Bolanle Otegbayo

"Q: What were the challenges you faced at the beginning of your career? A: I was lucky to serve in a research institute as I said but after the service, my supervisor was interested in retaining us but there was a bottleneck. So when I finished service, because I didn’t just want to sit at home, I went to a nursery school and was teaching there."

"While teaching in the nursery school, I felt I was doing less than I should be doing and there was a time a classmate of mine came with her sister to pick her children. She saw me teaching and I was ashamed. She greeted me and told me she was going to London that night. You can imagine how I would feel but later I sat down and psyched myself up that there was dignity in labour and started enjoying myself. I discovered that my little students like me. I made myself enjoy that place until I left and went for my master’s. After my master’s, I went for my PhD. I was lucky I got a fellowship for my PhD so money was not a challenge."

"Q: What will you say is the secret of your success? A: It is God. He is the one that gives you favour. When you apply for a grant, it is God that inspires you to write the proposal. Apart from God, my husband is a great inspiration to me, he motivates me. When he sees me slowing down, he encourages me to do more and keep me on my feet. Determination and the fact that I attended a lot of training gave me an edge over my peers. I have been exposed to a lot of things but I have learnt to be humble with my success."

"Q: What advice do you have for career women? A: My advice to women is that as their husbands progress, they should progress too. If not, their husbands would relegate them. That is why so many politicians don’t parade their first wives, they parade the appointment wives. So, as your husband is developing, develop too. Make up your mind that as you grow in your career, you won’t lose your home. When a woman is growing in her career, she must be humble. Your humility can make a way for you. Be submissive and wise. Finally, a woman does not jump at every opportunity if she wants to keep her home."

"I recommend more collaboration between researchers and end-users of research outputs in the industry. The university is rich in intellectual resources and expertise and these should be used to solve problems identified by the industry and society as a whole."