Women Wear Your Swag

Your voice is not how loud you shout, it’s the small things that you do. This simple quote has become a guiding principle I have consciously keyed into and am working on drawing my female folks to join me too.   

 

Though I have been unconsciously practicing this principle for quiet sometime, it became clearer as I sat at the National Centre for Women Development auditorium in Abuja and listened live as the ace news caster of the National Television Authority Mrs. Eugenia Abu delivered her keynote speech at the #SheForumAfrica on 1^st September 2015. 

 

Young Women in Dignity at #SheForumAfrica 2015

#SheForumAfrica is an annual conference that brings together women from multiple generations whose voices are disrupting traditional notions of gender, feminism and everything between. This has been one of some of the activities I have been engaging myself in for some time now. Activities like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Young Women in Dignity Program (YOWDI), and Girls Stand Up for school project, all I hope to share with you soon in my coming posts. 

We are not all activists but we can activate a voice, continues Mrs. Eugenia as she further expatiates what it means to be a voice and why women must embrace the culture of reading so when we become a voice, we can make impact.

Young Women in Dignity with INEC Chairperson Amina Bala-Zakari and crew

As different speakers from all works of life took the stage inspiring women to leave their comfort zone and make it happen as in line with the conference theme; Risk the Unusual - Make it happen.  I have always believed it all begins with finding your voice first and then been a voice, a major reason why that quote resonated most in me.       

‘Have the self confidence to risk the unusual’ words from Mrs. Dupe Hassan representing wife of the Senate president, everyone has a gift together we are stronger, and don’t break another person in other for you to stand, are some among many other quotes that I took to heart.

Young Women in Dignity with Adesuwa Oyenokwe (Today's Woman)

The event which was carried out in 4 panel sessions:

Session 1: democracy, leadership and governance

Session 2: Health and lifestyle

Session 3: A He for She frank conversation (Yea, men were not left out!)

Session 4: Personal Development and entrepreneurship panel

Brought together diverse professionals  like Amina Bala Zakari acting chairperson INEC, Adesuwa Oyenokwe host Today’s Woman TV show and magazine, Amina Salihu former special assistant, social security information and strategy to FCT minister 2004 to 2007, Aisha Babangida chairperson Better Life for the Rural Women, Sharon Ikeazor vice president women in politics forum, Ifeoma Monye chief consultant family physician at national hospital Abuja, Lois Auta vice president Mandela Washington fellowship alumni association Nigeria, Jennifer Lynne founder the contact project among several panelists.

 

Young Women in Dignity (YOWDI) with #SheForum convener Ms. Inimfon Etuk

Another remarkable persona that captured my heart is Mrs. Dayo Benjamin Laniyi, the master of ceremony who effortlessly strings words together in an instance to bring smiles to the faces of her listeners. It made me think we ought to start giving mistress of ceremony a second thought.

Sharing all these experiences will be incomplete if I don’t acknowledge the founder and convener of this wonderful conference Ms. Inimfon Etuk for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this. And to YoungStars Foundation for giving me the platform to meet Ms. Inimfom through the Young Women in Dignity Program, a story I will be sharing in my coming post. Till then, I leave you with an advice from Mrs. Eugenia Abu; “Women wear your swag-Become a voice!”