Women From Nigeria

"I also think we need to be more ambitious. You see projects and they are too timid, too small. International investors and financiers want scale. So we also help see the bigger picture and help ensure that these projects are appealing and will meet the requirements and benchmarks that we know investors will request."

"The issue we have found are the project themselves, the way they’re structured and the way they are prepared. We have noticed that you can have some fantastic projects but they are structure is wrong and they don’t have the basic corporate governance structures that make them investible from an investor’s perspective."

"On the domestic front, can I just say that the driver behind the pension reform we conducted was to ignite that domestic resource mobilisation. And across the continent, we haven’t even started to scratch the surface on that front. Just look at contributions as a percentage of GDP and it’s still small comparatively speaking. So there is capital."

"One of the biggest challenges is project preparation. You can always find capital and it is available both domestically and globally."

"“We don’t have to go to 360 degrees, all we have to go is 180. We don’t have to climb the highest mountains, all you’re looking for is within you”"

"It’s a start, we’ll need a lot more, but this is something that is very exciting to us at the Africa Investment Forum, because it clearly charts a path where we can have a collaborative effort and ensure that deals on the continent have fruition."

"Project preparation and due diligence is very important."

"There is abundance of capital and projects in Africa."

"The Africa Investment Forum has been supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area through the Forum’s parent institution, the African Development Bank."

"A couple of years ago, it was Ebola ravaging the continent. Now it is COVID-19. There may be something else in the future. How do we then position Africa to very clearly respond to their own needs without a dependence on aid?"

"Therein lies a moral obligation to be our brother’s keeper, but whether we are doing that or not is playing out in this matter of vaccine equity. So, quite frankly, from this side in Africa, I’m not certain that it will happen. So, what you’re seeing now on the continent is a realisation that you have an option not to wait to be given, but to take your future into your own hands."

"Africa is increasingly getting tired of asking for aid when in all honesty we can trade. And that is what we’re now looking to provide at the Africa Investment Forum, a flagship initiative of the African Development Bank, where both domestic and international investors who are looking to invest for profit, while fulfilling a need, are mobilised to finance projects."

"Our call now to the rest of the world is to join us, not as aid givers, but as investment partners so that we can quite clearly chart the course for the future."

"So, rather than looking to be given vaccines developed in those labs outside Africa by people, some of whom are of African descent who did not have infrastructure to do it on the continent, we should be looking at setting up these vaccine plants on the continent."

"While it would be good for Africa to be given vaccines, the continent needs more of investments to become self-reliant."

"I had to overcome several obstacles in my life journey to become the Director General and CEO of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) managing over N2 trillion in assets."

"The homemaker aspect of a woman’s life teaches me one thing and that’s to joggle and manage different things at the same time."

"We were very gratified to hear about the launch of the global gateway and the $300 billion initially earmarked for it."

"There’s been a lot of talk, and a lot of research but now it’s time for action. And how do you have this action translate properly on the continent? By very quickly, clearly, concisely, looking at the transactions themselves."

"I think there needs to be a paradigm shift from the way we look at collaboration."

"Africa is getting tired of receiving aid, adding that it would be more beneficial for the continent to take charge of its future."

"I'm more reform oriented. I like to start things that were not in existence. I get bored going to things that have already been said. I'm constantly looking for innovation."

"We’re still learning, and we will continue to learn because COVID-19 is so devastating and so impactful that we don’t think the learning period is over. The pandemic drove home to the continent the level of dependency on everything."

"Believe in that but my only reservation is whether government will have the willpower and sincerity to implement it."

"I have never had a scandal. I have members of my church who are in top positions in government. They should have reacted since. People should come to the church to see what we are doing."

"When you cast out demons and use matchet or nail, then it is no longer spiritual. In our church, we do not even use olive oil. I don’t like it. There is a book I am writing on Inconveniencing the Devil. It is criticising the use of addictives. There are churches that ask people to bring cloth, oil and other things for prayers, we don’t."

"There is witchcraft all over the world. So I will not join the campaign that says there is no witchcraft, because that is the devil speaking. And when the devil speaks, he makes a lot of people powerless and intimidates them. So I am not going to be part of that campaign. There are witches and those witches have to be delivered as they come for it."

""We need to change the way we bring up women; otherwise Nigeria will not grow; when you educate a woman, you educate a nation"."

"You don’t sit in the comfort of your home and complain that governance is excluding women.So we are encouraging young women to participate in governance."

"Sexual violence does not just happen, it is a learned behaviour, people repeat patterns when they find out that there is no deterrent for a particular behaviour."

"Every party wants to put its best foot forward, and we are not sure that many are going to put women forward"

"People will say terrible things about you, especially in our part of the world where strong, intelligent women breaking the ranks and cracking the glass ceiling is considered against the norm. Your greatest critics will come from your inner circle – close friends, family, immediate bosses and even yourself."

"“Public service is very bureaucratic and routine. The chances of getting into the regular cycle is high. So, always re-invent yourself. Add something to the package of you that makes you a new improved product like marketers do... When it doesn’t work, know when to move on and be open to other opportunities. Take a break if you must and break new grounds.”"

"There is no greater threat to a woman’s agency than violence. As a leading donor supporting efforts to end gender-based violence, the Ford Foundation is further demonstrating its commitment to supporting action and advocacy to counter attitudes, narratives and behaviors that perpetuate sexual violence"

"I think artistes are humans as well. Even though they possess special gifts. They're also humans that go through what you go through every day. They have aches and they fall ill. We hear them because they're famous. A lot of unknown people, regular people who all we don't know, we don't celebrate them, they are. I think this life is an illusion. This life we need light."

"I think the price is having people who don't really know where you're going, where you want to go where you're coming from, make decisions, and sometimes these decisions can be very bad for you. But it's the price that I have to pay to get my music out and to be here today. And it's normal because everybody will go through it."

"We will not put an end to extreme poverty if we do not give priority to education especially, girls' education"

"You don’t have to wait till you feel the pain. You can start right now. It’s not too late to be grateful."

"Distinguish yourself, be indispensable. One of the dangers of the public service is that efficiency is difficult to measure and because of that, one can get easily drawn into the regular routine of ‘soldier go, soldier come; barrack remains’. Don’t fall for that."

"Your love for your job will influence people and bring you big responsibilities beyond your wildest imagination... while the public service can open you to great opportunities, it can also offer other attractions that can make you compromise your values – it comes with the territory. There will be many opportunities for compromise, you must stay focused and look at the big picture."

"The difference between a job and a calling is passion. A job will put food on the table, get you life’s luxuries, take you to places and all, but a job that’s a calling will give you fulfilment in addition and endless opportunities!"

"Success or leadership is not limited to a particular gender."

"I believe African women are burdened by the weight of patriarchy, misinterpretation of religious tenets and a culture that has refused to grow beyond the Stone Age."

"If you don’t stand for something, you’ll stand for nothing. While the public service can open you to great opportunities, it can also offer other attractions that can make you compromise your values – it comes with the territory. There will be many opportunities for compromise, you must stay focused and look at the big picture. Ask yourself some critical questions like: Is this why I am here? Why should I settle for less?”"

"https://guardian.ng/opinion/asa-nigerias-singing-hawk/"

"“Always stay humble and kind”"

"“Universal quality education is one of the best antidotes to poverty”"

"“I know I can’t change the past, but as the river keeps flowing, I’ll keep on moving on.”"

"“When you just can’t see the future, when you just can’t see the light, you always got to put on a fight.”"

"Tomorrow is your opportunity to fail or be successful if you please"