272 quotes found
"The girl child is just like an egg that can easily be damaged through teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse etc, hence, the need to protect them."
"Your dreams will come true."
"When the legendary Nelson Mandela made his famous quote ‘there can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children' he most likely had the humanity-indicting apartheid system in mind. Were he alive now and a Nigerian, he would have replaced the last strand of the sentence with ‘the way in which it allows the tobacco industry, merchants of death, to toy with the lives and destinies’ of its children."
"When you know your stand and stay consistently by it, eventually you will prevail."
"Most people who violate the right of others are cowards. Once you draw attention to their crimes, once you stand up to them they withdraw and people are safe"
"The poor also have rights to the city and there are more humane and inclusive ways of running ‘a mega city’ than the brutal and sledgehammer approach that currently obtains here."
"... A country is deemed great that truly cares about its children aka pikins, and the most vulnerable."
"Especially in developing countries, it's so important to get on the ground into the communities because the stats at the federal level, it may not be a real portrait of what's happening on the ground."
"If you’re a correspondent or if you do any field reporting, you have to be ready to travel. The extensive traveling will definitely affect your personal life. When it comes to marriage, it’s not uncommon for journalists to be divorced or to get married at a time that many cultures and societies consider ‘late.’ My inspiration Christiane Amanpour got married when she was 40."
"No one in this life can escape hardship."
"Biafran War Memories is a lifelong project for me. Most of the people who saw the war are in their mid 60’s and upwards. I’m trying to get the stories out of them while we still can, while they are still alive... We need to have a full story, which is why I’m not talking to just Igbo people."
"There is nothing wrong in using affirmative action to give a selected group of people the chance to succeed. What I propose is that chance to succeed should be given based on merit, not solely on the tribe, skin colour, gender, religion, or language. Unfortunately for Nigeria, meritocracy fell on the wayside shortly after gaining independence from the United Kingdom."
"Much of the bias against Igbo people are based on longstanding stereotypes."
"What is Africa for me? Africa is home, Africa is a treasure that has not received its due credit, Africa is a misunderstood place, Africa is ancient, and Africa has many secrets to discover."
"I think the misunderstanding (about Africa) comes from the fact that the world is split between powers. Right now Africa is really not in power when it comes to global politics. We still have the voices of the former colonialists speaking for many African countries... We still don't have Africans telling the stories of what is happening. The people telling the stories are non-Africans who have not really grasped the historical context of Africa."
"Poem has the ability to move the soul and wrap your mind around its mysterious magic."
"I say to myself that my goal if I never get married, I tend to look at myself as the other Theresa of Nigeria, having so many children that are not even born to you but living your life for others and making sure that you create value for those you will leave behind to be able to carry on the work."
"That experience was a breakthrough for me and, having conquered that I saw the possibility of having to use my voice for the first time and then I started voice coaching. I did internship with Channel 4, did internship with BBC Online, did a lot of auxiliary training and then I decided to just go freelancing."
"I believe and understand that there is misogyny in the system, a lot of women want to be part of it, but there is stereotype and so there is a lacking principal of inclusion of women at the grassroots. For me, it is grassroots first because if we can bond from bottom to top what we can deliver is the fact that more women will be included, more voices will be heard and then the role play will slowly begin to change."
"Getting into the field was a totally different experience and ball game. And I am like, ‘Ah ha, we have come here now, what do we do? How do we re-engage?’ Trust me, the more you look when you get into politics, the less you see, because the narratives you thought were shaping or were supposed to shape those who are in power was not the case scenario in real time."
"And as per my role as the SSA, it was not about the title or about the office; it was about the activation for service for those who my principal called to serve and my admiration for his wife, Ebere Ihedioha, who was very visible and also very passionate about the plight of women in Imo State."
"The Women and Gender Affairs Cluster committee is tasked with the responsiibility of leading, guiding, defending and coordinating the AU Ecosoc efforts on gender equality and development and promoting women’s empowerment by ensuring that African countries comply with the AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality."
"Today as the social call mounts on the development of Africa, sustainability is key and requires deliberate actions such as this passion, fairness and dexterity will be my guiding charge towards ensuring the gap for women’s role is brought to the fore and activate innovations and policies that mainstream women across all sectors."
"The records show that hitherto illicit drug consumption used to be among the male youth population though expanding to now include teenage girls, young women and older married women. But to intentionally segregate the consideration to just single women even when the higher percentage of consumption is amongst men and boys shows a complete lack of appropriate gender mapping on this issue across the states in Nigeria."
"I always have to get in character for Keeping It Real, so some people are surprised when they meet me in person,”"
"I personally don’t see anything interesting in just listening to news, I just get depressed. If I myself get depressed then you bet my listeners are also depressed. If I can make it in my way and make it fun then I can do the news."
"My job requires I look good, it helps to catch and retain the attention of viewers"
"Try to learn all that you can learn, take advantage of all the equipment that you have, and learn how to use them. Find out what the engineers are doing. Find out what the producers are doing and learn it, learn your craft."
"Women are not encouraged in our culture to be vocal or to be politically active. Also, some men are not ready for the era of women in power"
"People will criticize you whether you do well or not,” You have to be comfortable with who you are, and be willing to make necessary adjustment. The day you start listening to people’s criticism is the day you start living for other people. And you can’t afford to do that, not even for one day."
"For you to be able to inform others and to educate them, you have to be informed yourself and be educated yourself."
"If northern Nigeria were its own country, it would have the world’s worst maternal mortality rate."
"Advocacy succeeds through two things: consistency and tenacity. You have to be patient and keep working."
"Feminist is a person who believes that feminism is the best tool (movement, framework, ideology) for the cultural, political, sexual and psychological liberation of women, men and all genders."
"...I believe that if there is a purpose to life, then it is self-actualisation."
"At the end of the day, it is up to women to use and change the law to effect change. The law is our best weapon against patriarchy."
"We need to cultivate a culture where women feel the opposite of lack, namely a sense of wholeness."
"....Equality should evidently be driven by other reasons than capitalism. It should be driven by visions of a holistic and prosperous society in which people of all genders gain satisfaction/value from their work."
"You don’t need to claim power to understand that you have power. You don’t have to take power from other people to have it."
"I think we have to realise that we essentially have to unlearn everything we know, because society has so many problems: delusions about our purpose, our education, illusions about how religious life should be, illusions about what our relationship with the environment is - which is so damaged and abusive."
"A lot of feminist movements, like all other political movements today, have got to the point where we think just shouting about stuff is enough. I think we need to think about the kind of qualities like diligence and strategy, and looking back at history and really looking at it in detail, to understand how patriarchy has been built so that we can ruin it."
"...the way you shape and change people’s minds is through ideas."
"I believe the time for women’s revolution is now. And though there are young women who are trying to make it happen, but sadly, there are not enough of them."
"Women are more connected to the land and the land is where the riches are. Once we can understand this, we are a step closer to solving a myriad of issues."
"I believe we can change laws, but the important thing is to change our psychology to empower women, to tell the society that we can do what we want to, whether it’s getting an education, choosing to stay unmarried and so on."
"I believe Nigerian feminism is a humanist one, in the sense that it is about both inner and outer changes, compared to the West that is all about outer changes. Our feminism is expressed through art, writing, pottery and so on."
"There is nothing more fully human than having a voice and being able to do it publicly."
"“We have many young persons with stories to die for. There is brilliant writing from everywhere. It’s a renaissance.”"
"“We need to have a group of writers who will form a watering hole for writers to bounce back on, a group that can serve as a link between the publisher and a good writer.”"
"“One of the things you must be is confident and well researched. Know a little bit about everything. And although I did not plan to be a Journalist as a young girl, my socialisation helped.”"
"“Don’t do your body, it can only take you as far as the bed. Do your brain, it can make you the President of Nigeria. You need to have a functional brain in your head. Pay attention to all you can learn. Work over and beyond the call of duty. Research to be on top of your game. Read. Research. Read. Take up every assignment with dedication, passion, deep-seated hunger to learn. Be tried, tested and proved by your superiors. You can make your space matter.”"
"“Be ready at all times. Think small but look at the bigger picture. Understand whom you are. Dress the path and turn up for respect so you can be taken seriously. Act the path. Be the Boss. Do the job. Choose your battles and be kind to your staff and colleagues. Hold on to your Faith and your God, keep your family front at peace and be ready when the opportunity knocks.”"
"‘We want to hear about your values as a political candidate. What are you doing that is newsworthy? Have you learned to write press releases? Learn how to write a copy. Learn how to request for press coverage. This is how to get votes, by appealing to the people.”"
"“People are looking for headlines and it doesn’t matter whether Nigeria burns.”"
"“I got into media by accident.”"
"“My toughest challenge was with the toxic environment, strange fellows, and the poor camaraderie in a lot of instances.”"
"“Every woman who works must find creative ways to ensure she is doing her best to juggle them well.”"
"“Women issues are not as hot on the front burner as they ought to be. I doubt that it affected the increase in the number of women writers. Most literary men do not tell out stories well. It is time for the women to pick up the gauntlet.”"
"“You will fail miserably! If you’ve not been reading, you can’t write well.”"
"“If you speak well, and have great communication skills, you’re half way there. However, someone with great communication skills may be a disaster at customer service.”"
"One thing about autism is that you cannot discern it by merely seeing a child that has it. They look like your regular children! It’s only when they start throwing themselves on the floor or crying without cause, banging their heads on the wall, etc. that you are able to tell. Light and people affect them, and sometimes they are unable to sleep and are restless."
"People claim that it was actually after vaccination that their child changed. I don’t want to say that vaccination is the cause because vaccination hasn’t been scientifically proved to be the cause of autism."
"Sports has helped him discover new abilities in himself. I’ve always believed that children should be exposed to as many opportunities as possible in order to discover their strengths and areas of interest. This is very important especially when a child has intellectual challenges/learning difficulties."
"A lot of people think that when they have children with disabilities, they can’t bring them out. Parents have to know that children have rights to be out there. Parents should know that the world is for everybody."
"If the parents are informed, they will know what to expect from therapists and in the process also learn how to do things for their children by themselves."
"It’s up to the parents to show love to their children so that people outside can also show love to the children as well."
"Women need to be confident and assert their presence in meetings, etc. They need to know their strengths and use it to their advantage. Rising to the leadership position is about merit and what is brought to the table. The need to do a lot of personal development."
"I learnt the real meaning of independence. Taking my own decisions, taking charge of my life and being fully responsible for the consequences of decisions made especially managing my time and my finances."
"As a leader, it is my job to create an enabling environment to bring out the best in people. But one must also be alert to circumstances that may be affecting employees’ productivity and try and see how you can help them to be more effective at work."
"The stories are out there and instead of wasting time in traffic trying to get back to the office, they can work from home. Interviews can also be done remotely."
"What gives me joy is having a positive impact on people’s lives and knowing that I made a difference."
"When the masses have a better understanding of economic policies, it will increase their participation and their ability to take advantage of these policies for their benefit thus reducing poverty in the society."
"No one can defend you because the people who should protect you are the ones abusing you. What do Nigerians have to be happy about?"
"Are we really the happiest people on earth, or are we happy because we choose to deny our problems rather than confront them or face them?"
"There is so much anger - suppressed anger; transferred anger; violence as a part of our culture; narcissism as a part of our culture; poor interpersonal relationships; unhealthy, manipulative, controlling family dynamics."
"Every day, people fall below the poverty line. When you have issues, no one can defend you because the people who should protect you are the ones abusing you. So what do you have to be happy about?"
"My relationship with men is very interesting. I don’t worship men because I grew up with them. I don’t want any man to carry me as a burden on his head. I want to work with him, I am interested in him as a person. If I am with you, I am with you for who you are and not what you can do for me. If you can do so, that’s nice. But it doesn’t bother me because if I don’t do it somebody else will do it. There is no scarcity in the universe. The world is full of abundance. That’s why I don’t worry and cannot worship any man."
"When I started my career, I was very young; I was in my twenties, and I had no idea of the future. New Dawn, which everybody came to love so much when I was doing it, I did not know what I was doing; I was only doing my thing."
"Seeing a whole generation of people in media, technology, fashion, development, among others, gives me immense hope."
"I respect the times that we are living in now because there is a lot of necessary conversation about what is wrong. However, a lot of the talks can be very divisive. It is also essential to face the essentials, so do it. And sometimes I see many people talking and unaware of what needs to happen and how they can do it."
"The ease of the bird is dependent on the ease of the branch it nests on. I find a world that limits any form of the ‘other’ abhorrent. We are all one and connected in the continuum of life. I am able to acutely feel the pain of others and discomfort at injustice, violence or pain in much the same way I can feel their joy and contentment."
"A society lady and Iyalode of Gbagura in Ogun State, Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole, has passed on."
"The ex-wife of Chief Alani Bankole died today, Saturday, January 3, 2015 during her daughter’s wedding, an event she was eagerly looking forward to and had even planned elaborately for."
"In life, the late Chief Adunni Bankole was always in the news for the good reason. The renowned Lagos socialite and Iyalode of Gbagura land in Abeokuta, Ogun State, lived a fulfilled life, even to the envy of some. But her death on January 3, 2015 was not only shocking but also dramatic-she died few hours before her daughter, Mopelola's wedding on that red-letter day."
"Surprisingly, while the burial arrangements were being planned, little did the world know that there was a smouldering 'war' between her children and their father, Chief Alani Bankole, over the choice of the burial site."
"Lagos society woman, Iyalode Adunni Bankole is one person who is always in the news. Remember that she is a trained journalist and this possibly explains why she is close to the media and why she is the darling of the media any day. She was in the news a few months back when she clocked 53 and shortly after that, she graduated from a Bible School where she bagged a degree in Theology. Many were surprised because she holds several Chieftaincy titles from Abeokuta, the capital of her home state, Ogun State, among which is the Iyalode of Gbagura, Owu, a title which has become synonymous with her name over the years."
"You can only be yourself,dont try to be any other person."
"There is a certain standard that women are placed on, much higher than men. Why is it that when it’s a woman it’s like so much more dramatic and quite frankly irritating?"
"Social media has been helpful because you can use social media to get information for stories and can use social media to gather data."
"The world is constantly changing and you have to find the best way to tell your story, sometimes you might find that text is perfectly fine but other times you might need to make it into a podcast or an audio version, it really depends on what the story needs"
"Podcasting is still a concept that people are getting used to, especially in Africa. Podcasting is difficult because people still think it’s radio and you need an internet connection to listen to an episode."
"You need to be open-minded, when you start you will start off doing work that you don’t really enjoy because you need to grab as many skills as possible."
"If you claim to be telling the stories of African women and you don’t document the bad experiences, then you won’t be honest in your coverage of women, because those bad and terrible experiences are the realities of many women."
"Generally, the media business not just in Nigeria, but in Africa is hard. The media has not yet hacked how to make money."
"Remi was a strong woman for us all. Her voice still echoes. She, as woman and a wife, was a binding force. She was a true team player both within the family and in her professional life. I’m sure your colleagues would tell you who she was, a team player, I repeat and the most wonderful wife any man could desire."
"She was a pillar to Nigerian journalism and the Guild. She transformed the Guild and will always be remembered."
"She was an accomplished journalist and a very serious-minded administrator. She was one journalist who got to the peak of her profession. Journalists will always remember her passion for the profession and her emphasis on ethics and professionalism."
"Mrs. Oyo was an outstanding woman, journalist and professional. She scored a lot of firsts as a journalist. She was the first female president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE)."
"She was a consummate professional and when she was working, it was a joy to watch her. The words just seemed to magically appear on the page and reading her stories gave me my first taste of real journalism."
"She was always big on giving people opportunities regardless of their gender, background or circumstances. If you truly needed help and were ready to work, she would move heaven and earth to help you."
"It was also not always about money; if she felt you were worth it, she would give you access to her network in furtherance of your goals."
"She always had a way with words and they were pretty effective. That didn’t mean she didn’t deal with us when the need arose, but once she was done, you knew that you deserved it."
"Today’s woman needs to see herself bond better with her fellow women because together we achieve more."
"This awareness makes one a constant student in the school of life. Values never change but the application does."
"Flexible, yet firm; trusting in her God-given abilities to be the best she can be."
"Every human needs love and association and once there is a platform for that, it will bloom."
"No matter what it is, even if you think your partner would not believe you, explain to the person what happened."
"Dancing helps you to forget about yourself and it is good exercise as well."
"Put in the work! There are five million other people as hungry, as beautiful and as able as you. You have to do the work, put in the hours, hone your craft, find the thing that makes you unique and then practice that until you are the best you can possibly be. Be so excellent at being you that you become the reference point for your field. Be humble; don’t be too quick to hustle for fame; make sure that you have the talent and skills to back up that popularity. And then, practice! You should be better today than you were last year. Keep evolving, keep doing your best, whether it seems worth it or not."
"I am inspired by women who refuse to be silent because they are women. Women who reject the status quo, who go where they aren’t supposed to, women who refuse to be defined by gender/qualification/marital status…women who refuse to be defined, period!"
"No doubt, health is private, but it is not private when you put yourself up for the highest office in a country – not if you want lead – but maybe if you want to rule."
"Decent, accessible, affordable public health is a right, not a privilege, and we should not give our votes to those who see the best health care as their entitlement and sub-par health care as a privilege to us."
"Elections are not democracy. Holding regular elections is not democracy."
"Our political parties are generational. Nothing is going to die out. It has become a system, a process, and a culture. I met fathers who are preparing their sons to take their positions bearing the same mentality. Whether we have old people or young people it would be the same if we do not develop a different strategy to make things work"
"It takes time to develop a name, to develop reputation and to develop acceptance."
"Step up to the podium, embrace the light, keep your eyes steady and choose to challenge."
"When information is sent to you, it only exists if you respond or forward it to others. The more it is circulated, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity. It eliminates class biases and attracts and maintains favourable attention."
"Trying to be like anyone else is a recipe for failure because it is not possible. Even identical twins are different. So, keep improving your knowledge and keep practising your craft so that you can be your authentic self."
"You have to be on top of your game all the time. You have to be current, you have to consistently read and keep on practicing your pronunciation because it’s very easy to slip within an environment."
"You need to keep your mind active to know what’s happening all around you."
"We do not have to speak like the Queen, but let us aim for educated English language where the consonants and vowels sounds are well pronounced."
"You need to keep learning, read new materials all the time and learn different things, especially when you are in a situation where you are interacting with people who also want to learn from you."
"There is a process that you have to go through as a broadcaster or broadcast journalist. You have to understand that you’re a messenger and the purveyor of a message and the message is more important than the messenger."
"Fortunately women who have gone before me have made that something I no longer fear."
"The first thing I figure out is the plot, and as it develops, the characters take shape. I believe the characters tell me their own stories."
"Playing with words, making up new ones, gifting your audience with a well written story is nothing short of magic."
"Turning an empty page into stories, making something out of nothing."
"Africa is so richly blessed with a population that is dynamic, vibrant, educated; that has energy and drive."
"Pidgin language is a language that brings people together; a language of unity; a language that cuts across divides and barriers."
"The media has a big role in people’s lives."
"Resources are always limited. It’s just about how judiciously you use them. Use them smartly, and in the best way possible, where they will have the greatest impact."
"Pidgin is a real language of opportunity across the region, spoken by millions across the West and Central African region."
"Africa is blessed with a young population, It is a young continent with many people full of energy."
"She is quick witted, highly cerebral, and resolutely holds the government of the day accountable. It is no secret that every leader in the field of business and national politics knows Ms. Nwogwugwu personally, but this has not affected her journalistic responsibility to the public."
"Ms. Nwogwugwu brings to journalism a wealth of experience across private and public sectors. She held the track record of editing all three titles under the THISDAY stable for the longest unbroken period of 11 years and is the second woman in the history of Nigerian journalism to be appointed Editor of a national newspaper."
"Based on her national and industry credence, the trajectory of her career and all-round professionalism, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu is the most powerful woman journalist in Nigeria."
"Big or small; data is the evidence that defends the truth in your story."
"Journalism is a photocopying machine – what you put into it is what it will return to you. Feed it with mediocrity, and it will return the favour. Put in the work and feed it with excellence, and it will give you the same."
"When you have something else that brings income, it frees you from censorship by your employer, and manipulations from sources, especially in the African context."
"Solutions journalism is journalism that empirically compares standards across/within countries to enable best practices, rather than curates failures for sensationalism."
"You need to be ready at any time to leave a job that takes your soul or decline a source’s Greek gift."
"Editorial independence is what will distinguish you in the long run and give you the higher-paying jobs."
"Keep learning: It can be scary but try your best to learn new techniques. You never know when it is that skill that will distinguish you."
"Never cut corners and realise that excuses will cripple your rise."
"Your visibility is up to you. Do not count on others to be honourable, you may be spectacularly disappointed. Insist on your rights."
"Journalists and now a global media organisation of repute, the BBC, which should know better, are becoming a tool for terrorists, even if unwittingly, by amplifying the faces, voices and stories of killers and marauders who are still operating with impunity across Nigeria,” she wrote."
"I’m totally against sanctions, I don’t believe in muzzling the press. I don’t believe government should be in the business of trying to threaten media regardless of the mistakes media make. But I also believe media should be able to hold itself accountable. Our job is to hold power accountable."
"I think Nigerians ought to tell their politicians that it is time to have a bipartisan approach to insecurity, because it is something that is going to consume us. Even now as it is consuming us, we are not asking who is PDP or who is APC. And this continuous politicisation of insecurity, for me."
"I don’t believe in sanctions, we need to self-regulate because we have a constitutional duty. We have a responsibility."
"We are not saying gender should be the only decider when you want to vote for people in office, merit has to matter. I’m convinced that there are women who are qualified. What we are saying is, where you have women who are qualified but due to situation of things, men have the money and women can’t compete."
"think there’s a lot of distrust for traditional media in Nigeria. A lot of people you talk to will tell you they believe we are somewhat in collusion with people in positions of authority. Sometimes they find it difficult to differentiate between us and the people we are supposed to be holding accountable."
"The first element of sustainability you need is for your country to be functional. Without that functionality, you will sit and make all the plans, and you will end up with a lot of troubles. That functionality of your country partly depends on the ability of proper journalists to do their job."
"The Social Media Bill is a threat to journalism and democracy because what they claim that the bill wants to guide against is hate speech and fake news which has been taken care of. Other laws has taken care of that, we know that fake news and hate speech pose a serious threat to us as journalists, we don’t want it, because it undermines our work."
"Let me reassure everyone, that my work, will not stop. It will not cease. I will continue to ask the hard questions and have the difficult conversations while being so unashamedly pro Nigeria that I will also continue to challenge champions of ethnic politics which have done nothing but polarize us, making it impossible for us to unite and fight bad governance and a system that has let the majority of our people down."
"If journalists follow through with the process of collating and verifying before reporting, it brings a check to the level of bias in information dispensation. The Industry must take responsibility, there’s no excuse for some of the errors we see. Collect, verify, speak to the people involved, go out, get facts, before reporting."
"The inability of the government to deal with them has nothing to do with the lack of knowledge, it has everything to do with the incompetence. So, at that point, you might ask, could we have told our story, or I have heard people say to me, the ethnic dimension of the problem was not known until this documentary was done"
"Our mothers and grandmothers exerted influence and control over our fathers and grandfathers. But they knew how to do so gently and respectfully. That way, they had their way while the man remained in charge, unchallenged. And everybody was happy. This is what I will tell the women in the boardroom today. Women being in positions of authority is good, because they will bring a different aspect and approach to the way things are being done. Women are not stupid and they have a lot to offer the society too. We don’t look at things the way men look at things. As mothers and wives, we are most likely to give a deeper consideration to things before taking actions."
"I would like to see journalism in some countries on the conticontinentnent and embrace the full potentials of new technology. There’s so much we can be doing with things like virtual reality and data – though for us to really explore the full potential of data journalism, we need more open data, and better application of the Freedom of Information Act."
"I have had instances where men try to help but end up being patronizing. The sad reality especially as a female entrepreneur is that people are less willing to invest in you because you are a woman. But it should not stop you. I try to show my daughters that they should grow up not letting their gender be an obstacle to what they really want to do."
"A natural extension of our work is to contribute to journalism training in Africa, so we will also be introducing online training materials covering a variety of areas relevant to online journalism,"
"An explicit call to the global media, especially African ones, to cover global issues without bias or discrimination, such as gender equality, culture and gender, as well as issues of the environment and global peace."
"I think there is a question of reviewing how we do journalism, for example, the focus on balance and simply presenting the facts has not really helped the current political environment. It is not just enough to present both sides anymore.So trust is not necessarily always about not trusting the facts. But more on not trusting what each media represents."
"In the wake of campaigns like the #MeToo movement, and gender pay gap scandals, networks like the African Women in the Media are important, not just so we women in the media can connect and support each other, but so we can initiate change"
"The Pitch Zone for us at AWiM is our way of putting words into action. Our research shows that allocation of resources to produce stories are often gendered in newsrooms. The reporting grant is our way of ensuring that women in media have the opportunity to produce the kind of stories that will give them the visibility and recognition they deserve"
"That hard work is great, but it’s not always appreciated, nor do you always get what you deserve as a result of it. That others won’t always appreciate you insisting on standards and what you deserve, and not being a pushover, especially as a woman."
"I wish Nigeria would copy Tanzania’s top-notch customer service and dedication to tourism. It is one area that Nigeria still hasn’t gotten right"
"Rituals serve as mechanisms for sustaining familial bonds through shared meanings and experiences, and reinforced value systems. Holidays and rituals can therefore help foster national integration by building and cementing social bonds, reinforcing common values, promoting and communicating moral and social order."
"After all, speaking truth to power is one of the hallmarks of good journalism."
"For so long, Africans were not the raconteur of their own stories. That has resulted in skewed nuances and narratives of the continent’s stories."
"A huge part of any storytelling process is the newsgathering. A slight misstep in newsgathering can distort the facts in a subtle but substantial way. That’s why the best way to capture the essence of a story is to allow the people at the heart of it drive it."
"When mothers weep for their departed beloved, what’s primarily stirring their tears is life without a pay check, enough to cater for the kids."
"Years of undercurrent family feud automatically lock many women and children out of their rightful inheritance."
"Wrong narratives imprison the subject of a story and anyone or anything associated with it. It can negatively affect a wide range of social interactions from interpersonal relations to business associations."
"We as Africans must tell our own stories too. No one else can do it better."
"Think of it as a last minute effort to correct generations of social policies and constructs that robbed women and girls the opportunity to get education, to vote, work, to earn equitably, to own properties and the likes."
"What is news? Anything out of the ordinary."
"If you find yourself here, first, you decide if that is what you want, then you go after it; you work hard and find mentors."
"People can tell when you are detached. And when you get on air, find your style, and then you are likely to be a little more confident."
"You use what you have at your disposal to enact as much change as you can."
"Social media is a very important tool too, we can’t underestimate the age of information. Anyone who fears social media, fears the freedom knowledge brings."
"When you’re young, the amazing ideas you start up with don’t always have longevity."
"Do what makes you happy as long as you’re not hurting others."
"Regardless of societal expectations and unsolicited pressure, stay true to yourself."
"Keep on learning. We honestly need to continue to reorient our mindsets for the greater good and build a better society."
"Everyone deserves an education, it is NOT a privilege, it is simply a fundamental human right. You cannot expect a society to thrive when citizens are not equipped to develop a skill set and contribute to the development of that particular society."
"Quite frankly, stop running away from the media. Stop avoiding interrogation and stop avoiding young people. It is unhealthy for our society and if you want to serve in public office, you have to be willing and ready to be a person that is for the people."
"You cannot shy away from what affects your day to day and if you want to see a societal change, you have to infiltrate the system."
"Life is always going to have its ups and downs, but our energy controls so much about us."
"Being loving and kind, giving your life purpose, and simply doing something – these simple things that we often complicate as humans, lie at the core of that energy, and at the core of how we should exist."
"If a fish in the ocean is what we do know, then the entire ocean is what we don’t. The universe is always going to remain the largest mystery."
"Life is short and there’s so much more to life than we’re ever going to know."
"Consciously deciding not to, knowing and understanding what comes with being Nigerian in our world today, and choosing to stay focused on individual success, will one day lead to our collective success as a nation."
"you must keep your head low as a woman and don't get carried away by comments."
"So, I always tell my people that you are either born a broadcaster or train to become one. If you are talented, fine. And if you are not you have to work very hard because the whole world is watching you because being in the broadcast puts you in the limelight."
"It is okay to appreciate broadcasters but not to cross the boundary. As broadcasters they need all the encouragement they can get and not constant harassment and intimidation."
"I always told myself I could do better; there there is no limit to improvement in journalism."
"When you see someone who looks like you or who comes from where you come from, succeeding in one way or the other, or pushing through a perceived ‘closed’ door, it gives you the confidence to believe in yourself."
"As women, in our quest for success, we must remember to leave the door wide open for other women to walk the path that we’ve walked."
"So, if you are gifted in many ways, take a chance and seize the opportunity to be all that you can be."
"However, to succeed in fashion, one must be visible."
"Research is very important."
"Believe in yourself. You don't even need to get noticed nowadays by starting on major platforms."
"You're in the public eye. You sometimes will get criticism, and it can be tough to swallow."
"You work hard with love and passion for what you do."
"You’ll have to put a lot of work into it, with dedication and commitment."
"Just because you fall once or get knocked down is not failure, and that’s a step to success, if anything they should definitely show steps to commitment and dedication."
"Get as much work experience as possible, because that will teach you a lot about the industry."
"If you stay true to yourself, you will stay true to the audience."
"You have to believe in yourself at some point because you’re never going to please everybody. People are going to criticise and undermine you."
"Stay professional at all cost because at the end of the day people will respect you for staying professional."
"The Africa Cup of Nations is a beloved tournament on the continent for many fans."
"Nigeria has been a pioneer in Africa for women’s football. It took a long time for other countries to understand that there’s real potential for women in the game."
"Everyone has their own character, but it’s the sum and combination of all the individual personalities that makes collective work easier and more productive."
"You have to assert yourself and be really good at what you do."
"It’s important to be able to tap into each other’s strengths and very reassuring to know we can count on the support of a group of women who struggle with or share the same challenges as us."
"Football, especially, is an equaliser and women are finding their space in the vast opportunities presented by sport."
"Women must begin to love themselves and provide ladders for other women to climb."
"Opportunities are the watchword. We must target opportunities, be ready to grab them as they present themselves."
"There is no success without sacrifice. It is not just women, men even make huge sacrifices."
"In truth, times are hard, but tough times also have a way of bringing the best out of people, in terms of innovation."
"When you play well, you get handsomely rewarded, football in Asia is more attractive now, both in terms of competition and in monetary gains."
"She has been able to rebuild and rebrand the women league in Nigeria, Africa and indeed in the world as one of the best."
"I am aware of the prowess of Falode in marketing, and what she can bring to the League to develop it. I also know that most of the members are well connected and could bring a new lease of life to the women’s League. They are all seasoned, passionate and capable."
"Don’t get entangled with a man who is a dream killer. Marry a man who will support your career."
"When something is good it will be counterfeited. It is only an unsuccessful product that will not have a fake."
"We have to start taking pride in what we do and stop giving attention to those who are trying to distract us."
"As a lawful owner and holder of the Certificate of Occupancy of your man’s assets and jewels, you reserve the right to keep your thing. But do not, I repeat, do not lose your life or yourself while trying to fend off encroachers."
"When you get into the deep end of the marriage pool, what offers you a life jacket is not love. In fact, love can’t swim. Love is feeble bodied, delicate. Love itself needs support and protection. That is why those who go into marriage with only love as a covering soon find themselves naked."
"That a woman chose or is chosen not just for the roses are red and her shapely shape does not mean real deep love won’t develop as the marriage grows, after all the marriages that take off on ‘plenty love’ have been known to lose the love when the vicissitudes of life show up."
"Everyone living in a country with elections should care more and do more about choosing their government. It goes beyond voting on election day. The earlier we get involved and the more we participate, the more the outcomes will reflect our will. Join a party. Create a voter group. Raise funds to help future candidates you like."
"It’s my opinion that you must have the flair to be a good broadcaster. Careers in entertainment, media and the arts generally are for those with innate abilities. But anyone seeking a career in the media must also be articulate, he or she must be confident enough to communicate to a large audience."
"It’s the appetite for knowledge and love for disseminating the right information. Media people are well informed, but majority of our people need credible information to make the right decisions."
"It is time to encourage every woman to speak up. Too much silence is slowing down all the women’s affirmation charters that ought to have been fully implemented."
"A woman can be assertive without being arrogant or perceived to be negatively defiant."
"More than ever before, Women in position should not remain silent on issues they have the capacity to speak up on. This is most especially related to women in power."
"Failure is not an option and impossible does not exist."
"If you see journalism as a 9-5 job, then you will not excel at it."
"Jacob’s leadership as Director of News at TVC was feared to have suffered some serious setback after the station was looted and set ablaze by marauding crowds, in the aftermath of the Lekki Tollgate shooting last year"
"She proved her detractors wrong by going back on air within 72-hours, using a makeshift studio and continuing reportage from the 36 states and the FCT."
"As a renowned Nigerian broadcast news professional with a pedigree of excellence, Stella Din Jacob has the experience, drive and determination to bring TVC News to the highest levels to which we aspire as major African broadcasting company."
"Her commendable experience as a news manager and a practicing broadcast news journalist will be of immense value to the business as we continue our journey of investment and improvement in our services for our viewers and advertisers."
"You move from one grade level to another, if you are patient enough, if you are hardworking enough, you will move and get up there."
"You must have a good disposition, a very pleasant approach to life."
"The voice was the main thing; you must have a clear diction that people can understand. If you have a speech defect, it will be very difficult to say you want to go into broadcasting."
"The world is a large place we don’t know how God moves, we don’t know which date he has for anyone; we just have to accept it."
"It’s the way you carry your cross that sets you apart from other people. If you are able to carry your cross well, you cry a bit, clean your eyes; God will help you to clean the tears."
"In every situation, just believe in God, put your faith up and try not to let people put you down. Just be yourself."
"People must be contented with what they have. The little you have you can share with people. Be free to share with other people the little that you have or the gift that you have."
"One must have a forgiving spirit. The world will be a better place if we adhere to these rules."
"Chief Julie Coker was not only a beauty while in service, she stood for perfection in production and for her to have risen to become the Head of Presentation on the Nigerian network television when elocution walk with her."
"She is an embodiment of excellence, embodiment of all that is the best in broadcasting. She was passionate about high quality broadcasting. She was passionate about community service. She was passionate about the downtrodden, the underprivileged."
"A woman should be treated as a human being, not as an addendum, she should be respected as a part of society, and should get what a man gets."
"Women should not give up. We haven’t started yet. Women in position should mention others. We are losing track of a lot of things in Nigeria. It is not about naira and kobo, it is about the essence of life and opportunities and moving people. Let’s grow human beings, it is a collective responsibility. Let’s be able to cry on each other’s shoulders. Until we do that, we can’t move on."
"The world has become dynamic, we shouldn’t be stagnant."
"I believe that once you have a medium and you know how to convey your message, you will always be relevant."
"It can ignite change and revolutionise."
"Nigeria should be the hub for Africa in terms of health facilities because we have the human resources, so we need to make capital resources available."
"Reporting health is not a piece of cake and some of our junior colleagues want the quick way, but that can’t be done in health journalism. You must be devoted and have special skill, you must be able to navigate around the professionals and be able to do great stories."
"Health is not a beat that you can be lazy, it is not a beat where you seat and report, you have to be there."
"Make u no worry. That be how life be. Sometimes it go up, up, up, and sometimes it come down, down, down. When it go up, you get many friends. But when it come down, your friends run away."
"It is clear that she (Ulasi) has produced five mysteries. The novels are indeed mysteries ... set in what Hortense Spillers, in another context, refers to as the "terrain of witchcraft" (1987, 189). In Ulasi, seeing is not always believing or deceptive. Her intriguing genre, the juju novel, appears to be Nigeria's answer to the gothic and magic realism ... Ulasi's terrain covers the occult, dark, impenetrable tropical forests; in short, vestiges of the supernatural world, which proliferate the Nigerian imagination."
"Decades ago I read Adaora Lily Ulasi's Many Thing You No Understand. When I read the work, who would have thought about the strange happenings in my nation, Nigeria?Adaora, who passed on in 2016, also wrote Many Thing Begin for Change, and The Man from Sagamu Let me say that as we keep mute or play mute, as we pay lip service things are changing, and the resultant effect is one that we may not be able to cope with...."
"Human beings are curious about other human beings. Form and shape of [documentaries], of course, is going to change, and yes, it was wonderful when the streamers got involved. But documentaries have only been increasing. Look at the last 50 years: you look at all of the surveys, you look at all the quantitative data, all audiences love documentaries across gender, across race, whatever it is, there is a tremendous curiosity"
"I left the broadcast news chair altogether and reliving this has been painful. Yet I am hopeful things can change. I speak up now for the women and women of color and people of color who are doing incredible work in public radio. They deserve to be treated fairly. They deserve for meritocracy to be more than a buzzword."
"I don’t claim to have an answer for how to resolve this, what actions should be taken or how to prevent something like this from happening again. I do know, while I can go back to work in my peaceful place, the girls cannot; at least not this minute.I do know this atrocity is devastating. I hope the international community continues to condemn these acts and do all within international law to rescue these girls and disband the group apparently responsible; whose name I refuse to give ink to on my pages. I fervently hope that Nigerians will unite, step up and increase again the pressure on the government to crack down hard. And I can pray, foremost for the girl’s safe rescue. But I also pray for Nigeria."
"I think for me, I was running more toward than away from something. And a year ago, it sounded like such a great idea to get my ass up at 1 a.m. to do morning radio"
"I am thrilled to welcome Adaora to the PBS team. Her expertise in emerging technologies, paired with her award-winning reporting and filmmaking experience, makes her particularly qualified to help guide our General Audience programming strategy. With her guidance, we will continue to build on PBS’s mission to develop and distribute content that meets the needs of audiences from diverse backgrounds."
"Some people still believe that a woman is less intelligent, less competent and less skilful in carrying out certain tasks. But this is an office environment; I do not need brutal force to carry out my assignment. What I need basically is competence. I need computer literacy and sound education, which in my view, I have acquired from some of the world’s most renowned academic institutions. I am qualified and can adapt and fit into anywhere and deliver on my mandate in the most professional manner"
"One of my key concerns in broadcasting to a country as complex and sensitive as Nigeria, is making sure the BBC gets it right and our editorial checks have to be rigorous. With over 20 million Nigerians listening to the BBC on a regular basis, I feel pretty motivated to get the checks right. One final thought: this is not the first time BBC Hausa has had cause to get to the heart of the story surrounding President Yar'Adua. In 2007 BBC Hausa service was the first to get an interview with Yar'Adua while he was receiving medical attention in Germany - again dispelling the rumours."
"Of course it has not been all gloom. Some Northern women have and are still doing remarkable work in journalism whose recognition go beyond the shores of Nigeria. The Hauwa Baba Ahmeds who graced our TV screens in the ’80s and early ’90s casting the NTA Network News and Bilkisu Yusuf quickly come to mind. Others include Hauwa Funtua, Fatima Abass, Aisha Bello Katung all of the NTA fame. We also had the likes of Kadaria Ahmed, Jamila Tangaza, Delu Mohammed, Grace Alkheri and Bilkisu Labaran who were practising on the international scene. These northern journalists were at various times with either the BBC or the VOA. Here the likes of Christian Amanpour of CNN and our own Nigerian born CNN Zain Asher."
"I am a very good voice over drama artiste, I thrive very well in that regard. I also teach Elocution, it’s just that I haven’t dedicated enough time to that aspect of my life. I’ve been a facilitator for a number of seminars on Elocution, I teach that very well. I do very good voice overs, I write scripts. I could even do some copy writing if I applied myself to it. I’ve done a bit of that in the past. But presentation is perhaps my favourite aspect of the job"