Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile August 12, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET ANITA OSARIEMEN OMONUWA, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO GRADUATE WITH FIRST CLASS FROM THIS UK UNIVERSITY

Nigerians have been and won’t stop representing in diaspora or will they? No! we doubt it. What do you think? Well, as for us, we believe that there are still innumerable feats waiting to be accomplished and achieved by Africans especially Nigerians anywhere they find themselves on planet earth

Anita Osariemen Omonuwa from Edo-state has set a record that has never been attained in the 122 years of existence of the University of Reading.

Anita is a triple First class holder from the University of Reading, UK (LLB), University of Birmingham, UK (LLM) and the Nigerian Law School (BL).

At Nigerian Law School, she received several prizes including, the Council of Legal Education Star Prize, best overall performance, best outstanding academic performance, Best Female Student and Best Student in Corporate Law Practice.

Anita also won some other notable prizes which include the Clarks Legal Prize for best performance in Part 2; Equity and Trust, presented by David Rintoul; the Managing Partner, Keith Wright Memorial Prize for best overall performance in Part 2; the Shoosmiths Prize for best overall performance in Part 2; and the Boinime Jackson Lott Foundation Prize.

She’s attractive, charming, delightful, appealing, alluring, prepossessing, lovely, and intelligent girl that every Nigerian Youth should emulate.

In Interviews&profile August 12, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET FOLASADE BAMISAYE ,THE WOMAN PROMOTING MENSTRUAL HYGIENE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

Folasade Bamisaye is passionate about empowerment of women and girls, and that’s evident in the impact she’s made in about a decade.

Folasade started impacting her community in 2009, volunteering for organisations working on issues of women and young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Women and girls in under-served areas around Nigeria are faced with huge challenge of coping with their menstrual period hygienically. Then there is the issue of shame and embarrassment.

Folasade decided to change this. She founded My Period Kit, to provide women and girls with a menstrual hygiene kit which includes sanitary pads, tissue wipes, pantyliners, and disposable, bags an affordable cost, with the goal of keeping young girls in school.

My Period Kit partners with individuals, organisations government agencies, donors, and CBOs to improve menstrual hygiene and well-being of young girls and women of reproductive age and to increase access to an affordable and healthy transition into womanhood.

For women and girls with limited access to running water, My Period Kit developed a sustainable, disposable sanitary pad made from banana and plantain stem fibre called “GreenPads.”

Folasade’s work also involves debunking the myth that menstruation is a taboo or a dirty process.

Folasade is a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow. In 2018, she was selected as a finalist to represent Nigeria in the $1 million global startup competition, Chivas Venture.

She’s a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with the Prime Health Response Initiative and was recently announced as a 2019 Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa participant.

She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from University of Ibadan, and a masters degree in Counsellor Education/School Counselling from the University of Ilorin.

Source: Bellanaija

In Interviews&profile August 12, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

‘EVERYDAY, BABIES AND MOTHERS DIE FOR VERY TRIVIAL REASONS LIKE MALARIA & BAD DRINKING WATER’ – ONYEBUCHI MADIEBO-SOLOMON

Determined to help women realise their God-given potentials and live a purpose-driven life, Onyebuchi Madiebo-Solomon, the founder of Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things (OWDET) is touching lives through her non-governmental organisation. With degrees in Law, and International Business and Marketing from Lagos and London respectively, this trained marriage counsellor is also the CEO of BC Madiebo & Company Limited. She sat down with GuardianWoman to talk about what led her into starting a non-profit fighting female mortality in Nigeria, gender equality and how marriages can last in today’s world amongst other issues.

Give us an insight into your background; what led you to start OWDET?

I studied law at the University of Lagos before going on to read international business and marketing at the American Intercontinental University, London. I am the CEO of BC Madiebo & Company Limited, an insurance brokerage firm which I inherited from my father and I run that alongside Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things (OWDET). OWDET, which I started when I was looking for clarity in my own life is basically an organisation dedicated to teaching women to live a life of purpose and one of the things OWDET is focused on doing is building free maternity clinic at grassroots level because Nigeria has the second highest mortality rate in the world. Everyday, babies and mothers die for very trivial reasons like malaria, fake drugs and bad drinking water. We are starting our first clinic, we already have the land to build, which was donated to us and we would soon start the building for the first free maternity clinic.

Why free maternity clinics, what was the inspiration?

It was the Holy Spirit that spoke to me. Initially, when the Holy Spirit spoke about starting something for women, I was going to prisons, doing a prison ministry but the Spirit told me, “this is not what I called you to do. I need you to reach out to women because women do not understand that they have a purpose. I am not calling you to preach or be an evangelist, I am calling you to get women together and help them understand that each of them, whether Christian or Muslim has a purpose.” After this revelation, I started OWDET. We meet four times yearly and talk about living a life of purpose. We also have a book club to encourage women to read as well, we read one book a month and talk about it extensively just to encourage one another.

What type of women do you look out for, who is an OWDET woman?

Every single woman. It doesn’t matter your colour, state, race, tribe or financial standing. Picture a mansion that houses a family with several daughters, amongst them a senator, hairdresser, doctor, teacher and a truant but at the end of every three months, they all come together into this house. As soon as they walk through the doors, the senator sister and the truant are on the same level, calling each other by name and relating freely because they are sisters. I tell all the women, we may not know each other but the moment you walk into our doors, we are all sisters.

Tell us about your growing up years?

I am the last of six children and I think this made me a little stubborn. I grew up as a “single child” because all my siblings were abroad when I arrived and there’s a bit of age difference so I was at home alone with my parents and sort of got away with most things my older siblings would never have dreamt of. Still, my mom was very strict and all I remember is whenever she says “don’t do that,” I would still go ahead and do it and so I was always getting a beating for being mischievous but that didn’t deter me. When I felt I was old enough, I travelled to London on my own and started fending for myself. My parents told me they were going to cut me off if I didn’t come back, but I didn’t mind and insisted on standing on my own feet. I was working on any job that came my way to keep body and soul together. I wasn’t discriminating and was quite hardworking. One time, my friend and I started a car cleaning company; we didn’t have a car to carry our hoover, water and all so we put everything in a bag and drag it to where we need to be. My dad didn’t spoil us and then, the only sure way to get money out of him is to tell him you wanted to buy a book or for your education.

Looking at the country today, would you say Nigerian women have achieved gender equality?

I don’t think we are quite there yet because women are still discriminated against till date in every area in Nigeria. It is a case of what a man can do here, a woman can probably not, but women need to realise that you can do whatever it is you set your mind to do. When I started building, I didn’t know anything about it, all I know was that I wanted to make money from it. So my sister encouraged me because she is good at painting; she would buy paint and paint the inside and outside of our house on her own. Initially I couldn’t read drawings, I would send them to my sister, she would read and teach me and explain; by the time we were finished, I could tell you everything involved in the building. If I can learn it, and I am not the most intelligent woman in the world, if I can then everybody else is capable.

What would you say is the major challenge women of this generation face?

Everybody wants to be somebody without having to do anything. Women today want to drive a Range Rover, go to Dubai, use expensive gadgets and things but they are not ready to put in the work. We want to live a life we can’t afford. You need to put in the work, you need to get rid of certain mindsets, you too can make money and live large, you can do anything you set your mind on doing.

If you were to mentor a woman, what would you tell her?

The first thing I would teach that woman is that she has the ability to be any person or thing she aspires to. Also, you are not better than the next person. My mom used to say you’re not better than the staff that works for you, you are just privileged. Your maid might be smarter than you but you are more privileged. The next step is to learn to believe and not look down on yourself. People look at themselves and say they are poor because their parents are poor. Tell yourself a different story, believe in yourself and start doing the work necessary to break that cycle.

Would you say women have conquered the fear of getting into male-dominated fields?

I personally believe that anything a man can do, a woman can do it better, it is not a cliché. That’s the way I see it. We have not overcome it but I think we are getting there. Women are beginning to understand that they need to make money and are doing what it takes to make it. We are still far from our goal but I think we are getting there. I think to myself, I can do what men normally do and even better than they are doing, this is how I thrive. The average Nigerian woman is a strong woman, God-fearing and takes prides in herself. People look at pride as a bad thing but you have to be proud of yourself for people to take you seriously, believe in you and respect you. African women are so strong; we go through a lot but still get up and keep going.

You have a funny story with regards to how you met your partner…?

(Laughing) Yes, I met my husband through a police officer that I met at the police station when I went to report a case there. My maid stole from me and I went there to report and was attended to by a female officer who is married to my now husband’s uncle. She introduced us and the rest as they say is history. Turns out that incidence was a blessing in disguise. Though it wasn’t love at first sight, spending time with him, doing things together, he grew on me. It also helped that he was very nice and kind and this attracted me to him eventually.

As a marriage counsellor, how can couples safeguard their marriage?

Marriage is not a bad thing. I am a very troublesome person and my husband is the complete opposite of me and I think that’s why we get on well because I’m hot-tempered and he’s not. However, marriage is not easy, it’s a union of two very different people born and raised differently and when you bring them together, there are bound to be problems. However, you need to learn to meet yourselves halfway but you must marry the right person to achieve this. A lot of people these days just get married for flimsy reasons and when they enter, they see things they can’t live it and start looking for escape routes. Before I got married, I dated some men I didn’t really like and people were saying, “marry him, later things would change,” and that’s where the problem starts from. You cannot change anything, what you see before marriage will amplify times 10 after marriage. Ask yourself if you can live with it, it’s very important. Whenever my blood is hot and I am boiling, my husband usually calms me down. There was a man I dated with a temper like mine and people told me to marry him because he is rich, but can you imagine what a union like that would have looked like? Two of us angry with nobody to calm the other down, it wouldn’t have worked. These are some of the things you have to keep in mind; it’s not rocket science.

What are the challenges you have faced and how are you overcoming?

So far, I am funding everything myself because in Nigeria, people find it difficult to give money as they believe you’re going to squander it and I don’t blame them because some crooks have given everyone a bad name. When I started, I didn’t even look for funds, whenever I have money, I simply put it in and do what I can. At the last programme we held, people told me they want to donate because they’ve come a couple of times and noticed I wasn’t asking for anything from them. This was how we got land given to us free of charge. I think until people see you’ll spend their money wisely; they won’t donate to your cause. I tell the people that work with us, if you are not going to live your life purposely, you cannot work with us. If you concentrate on the purpose for which you were created, and you’re focusing on it, you won’t spend your time doing things that you shouldn’t be doing. You need to focus on your purpose. Your purpose alone is huge, if you start honing it on time it’s a lifetime journey, you won’t have time for anything else. That is the way God created us.

Would you say women have been treated fairly in terms of political appointments?

Truth be told, I feel the president has not been fair despite all the promises and assurances given before 2015 and in this term. I don’t think it’s out of spite but what he knows and understands but he can do better.

Would you say women are doing enough to support other women?

No and I think it’s because some women can be unnecessarily selfish. I think they see men exhibiting this behaviour and they want to do the same thing. Almost like a case of if you can’t beat them, join them. I keep telling women around me to do the right thing and they are not listening because they are afraid of “losing our or not fitting in.”

What last words do you want to leave for women?

I just want to tell them to believe in themselves. If you want to dream, dream big and live a life of purpose. Whatever you can dream, you can achieve it.

Source: Guardian

In Interviews&profile August 9, 2019 By Women of Rubies

“MANY PEOPLE THINK THE MEAT INDUSTRY IS A DIRTY JOB” – DERIN ELERAN

Derinsola, popular known as ‘Deerin Eleran” runs a meat shop named Deerin Meat And Food Product, a business she started after her sales girl ran off with all her savings. According to Derin, alot of people felt she was crazy to think she could thrive in a male dominated field, but Derin focused on her goal.

Before venturing into the meat business, she had worked as a cabin crew, customer service officer/Account Maintenance officer in First bank, and a Para-legal in a Law firm, and she is used the experience she gained from these sectors to run her company and become a successful Entrepreneur.

In this interview with Women of Rubies, she talks about her passion for making money and the plot twist moment that changed her narrative.

Childhood

I will say my childhood prepared me for what I do now. I have been surviving on my own since i was 9. I was not born with a silver spoon so I did any legitimate job in order to survive.

How I started the meat business

About two years ago, I was running a restaurant business and I usually got meat for some of my customers. One day I was at the abbatior and i told my goat meat vendor that I wanted to cut the meat by myself. He was shocked and he asked me if I had done it before and I said no but I was willing to learn, and that was it. Starting the meat business was not easy though. I just plunged into the business. My kids always inspire me also. I can’t afford to let them them to go through what I have gone through in life.

Inspiration

I can say my kids inspire me. They are very important to me. After l left my banking job, I got an offer with Access Bank but I was posted to the Head office while I was staying on the Mainland. I ended up not taking the offer because my kids would suffer for it. I chose my kids over my career. And also, the meat industry is a lucrative one, though people think it is a dirty job, but like the saying “inu egbin lowo wa”😆.

Balancing my career and home front

Managing my business and single-handedly taking care of the kids hasn’t been easy but God has been faithful. I make sure my business doesn’t affect my kids and the home front.

Inspiration

Few years back, I left the banking industry and went into plaintain chips production. I wrote a post on Greenland asking to get a cutting machine at reasonable price. Sis Olu Bunmi and Sis Defunke Adewumi might remember this. God used three women to bless me. I was able to train about 50 people on how to make plantain chips, for free in other to give back to the society.

This act of kindness by women who didn’t know me from Adam impacted my thinking and made me to want to do more. They encouraged me to be better.

Challenges

Part of the challenges I am currently experiencing as an entrepreneur is funding. The meat industry is a very big one and ROI is amazing. If there is capital for me to do this, people will be amazed by how I will turn it over. Secondly, getting trustworthy staff is very challenging. Once bitten twice shy. In terms of manpower, I am facing some challenges too.

On giving up

I have never felt like giving up. I am my greatest critics and irrespective of the situation, I have never felt like giving up.

I Am a Woman Of Rubies

I am vigorous and confident because God is behind me. Because my calling is unique. And i am also an inspiration to a lot of youth, both male and female. I have had several people mailing me for advice and guardian. I feel i have a pact to play.

Words of advice to women

My advice to young women out there is, whatever you set out to do, do it diligently. Do not pay attention to naysayers. Opinions will not pay your bills, nor feed you. Stop procrastinating, just plunge in. If you have to go dirty, go dirty! I mean dirty in accordance to God will. If it is akara (bean cake) you set out to sell, sell it with pride. But please be distinct, be unique, be different from your contemporaries who are doing same thing as you.

Be shameless about your pursuit of greatness and God will crown your efforts. So plunge in now and do not procrastinate, start NOW!!

In Interviews&profile August 8, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

ARIT OKPO ANNOUNCED AS NEW HOST OF CNN AFRICAN VOICES

Arit Okpo is the new host of CNN African Voices.

She will help usher in the new chapter of the program dubbed African Voices Changemakers, airing from Friday, August 9th.

The news was shared on the official twitter handle of CNN Africa. The tweet says

Meet the new host of African Voices – Arit Okpo (@menoword). She will help usher in a new chapter of the program dubbed African Voices Changemakers. It starts tomorrow!

Meet the new host of African Voices – Arit Okpo (@menoword). She will help usher in a new chapter of the program dubbed African Voices Changemakers. It starts tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/E2TMk5qbQf

— CNN Africa (@CNNAfrica) August 8, 2019

In Interviews&profile August 6, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

UZO ADUBA SET TO PORTRAY SHIRLEY CHISHOLM IN NEW FX SERIES “MRS. AMERICA”

The work of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected into U.S. Congress, will be displayed in a new limited series coming to FX called “Mrs. America.”

Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba will play Chisholm, who represented New York’s 12^thcongressional district from 1969 to 1983 and who became the first Black female candidate from a major political party to run for president.

According to The Root, FX said in a press release that the limited series will tell “the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, played by [Cate] Blanchett. Through the eyes of the women of that era – both Schlafly and second wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug and Jill Ruckelshaus – the series explores how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the 70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority and forever shifted our political landscape.”

Aduba is one of 11 actors who have been selected so far to play in the nine-episode series that will premiere in 2020. The series, which is written by Emmy-winning producer Dahvi Waller, is executive produced by Waller, Coco Francini, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck and Blanchett.

The FX series will be the second portrayal of Chisholm coming up as Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis will also portray the politician and civil rights activist in a movie that she is producing at Amazon Studios. According to Deadline, Maggie Betts will direct the screenplay that will be written by Emmy-nominated writer Adam Countee.

In Interviews&profile August 5, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

SERENA WILLIAMS BECOMES SECOND BLACK WOMAN TENNIS PLAYER TO GET A WHEATIES BOX

We’ve run out of words to describe how amazing Serena Williams is. Thankfully, her latest accomplishment speaks for itself.

Today Williams revealed her own Wheaties box, following in the footsteps of Althea Gibson by becoming the second Black woman tennis player to cover the cereal known as “The Breakfast of Champions.”

As a four-time Olympic gold medalist and the winner of 72 career titles, Williams epitomizes what it means to be a champion on and off the court. In addition to being an entrepreneur, fashion designer and advocate for equality, she has championed others who are following in her footsteps in tennis as well as the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

In a statement released on General Mills’ blog, Williams shared what the Wheaties box means to her.

“I have dreamt of this since I was a young woman and it’s an honor to join the ranks of some of America’s most decorated athletes. I hope my image on this iconic orange box will inspire the next generation of girls and athletes to dream big,” she said.

Wheaties announced the new cover on their Instagram account with the hashtag #ShesAChampion and we agree. You can grab the limited-edition box in the U.S. over the next month.

Source: Because of them we can

In Interviews&profile August 5, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET THE MOTHER WHO CREATED AN ALL NATURAL DEODORANT FOR KIDS

One mother was so tired of her child coming in the house “smelling like outside,” that she decided to create an all natural deodorant specifically for kids.

“My son, Kameron, who was six at the time, was between basketball camp and smelled horrific! My exact words were, ‘You smell like a grown man,’” she told Because of Them We Can.

After researching various deodorants and their ingredients, she decided that the right solution for her son would be one that she crafted in her very own kitchen.

“To my surprise, he loved it and told his campers and requested I make his deodorant for all the kids at camp. After my initial refusal, I quickly reconsidered once it hit me that it was a genius business idea.”

The mother of three believes parents shouldn’t have to subject their children to the chemicals and toxins found in the popular deodorants she researched. She says that having lost a godmother to breast cancer and grandmother to Alzheimer’s, both linked to aluminum which can be found in most antiperspirants, she knows the danger all too well.

“Our mission is to educate families of the harms of traditional antiperspirants while providing natural deodorant parents will never feel guilty about.”

In a little over one year since launching, Play Pits has served over 3,000 customers and can be purchased both online and in multiple retail stores across the country. The brand features scents like, “Happy with lavender” or our favorite, “Sonshine with orange and peppermint.”

Powell credits her ability to balance the business with her role as wife and mother to her supportive village.

“Play Pits is a family business, my husband and 3 kids are my co-owners but my our family and close friends have helped us since the beginning as my formula testers, labelers, packers, and most importantly watching our kids while we work events to grow our business.”

She says that although Play Pits is marketed towards kids, the product can be used by active kids at heart as well.

To learn more about Play Pits visit www.playpits.com.

In Interviews&profile August 5, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

SHE JUST BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO EARN A PH.D. IN NUCLEAR PHYSICS

Another glass ceiling shattered!

This past weekend, Kalisa Villafana made history as Florida State University’s first Black woman to graduate with a doctorate degree in nuclear physics. Villafana, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, received her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and came back to the states to pursue her childhood dream.

Villafana said she has wanted to be a physicist since she was 12 years old, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. She attended an all girl Catholic school growing up where she was “exposed to tons of physics experiments.” Her teachers at Holy Faith Convent in Trinidad used the physics experiments to help students understand the principles of matter and energy and how the universe works. “From then on, I said I want to be a physicist [and] that never changed,” said Villafana.

Being an international student, Villafana wanted to make sure she entered into a Ph.D. program where she had support and community. She found that at FSU with world renowned physicist, Mark Riley, who she credits with expanding her access and opportunities. Riley introduced her to a network of mentors and resources. He also helped her to attend academic conferences and conduct research across the country during her time at FSU.

Villafana served as a mentor to other minority students at the University, encouraging them to pursue graduate studies.

“In Trinidad, many people don’t know how to get to the United States and get a Ph.D. that’s paid for by the school. They don’t know how to go from being an international student from the islands to a doctor in the U.S. I want to show them how to get to the next point,” Villafana said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.

The world of physics is mostly white and male, something Villafana acknowledges. But she hopes that her presence will motivate other young Black women to follow in her footsteps.

“I always encourage young women to pursue what they are passionate about and what makes them excited, even if they are a minority in the field,” she told Because of Them We Can. I tell them, “don’t be intimidated and that they bring new and invaluable perspectives.”

Dr. Villafana’s goal is to specialize in cancer research, working as a medical physicist. She now becomes the 96th Black woman in the country with a Ph.D. in physics, adding a new face to what physicists look like. “You may not see a lot of us but we’re there. We’re out there.”

Congratulations Dr. Kalisa Villafana! We are all so very proud of you!

Source: Beacuseofthemwecan

In Interviews&profile August 5, 2019 By Women of Rubies

“THE MORE WOMEN ARE AT THE TOP, THE MORE WOMEN ARE MOTIVATED TO GET THERE” – PATRICIA OBOZUWA

Patricia Obozuwa is the Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer for GE Africa, a position she has held since April 2012 when she built the communications and public affairs functions.

Patricia leads a team of communicators across Sub-Saharan Africa, building and protecting GE’s brand and image on the sub-continent. She established GE Africa’s corporate social responsibility platform, GE Kujenga, aimed at empowering people by building and elevating innovative ideas that are solving Africa’s challenges. In 2016, Patricia established the ‘GE Lagos Garage’ a hub for advanced manufacturing skills development that has produced over 250 graduates in Nigeria to date (December 2018).

She is the founding co-hub leader of the GE Women’s Network for Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining GE, she was Head, External Relations, Nigeria and Corporate Communication Leader, Sub-Saharan Africa at Procter & Gamble (P&G) where she pioneered the public relations function and built the West Africa communications team from scratch. Before joining P&G in 2005, Patricia was the Arts and Sponsorship Manager for the British Council in Nigeria.

Patricia is a Board Director of The Water Trust (US-Headquartered Non-Patricia is a Board Director of The Water Trust (US-Headquartered Non-Profit Organization) and is also a member of the Lagos State Industry Advisory Board for the Yaba ICT Hub/Cluster project and she is on the jury of the “Africa Excellence Awards” since 2016h Guardian class teacher at her local churcurney, how she always puts well-an Woman to talk about her career journey, how she always puts well-qualified women forward and improving the pay gap between women and men.

You are described as a global thought leader in communications and public affairs; could you tell us what this means for you?
I suppose this is because of my leadership roles in communicating for some of the biggest companies in the world, a lot more people are interested in what I have to say these days. I am passionate about reputation building and I take as many opportunities as I can to share what I’ve learned from my 24-year career. I tend to offer my opinion through written articles, videos, on panels and other speaking opportunities.

Take us through your career journey and your remarkable switch from accounting to arts and then communications?
I studied Accounting at University, but I never worked as an accountant. My first real job was working as an Assistant Curator at a Nigerian Art Gallery called Nimbus. It was just opening at the time, but it grew to become very popular. I often refer to this period as the most blissful two years. Being surrounded by beautiful art and meeting lots of interesting people across all spheres of life could really be addictive. It was during my time at Nimbus that I got exposed to the work of the British Council and I applied for a job there as soon as the opportunity opened up.

For almost six years, I managed the British Council’s arts programme for Nigeria and implemented some of the most rewarding initiatives across music, drama, literature, art, and photography, all strategically aimed at changing perceptions of the UK in a way that appealed to young professionals, a new target demographic at the time. This is where I started to consciously build my communications expertise in a structured manner.

I started honing my skills in formal and creative writing, managing press briefings, posting stories on our website, updating arts information, and bringing all of that together with my arts strategy to build the image of the British Council in Nigeria. This experience and accomplishments put me in a good position for my next job at Procter & Gamble where I built the West Africa Communications and Public Relations function and the team from scratch.

I worked there for a little under seven years before moving to my current role at GE. The company had just renewed its focus on emerging markets and carved out GE Africa from the previous Middle-East & Africa region. And I was hired in 2012 to lead Communications and Public Affairs, building the function, team, strategy and messaging for GE Africa.

Tell us what your job entails at GE Africa?
I lead a team of communicators across Sub-Saharan Africa, building and protecting GE’s brand and image on the sub-continent. I set the communications and public affairs direction and strategy for GE in Africa to support our business objectives. And as part of the global communications leadership team, I also have a responsibility to contribute and deliver on GE’s global communications approach and strategy.

Along with my team, I communicate GE’s position on industry matters through media and thought leadership activity while also dealing with any issues that may arise. But to deliver successfully on all these responsibilities, my biggest job is to empower and inspire our team of communicators across the different countries to deliver on the company’s objectives.

In such a complex region, with several languages, cultures, laws, and histories, it is important that you have the best people on the ground, communication leaders in their own right, who understand the culture and nuances – not just to execute plans but also contribute to the broader strategy for Africa. At the senior leadership level, you can only accomplish so much alone. Excellent results come from having a highly motivated team of leaders and the ability to lead and influence others to deliver results for the company.

Holding such a position cannot be without its challenges, what are some you have faced and how did you overcome?
That would probably be navigating multiple cultures, languages, and personalities to deliver excellent results.

In communicating for a company across Africa and playing a broader people leadership role for the company, there is much more diversity than there are similarities. But I overcome this by focusing on inspiring, motivating and empowering the right people in each region to lead and deliver results. My biggest challenge in life is to be the best I can be. People expect a lot from us, and we expect a lot from ourselves. The real test is to navigate through career, relationships and personal values amidst expectations of others and myself, keeping a clear head, staying focused and remaining grounded.

Tell us a bit about your background and upbringing; would you say it has contributed to your person and success today?
I come from a large family and I’m one of the youngest. My parents were amazing, and they instilled the principles of hard work and personal achievement in all of us. Beyond having the most amazing parents, my many siblings served as excellent role models to follow and with that came a great deal of accountability. In my family, there was always the unwritten rule that even though everyone is extremely supportive of the other, each person must find their own personal abilities and chart their own path to success. My twin sister, Felicia who doubles as my best friend, has been an important supporter and critic. We constantly challenge each other to be better and I can count on her for good honest feedback. I also get a lot of advice from my other siblings. My mother as well who always thinks I’m awesome; this is a major confidence booster.

You sit on the board of a US-based non-profit, The Water Trust. Can you tell us more about this?
I joined the Board of Directors in December 2018. The Water Trust is a US-headquartered non-profit organization that has been improving water, hygiene, and sanitation in rural communities in Africa for the past 10 years, building latrines, teaching hand-washing and driving other sanitary habits. Today, its operations are primarily in Uganda, helping parents understand why kids need clean water to stay healthy; changing behaviours, to help save lives; and most importantly, empowering people to take better care of themselves.

In terms of impact, The Water Trust has either built or refurbished over 330 water points in rural Uganda, benefitting 200,000 people. It is rewarding for me to be able to give back to society in this way. I should also mention that on our board, four of us out of nine non-executive directors are women. Now isn’t that a good example of gender diversity?

Would you say you are fulfilled?
I am content and I am happy. I have the most amazing family and wonderful friends. I love my job and the company I work for. Its values align with my personal values of leadership and integrity. I serve on the board of a non-profit that is positively impacting hundreds of thousands of households. I have met and worked alongside some of the most inspiring people in the course of my career. I feel blessed by the opportunities I have been given in life.

With your wealth of experience garnered over the years, would you ever consider going into entrepreneurship? Yes, that’s certainly an option. The discipline and rigour you need to succeed in the corporate world is certainly a good foundation for entrepreneurship. However, whether in a company or as an entrepreneur, my passion is in helping people, corporations and even countries to show and demonstrate their best attributes in order to achieve their objectives, whatever they may be. This is what I’ve been privileged to do throughout my career, and this is what I drive through speaking engagements, capacity building for communications professionals and volunteer work.

Do you think today’s women have broken the ‘glass ceiling’?
I believe we have broken it in several isolated cases. An exemplary story is that of Rwanda where the women in parliament form almost 70 percent of the number. Some companies have taken concrete steps to ensure women are promoted to leadership.

At GE, where I work, we take this very seriously and we have instituted programs that have yielded excellent results in attracting, retaining and promoting women into leadership positions. But globally, across all spheres of life, we still have a long journey ahead of us. I read in a McKinsey report that just 23 percent of executives in Africa are women and an even smaller 5 percent are at the CEO level.

In Rwanda where women are so well represented, we apparently make just 88 cents for every dollar a man makes. So there has been quite a bit of progress but we still have a long way to go.

What would you advice a woman that wants a seat at decision making tables? Be diligent in whatever you do and do it with excellence. This is the entry point for both men and women. You need to be “faithful with the little” to be entrusted with great things. Focus on the job or task at hand while aspiring for bigger things. Seek out the right mentors. You can learn from their experience, mistakes, and wisdom. It gets you there faster than having to experience everything yourself and it helps you avoid pitfalls. Have confidence and a strong conviction about your abilities while being very self-aware about the areas you need to develop. Have the courage to lead even when you haven’t been formally asked. This is easier if you are willing to take on unpopular or undefined tasks. You are more likely to be appointed to a leadership position when people have already experienced your leadership. And my appeal, lift other women up as you climb. The more women are at the top, the more women are motivated to get there.

What do you think of mentoring for women and how important is it for career women?
Finding the right mentors is important for any career and especially for women. We tend to have a lot more to prove and we are often in that unique position of juggling responsibilities of childbearing, playing the lead role in raising our families alongside growing our careers.

Personally, I don’t believe one mentor can help me with all aspects of my career. I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most amazing women who were more senior to me and had greater experience in their career, but I have also had some of the best mentorships from peers who were skilled in areas that I needed to develop.

How are you using your voice and position to help and encourage other women?
I mentor a lot of women and I frequently speak on gender balance, both from an advocacy position and in capacity building for women. But I don’t believe that talking is enough. We must also take action and fix gender balance issues when we spot them. I make the effort to ensure that women are well represented in any programme I’m responsible for.

Whenever I find myself in a position to either appoint or sponsor someone for a leadership role, I always put a well-qualified woman forward. And at times that I have spotted a pay gap between a woman and a man doing the same job or role, I have either fixed it myself or advocated for it to be fixed. My proudest achievement to date in this regard has been engineering a 90 percent pay increase for a highly talented woman who had negotiated a significantly less salary than her male peer.

If you could influence change, what change would you like to see for Nigerian women?
I would like to see a much stronger balance of genders in the corporate world, not just at junior levels, but in executive management and boards. That’s my vision. In addition to this, when qualified women are promoted to an executive level, I want to see them being given the power and the agency that should naturally go with such positions.

Lastly, when women are represented and have the power and agency, I want to see them being paid at par with their male equivalents. This applies not just to Nigeria, but also everywhere in the world. Awareness has significantly increased and there has been some progress in women’s participation but we are still a long way off from gender balance in corporations, in politics, and in Nigeria as a whole. For us to make any real progress, not just women, but men need to join in advocating and promoting gender diversity. We have to be intentional and start taking concrete actions to create the gender-balanced future that we want to see.

What do you do to relax? What is your guilty pleasure?
I deeply value being able to separate myself from all the madness around me and catch some “alone time.” That’s when I recharge my body, mind and spirit, a prerequisite for me to stay productive and positive. I love music. I love African literature and I love Nigerian art. From my years of working in a gallery, I got accustomed to being surrounded by beautiful art. For me, relaxing involves any one or a combination of these things. Netflix is definitely a guilty pleasure.

Who and what inspire/drives you to be better?
My faith is very important to me and is the biggest driving force in my life choices, my work ethic and my day-to-day interaction with others. I’m not perfect, of course. I’m still very much a “work-in-progress.” But I try to be the best I can possibly be, and I try to give to the world the very best of myself, talents and abilities.

Tell us about your style, what look would we likely see you in?
My style or my look is generally classic and polished. Although I deviate from that every now and then. But you’re unlikely to see me in an over-adventurous hairstyle or revealing clothes. I tend to stick to the tried and tested.

Credit: Guardian Woman, Tobi Awodipe