Women Journalists From Nigeria

"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."

"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."

"What gives me joy is having a positive impact on people’s lives and knowing that I made a difference."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"There is nothing more fully human than having a voice and being able to do it publicly."

"“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.”"

"“You will fail miserably! If you’ve not been reading, you can’t write 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.”"

"“Every woman who works must find creative ways to ensure she is doing her best to juggle them well.”"

"“My toughest challenge was with the toxic environment, strange fellows, and the poor camaraderie in a lot of instances.”"

"“I got into media by accident.”"

"“People are looking for headlines and it doesn’t matter whether Nigeria burns.”"

"‘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.”"

"“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.”"

"“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.”"

"“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.”"

"“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.”"

"“We have many young persons with stories to die for. There is brilliant writing from everywhere. It’s a renaissance.”"

"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."

"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."

"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 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."

"...the way you shape and change people’s minds is through ideas."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"....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."

"We need to cultivate a culture where women feel the opposite of lack, namely a sense of wholeness."

"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."

"...I believe that if there is a purpose to life, then it is self-actualisation."

"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."

"Advocacy succeeds through two things: consistency and tenacity. You have to be patient and keep working."

"If northern Nigeria were its own country, it would have the world’s worst maternal mortality rate."

"For you to be able to inform others and to educate them, you have to be informed yourself and be educated yourself."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."