is at your fingertip. Do not wait to be served information on a platter of gold as your power lies in how much information you acquire. Dear woman, who are you and why are you here? My go to quote is “if you don’t stand for something, you will stand for everything or anything, and when you stand for everything or anything, you stand for nothing”. My dear women, let’s altogether renew our minds, be our own saviours, our own rescue and love ourselves enough. Finally, I beseech you to dare to be limitless, dare to start that business, dare to launch that company, dare to channel that cause, dare to be different, dare to study science and dare to be innovative
— 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I WAS SEXUALLY  ABUSED AT 7, TOOK 25 YEARS TO OPEN UP – BUKOOA AFOLABI OGUNYEYE

Bukola Afolabi Ogunyeye is the Executive Director and Founder of Morna International Children’s Foundation (MICF). She studied Marketing at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State. She also has a Master’s degree from the University Of Calabar. A Child’s Rights activist, and member of National Children’s Advocacy Centre Huntsville, USA, she was sexually abused at the age of seven by a family friend, but she only broke silence after 25 years. Bukola shares with us her life experiences, tale of survival and the inspiration behind her initiative.

Childhood
I was sexually abused at age seven. I remember vividly how a man (known to my family), who couldn’t have been less than 40 years called me into his office, made me sit on his laps and he fingered me. I was so scared and ashamed. I remember asking him to let me go. Then he stood, walked towards the door to his office and told me he would shut the door and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. I stood there very afraid, but he eventually let me go. I never told anyone what he tried to do to me. I remember it took me about 25 years before I could talk about it to a very close friend.

Touching a child’s private part(s) is sexual abuse. It is not only when penetration happened that we say a child has been sexually abused. Nobody has the right to touch a child’s private parts. They are private to a child. I also started touching myself afterwards into adulthood. It was later I discovered that the childhood experience was responsible for it.

All about me

I am Bukola Afolabi Ogunyeye, the Executive Director and Founder of (MICF). I am a native of Ibonwon in Eredo local government area of Lagos State. I’m a businesswoman, an author and was formerly a banker. I also have a passion for women issues, which has been there since my childhood. It’s so obvious that women are being maligned in this part of the world; hence I am an advocate of gender equality. My hobbies are reading and listening to music. My best food is rice and plantain.

Inspiration behind Morna International Children’s Foundation
I have always wanted to work with children, orphans and destitute. I never knew I would start, when I did, as I thought I would wait till I was well advanced in age. But as fate would have it, I started earlier than planned. I believe for a better Nigeria and the world at large, we must focus on children. My vision is to build a world, where children are respected and protected from any form of abuse.


Project and activities

Two years ago, Morna International Children’s Foundation (MICF) got its certificate of incorporation from Corporate Affairs Commission of Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the past two years, we have reached out to over 60 nursery, primary and secondary schools within and outside our community. We have also attended numerous P.T.A meetings, where we talked to parents on prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.

We take our campaigns to churches, as well as Arabic schools and are actively engrossed in rallies to further spread our message on child abuse. We also tell children about their rights. We empower them with the knowledge of their fundamental human rights. We have participated in international programmes, such as International Day of the girl-child, 19 days of Activism towards World Day for prevention of Child Abuse. The Child Abuse awareness month, which is April, has taken us to the market community for our campaign

War against Child Abuse
This is a project, which we just want to start. We want to start a quarterly aggressive campaign against Child Abuse in our community, beyond which we will spread across every state in Nigeria.

Never felt like giving up
I have never felt like giving up. This is because, when I set out to do something, I keep going, no matter what. I hardly get discouraged over anything; talk less of something I have a passion for. Whatever I get discouraged at, there is most likely no other way out of such a thing. I can never give up on this cause. However, I make sure I do away with negative people, who try to discourage me directly or indirectly.

Positive feedbacks
This question is very difficult for me to answer because this work is more about giving and not expecting any form of reward. I mean that you are not focused on reward, but the work. However, I can say that my reward comes in the form of encouragement and positive words. I also receive phone calls from people I don’t know, thanking me tremendously for the campaigns we do in schools, and rallies. In other words, whenever I get feedback, most especially from people I don’t know or people that recognise me from events, where I spoke and I hear their remarks, I am always encouraged. These kinds of reactions are priceless to me. These are what I consider my reward.

Lack of funds and passionate people
Lack of fund is a major challenge I am facing in this work. It can exterminate one’s vision, no matter how passionate you are about your cause. NGOs are not intended for profit making, yet you must spend money on programmes and you also pay volunteers some stipend. You pay for office space and bills attached. You pay for running costs. You just can’t do without money.

Another challenge I am facing is getting passionate people, who are ready to work without money as their focus. We know we must pay our staff and volunteers, but that should not be their motivation.

Determination
My advice to anyone wanting to go into any form of business or humanitarian work is that they should follow their passion vigorously and be determined to succeed and add value. Determination is very crucial in whatever one wants to do. Without determination, you will get discouraged easily. Be determined and make a difference! An Entrepreneur must also be ready to go the “extra mile” for his or her clients.

An exceptional woman of rubies
I am a very zealous woman, strong-minded, a go-getter and very focused. I’m a high-flier and I work self-sacrificingly. I can accomplish anything I want to. I believe I can do what has been established as impossible! I also try to be a motivator to other people, young and adults. I am someone, who concentrates on the positive side of people.

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