Women Academics From Nigeria

"When I assumed office,this was a challenge to the management, in addition to low morale among security personnel necessitated by high level of indiscipline in the Security Unit, inadequate security operatives, unavailability of functional vehicles, porous and unmanned entry points and wide spread availability of arms amongst students which they deployed at will."

"I am glad to say that the result indicates that all the programmes have been fully accredited by NUC. This represents 100 per cent full accreditation. This feat is itself historic because even though cases of denied accreditation have been rare in the university in recent times, we also have rare cases in which all our programmes gained full accreditation."

"My Current Research work is on Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Prevalence and Epidemiology in Sickle Cell Patients and Controls in South West Nigeria. Community Access and participation towards an attitudinal change for a Preventive approach to Sickle Cell disease in South west Nigeria. Advocacy and Support for Sickle Cell Affected Individuals and their significant others in the Community in South West Nigeria."

"My friends and pharmaceutical companies give me drugs, I use my money to buy drugs too. People are joining me to take care of them. In 2019, we started the leg ulcers treatment; which is N5,000 per week, per wound. We stopped it in December because we had spent over three million naira on it. We treated 21 wounds. We are doing more than we hoped. It is expanding in leaps and bounds. Last year was the first time we got grants for SCHAF to do research from Gilead Sciences in America. We took 1,000 patients and found very interesting result of Hepatitis B, C and HIV. Contrary to what we thought these patients are now taking care of themselves better because of the awareness. They are not falling into the same pit that ordinary youths are falling into. We are making tremendous efforts and we are getting results."

"While still in UCH, one day, my director, Prof Tomori, told me to translate my research to the community so I would leave the lab and run to Yemetu and Adeoyo hospitals to tell them about what they can do, that was how I started. Later, Dr Obembe and I formed Sickle Cell Association of Nigeria (SCAN). We were going to churches and organisations to create awareness about sickle cell disorder. When I retired from UCH, I could not continue using SCAN, that was how SCHAF started. We have expanded the scope from awareness alone to “make prevention by making,” Know Your Genotype (KYG), a point of care today."

"Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) came from scarf which is something you put on your head to look beautiful. SCHAF is about giving hope to people born with sickle cell disorder. God gave me the ability to transform peoples’ lives by talking to them. When I talk to people, they understand the purpose of God in their lives. So, I decided to create awareness to people with sickle cell disorder and give them hope."

"The awareness in Nigeria is very low. How many people are doing what we are doing? My retirement money has been going into this project since 2012. My family and friends have been supporting me financially. However, I am not in it for monetary gain. The children we are doing it for are grateful and I am deriving joy from what I am doing. My advice is: Be aware, know your genotype as a youth, be educated about it and make informed decision later in life. That way, the frequency of SCD will gradually decrease and the burden of it will be reduced in Nigeria."

"It was not easy. When I went to do research at Oxford, I left my baby, the only son who was one and a half years in Nigeria, crying. However, the work I was to do for one year, I did it in seven months. No laxity, working hard so I could get back home in time. My husband and my mother supported me. In the African setting, if you have a good home, you can make it. If your husband is not in support of what you are doing, you are in trouble. There is no template. If God places you in a family where your husband and in-laws like you, you will combine the two successfully. As a woman, you need the love, support and cooperation of your husband. Both of you must ensure that your children too face their studies so they too can be successful. When God gives you a vision and you do it, with His help you will succeed. When I have challenges, I go to God and He helps me out. As a woman you can achieve a lot by being nice to people. Be charismatic. Always leave your problem at home. Pray and ask God to help you, He is always there to help."

"For many years, I was a technician but when I moved to academics the Lord blessed my work, everything I found out was new. It took me a long time to get to where I am today because I devoted myself to my family. However, when I joined academics, my husband gave me all the necessary support. Even when I was always in the lab and would get home late, he didn’t complain. So, I had peace. I sacrificed a lot but God has rewarded me more than I could ever ask for."

"I paid a lot of prices. My husband was a year ahead of me in the university. When we got married, I felt we could not both go for higher degrees so I decided he should go ahead and get his PhD, while I took care of the children. My family was my priority. I didn’t know I would ever become anything. I just wanted to take care of the children, we have five of them and today, I have no regret. Today, they are my backbone after my husband. They are all doing well because I paid the price to take care of them."

"However, my Chemistry knowledge brought a difference to Haematology because my work was different from everyone else’s it was analytical. I was finding out a lot about research of blood disorders. Till today, I am still challenged by research ideas in my head. My chemistry background has helped me a lot. It stands me out from the medical people."

"When I came back and was asked to teach, I said no, I wanted to do research. So, I was home until I got a job in UCH, based on my qualification I was to be a junior research fellow but I opted to be a technician so I could be closing at five because of my children. So, I could take care of them. My professor, however, gave me the job and salary of a junior research fellow. Later, I went to UI and registered for part time Masters degree. That was how I moved to academics from technical line."

"I got many awards along the way, notable among them was L’OREAL UNESCO Outstanding Woman of Science in 2001. The award took place in Paris and it was one woman per continent. There I was told to raise champions and bring more women up. That has been my passion and that is what I have been working on. When I retired in 2010, from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, I took up the challenge of looking after sickle cell patients in my own way with the assistance of professionals. I retired without blemish. Even now, I still have a vibrant laboratory at the College of Medicine where I still do my research work. I still get grants to do research."

"Before I became a professor, I had visited many countries doing research of Genetics of Sickle Cell Disease. I became a director in UCH and was able to lead the ethics in the University of Ibadan. Under my leadership, the first well-organised and functional Institutional Ethics Committee in Nigeria was established in the University of Ibadan. So, we made the first publication to set up a proper establishment that was acceptable worldwide for institutional, operational aspect of medicine on ethics or research."

"I was born many years ago to the family of Chief Ologbenla of Efon Alaye. I went to Queen School, Ede, Osun State and University of Ibadan (UI), where I studied Chemistry. After leaving UI, I got married to my heartthrob, Abiodun Falusi, now a professor. We are happily married. We lived in the United State of America for the first five years of our marriage, so we got used to each other before returning to Nigeria. He is a professor of Agricultural Economics, while I moved from Chemistry to Haematology (blood study) at the College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. From there, I got my M.Phil in 1981 and my PhD in 1986. I was able to find a novel information about Thalassaemia incidence in Nigeria. It was a first and novel finding. The Lord blessed the work and since then, the genetic world has expanded, the scope of my work has expanded."

"I almost blew up the laboratory in secondary school."

"When I retired in 2010, from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, I took up the challenge of looking after sickle cell patients in my own way with the assistance of professionals. I retired without blemish. Even now, I still have a vibrant laboratory at the College of Medicine where I still do my research work. I still get grants to do research."

"God gave me the ability to transform peoples’ lives by talking to them. When I talk to people, they understand the purpose of God in their lives. So, I decided to create awareness to people with sickle cell disorder and give them hope."

"When God gives you a vision and you do it, with His help you will succeed. When I have challenges, I go to God and He helps me out. As a woman you can achieve a lot by being nice to people. Be charismatic. Always leave your problem at home. Pray and ask God to help you, He is always there to help."

"Be aware, know your genotype as a youth, be educated about it and make informed decision later in life. That way, the frequency of SCD will gradually decrease and the burden of it will be reduced in Nigeria."

"Chemistry is a science that is applicable to many fields of life because it is analytical. I had always wanted to do research. When I was in Queen’s School, there was a day I went to the lab after school hours and was mixing chemicals, I almost blew up the lab. I put water into acid instead of the other way round. I was disciplined by my principal the next day. I have always had penchant for wanting to find out things."

"What I mean is that when people recommend you, you must be qualified."

"How to do research properly: Take community into confidence and share your result properly."

"Fundamentally, our greatest resource capital as a nation is our women, who are keenly and immensely nurturing with all dedication our imperfect nation to perfection. Professor Nnenna Oti exemplifies their world and our untapped richness."

"We are fortunate and proud to have Udy as a senior executive within our University. As a global, inspirational leader, Udy demonstrates that vision in all she does and deserves to be on the Inspirational diversity leaders list."

"IN 2015, I founded Affiong Etuk foundation for inclusive health and it was necessary because my mum, being a nurse, practiced in the 60s/70s/80s and then I took after her."

"I am delighted. Words cannot express how proud I am to be included in such distinguished company."

"I have trained at least 7, 500 people; I run town halls, gather people in a stadium and just tell them about Dementia and its symptoms. I am also teaching people to utilise the residual memory of patients for public good."

"People will look at this and see hope. It is about changing perceptions of what a professor looks like and creating role models for future generations."

"If this became a seminal part of the national curriculum and other community and educational settings across the country, then it would mean we are not only able to create more understanding in society, but we would be able to tackle racism and division more effectively."

"The Phenomenal Women exhibition showcases the hard work, resilience and success of black female professors in the UK."

"This event will set into sharp focus the importance of learning about black history and Britain’s colonial past."

"It was expensive to train to do anything else but I got scholarships all the way through school, and received funding to do my training."

"Winning those awards meant a lot to me, mainly because at the time there was a real perception that nursing was for people who did not get the grades to go to university."

"The Governing Council should have advertised for the position of a substantive vice chancellor but they could not because of the court case. Eventually the Council advertised and we all applied. My appointment as acting vice chancellor started in October last year. If people are not happy they should go to court."

"Convocation has not been held in IMSU for nine years but I graduated 54,000 students last year. Arrears and promotion have not been attended to since 2016. I changed all that. I am stepping on toes and this is understandable. Why didn’t they say that I am corrupt? Why did not they say that I have been helping myself with the university’s fund? I travel with my own money when it is for personal matters."

"Am I not a professor? I earned a PhD but there are professors who did not earn a PhD. I am stepping on toes. I am a woman and this is the first time a woman will act as VC. I understand that some people are not happy. I was mile ahead of my colleagues in the interview. Is it my fault that I am sound and that I am appreciated?"

"I came in as Acting Vice-Chancellor and, by the grace of God, was elevated as substantive Vice-Chancellor. I would not be fair to myself if I say I have not encountered challenges. We are living in a man’s world, so, no matter how hard a woman tries to showcase herself in whatever position she occupies, it may seem as if she is not proving her mettle. I have had my ups and downs, but stood as the Rock of Gibraltar because the position I occupy is built on God."

"If we get it right in education, we must have have gotten it right. Education should be properly funded and we want education to stand firm. If we have good education, there will be no unemployment, there will be no kidnapping, there will be no Boko Haram."

"I will continue to tell my colleagues that the welfare of the staff has something to do with their output. If a staff is satisfied, he produces more. In Nigeria, you have seen people work hard for months, they are owed salaries, they are owed promotional arrears, they are not given what is due to them, that is not the best."

"The progress of earlier graduates paved the way for a new generation of black, female Rhodes Scholars."

"They are still static. I submit that the women of Nigeria were not much more under subjection of men in the olden days than they are now. In no part of the world today are men much more pampered and spoilt than they are in Nigeria. Does one ever see a group of women standing and sitting in the street corners of Lagos? No, the loafers are the men. They are the ones who have the time for Ayo, Ludo and Draughts. A strange thing happens; say an arrest is made; a crowd collects. Whom does one find in the crowd? – Men. It is the men who seem to have the time to waste."

"Women are now seen in the offices and shops. They work as nurses, health visitors, midwives, teachers, telephonists. Year after year, more openings are given to women. Two girls are now in training at the Higher College as dispensers."

"I would have considered coming to address what I knew would be a large and critical audience as the greatest ordeal I have ever had to go through if it was not for the fact that I had three points which urged me to accept the invitation of the Youth movement. The subject ‘The Emancipation of Women in Nigeria’ is one in which I am naturally deeply interested and one about which I feel most keenly."

"Some would ask what would be the advantage to Nigeria if women were wholly emancipated. I should like to submit four immediate obvious results: Abuse of power by men and arrogance will lessen; opinion of women would be more beneficial and influential, for there are certain matters which women could tackle better than men; better and happier homes and a better nation."

"Tossed in a sea of intellect with highly earnest students mitigate the dangers of the individualistic and capitalistic attitude gradual process of introducing people into a foreign country and to foreign life."

"Someone had to be first."

"Brains have no sex … You can do as well and even better than some boys."

"Gradual process of introducing people into a foreign country and to foreign life."

"She has become the portrait of a new Nigeria we all yearn for; a Nigeria where merit is honoured above mediocrity; where the marauding mob of gangsters and corporate goons will never ever have their way."