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There is a Yoruba proverb that plays around the surname of leading human rights advocate Mr Femi Falana. It surmises that one should first face his face before peeping into others’. I see the Falana gbo tire (Falana, mind your business) wisecrack as a derivative of the admonition of Jesus in Matthew 7, particularly the portion that charges us to remove the log in our eyes before attempting to remove the speck in our brothers’.

Today, I’m returning to Ijesaland on this page as a selfless obligor to her development. That doesn’t mean I do not expect gain from this intervention. But it’s not the type man gives. My reward expectation is rooted in Psalm 133:6, with Ulesa simply exchanging for Jerusalem.

My birthplace, where I also began life and am still connected to till today, has a long association with hard work and prosperity. Àjàpá (itinerant trading) and oso’malo (traditional debt recovery of literally sitting on the debtor’s neck until the debt is defrayed) are two phenomena among other commerce concepts exclusive to my people that define the age-long perception of us being industrious and always creating wealth anywhere we are found.

Alongside innate stubbornness, which I think ranks behind Ondo and Ekiti’s, the Ijesa of old were also war-minded, and the legend of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro needs no retelling. But at a point, it would seem something grievous happened to the psyche of Ijesaland and the kingdom, especially Ilesa, the most prominent of the towns making it up and its headquarters, was almost becoming a haven for fraudsters, led by the supervillain tactically identified by juju maestro King Sunny Ade in a song as the fellow who swindled him. What is Olorunlugo sef!

Then revival began to pick up in the land, with prominent Christian leaders springing from its bowels. The land began to look like what we used to know, from the farmland on Imo hills, to the rusty Ukoromoja, to our dusty streets and neighbourhoods of old, when birthday rice was usually served in a big tray and invited children would be asked to sit round it and wack (slang for eating), with the droplets from someone’s mouthful draping back for the next person to paw with his own handful. Then the song over the food; hin koro hin koro, lule yesi, lule Banjo (Ijesa’s variation for hip hip hooray).

How happy we were, doing it without discriminating that the next person to you had ìbé, yòrò, akokoro or segede (all symptoms or aftermaths of mouth infection or ailment).

At this point, I should convict myself of a certain kind of hypocrisy. Why would those of us who lived communally this way without discrimination now get up North and start sniffing at the young boys who are into alms-begging known as almajiri, pooling their ‘resources’ of leftover food together to eat together!

Well, maybe the only difference is that our rice trays used to be clean, handled by adults, and the birthday food would not be a leftover or a mix of culinary odds and ends. It was usually piping hot white rice and stew! Protein, whether meat or fish, would be served after the tray was drained of the rice. Children weren’t meant to eat protein before or in the course of the meal, even any meal for that matter. Anyone found not being compliant would be excoriated as a potential thief! How odd.

Now, children are pleaded with to start with the protein in their meal for some nutritional reasons, even in the same Ilesa! Changing times?

Somehow, I have always kept tabs on happenings in the land; its politics, commerce, socials et al., even when I hadn’t been home in years. There had been certain shifts that make a lot now unrecognisably different. The last time I was home, even the way to our place was barely recognisable to me, with my children teasing if I had lost my way, which I had, actually, and they couldn’t help because it was the first time for nearly all of them!

Some local women bailed me out, smiling while countenancing the Lagos State registration plate number on my car. In their minds, ara eko ti sonu (Lagosian or Ujesa abroad had missed his way). Guess I have former governor Rauf Aregbesola and incumbent Demola Adeleke to thank for the miss.

I’m certainly not a fan of Aregbesola’s divisive politics of politicising religion, and it was also at the heart of my fervent wish that APC’s candidate in the last Osun guber, Bola Oyebamiji, would not win, despite several reliable quarters and contacts confirming him a good man.

Religious fanaticism or extremism of any kind that would throw the state back to the Aregbesola era of students coming to school in masquerade costumes should never be tolerated again, and any candidate suspected of such an inclination should be stopped at all costs. They say the governor has no religion; I say leave our FaChrisLam governor for us like that; at least he’s not ashamed to praise his Maker openly, dancing like the biblical King David, with the peace of heaven upon the state while developmental projects aren’t that sparse either. What else can one ask for?

As much as I detest the politics of the one I call Buoda Raufu, which is bitter like the biblical Marah waters, Ijesaland, particularly Ilesa’s inner and connecting roads, are what they are today because of the efforts of his administration. Then the dancing governor took apart the main Ilesa township road, from the roundabout/Owa palace straight down to Omi Asoro where the brewery is located, expanded it and made it almost unrecognisable to a once-in-a-while Ijesa Lagos visitor like me. The road was under construction when I was home. That was when the guber election was months away, and if I had a vote (I’m Lagos-registered) to cast in the state, my thumb would have gone for the Thumb party. After all, all politics is local. May God grant the governor the grace to complete the dual carriageway.

You say what about Buoda Raufu and his ADC and the ona-baba-ona (the best in road construction) sobriquet when he was in power? Well, the Yoruba will say nobody clears the road for yesterday’s horse rider. His party’s candidate lost scandalously in the two local governments making up Ilesa (East and West) and didn’t win in any of the remaining four making up Ijesaland! Why would our people quickly forget Aregbe and his infrastructural dividends? Maybe because he also engaged in too much iregbe (needless distraction, especially with religion) and possibly because of the afusa (pejorative coinage from the half-salary his administration paid civil servants that sank the dignity of many who had to beg for their families to eat) crisis.

Well, Baba Kabiru has done his best, though I worry how fast he’s disappearing into political oblivion since he lost the backing of his mentor, who was significantly responsible for his meteoric rise in politics. Someone says he doubts Aregbe is genuine Ijesa because, according to him, you hardly see an ungrateful one. When you did good yesterday, it would be ‘hin seun ana’ (thank you for yesterday). Another day would be ‘hin seun ijeta’. Days after, it would be ‘hin seun ijosi’ (thank you for the other day), to the point you will start wondering if the appreciation over a thing will never end.

While recent Osun politics would seem to have favoured Ijesaland in a way, something would also seem to have broken in its milieu. Her younger demographic would appear headed in the wrong direction. It is so sickening that if you ask after about 10 young boys you used to know whom you haven’t seen in about 10 years, at least seven of them would be identified as now solidly into yahoo, and most of them, their parents, particularly their mothers, are still alive! This couldn’t have been our Ilesa!

Then if you travelled even abroad and returned with a car the neighbours’ timing mathematics suggested you couldn’t have acquired legitimately, your family would be in the trouble of a pregnant side-eye and laborious gossiping! Such returnees usually disappeared within a day or two of the homecoming, and they dare not leave such a car behind! And they usually bolted before dawn!

But now, beyond okada riding, which has taken almost all artisans away from their trades and crafts, yahoo would seem the next best thing for the young people. The police are reportedly feasting on them to cash out through phoney arrests, from which they would be freed once settlement is procured.

The Owa Obokun Adimula is the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, and the authority and relevance of the occupant per time is mostly measured by the social texture of the young people, and to a large extent, the cooperation of the elite and feedback on commerce from the women’s wing.

When the last Owa was on the throne, Aregbe, an Ijesa, was also in office, a situation that should have strengthened the hold of the Kabiyesi on the land and the restless youth. But it would seem that as he aged before his eventual passing, his grip continually slackened, and because the Ijesa elite reportedly had scant regard for Buoda Raufu (I learnt he’s considered by most of them as not lettered enough to represent them at that level of governance), the gap was almost yawning until the new Kabiyesi mounted the throne about 17 months ago.

I have heard plenty gist about the developmental programmes of the industrialist-billionaire Adimula to return his kingdom to its place of ancient prominence in commerce locally, nationally, and even internationally. I have also heard plenty gist about the tension among the Ijesa elite for control, ascendancy, and influence. A couple of such persons, some of them with deep pockets like the Kabiyesi, I heard, are even trying to impede the progress of the palace agenda!

They should heed a timely warning. Yes, they are being venerated now, but the moment Ijesa pinpoint them as enemies of progress, their unborn generations will carry the vilification. Anytime Ijesa contort their mouths and noses simultaneously and clear their throats of phlegm before muttering ‘i omo lagbaja ye’ (isn’t this the offspring of XYZ?), a terrible story of his father or mother, especially if late, is about to be told.

Multiple socio-cultural organisations, especially those peopled by moneybags, should be a blessing to any community desirous of development and restoration of old glory. Is it not why educated and rich princes are now the favourite pick of opele (divining cowries)?

But trying to overreach should be a no-no. Adimula is a deity. Goodness of heart should not be taken for granted.

Let competing socio-cultural and development associations fight with projects; if the one led by a certain billionaire is siting four, let the group of a once-upon-a-time managing director go for broke with seven. Not impeding the vision of the one they should all be supporting.

I’m keeping names out now, not out of trepidation. If the shenanigans against the developmental vision continue, Series 2 will name names and who is doing what, so the Ijesa will know their new enemies and, in turn, become their nemesis.

I’m particularly disappointed in one egbon and his alleged antics. I used to rate him highly.

In less than two years, Adimula has kept an unbelievable pace on Ijesa restoration. He should be supported by all, all the way. May his reign be peaceful.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the people of the South-East have unanimously agreed to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027.

Kalu spoke on Saturday at the flag-off of the APC Women’s Mobilisation Campaign and South-East Women Empowerment Programme by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in Enugu.

He said the immediate political mandate of the people of the region was to support Tinubu, whom he described as a leader who had demonstrated his commitment to the Igbo people.

Kalu recalled that Tinubu, during his tenure as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, appointed people of Igbo extraction into his administration.

He said, ‘This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo. During his time as the governor of Lagos State, no Igbo property was taken. Nobody who was a businessman in Lagos was arrested. Mr. Ben Akabueze was an Igbo man that he brought into his cabinet as Governor. It has never happened before. I hope we will reciprocate his kind gestures to Ndi Igbo. We must do so this time’.

The Deputy Speaker, who is also the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council 11 (South), said successive administrations had failed to fulfil the post-civil war promise of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration for the people of the South-East until Tinubu assumed office.

He cited the signing into law of the South-East Development Commission Bill as evidence of the President’s commitment to the region, noting that the bill had remained pending in the National Assembly for several years.

Kalu said, ‘I also need to remind you that after the civil war, we waited for almost 60 years for a promise that was made to the people of Igbo land that was not kept. The 3Rs: Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Reintegration. Was the promise kept or not? It wasn’t kept.

‘Government after government, but they ignored us. Administration after administration, they ignored the Igbo, and we were waiting and asking, when will the messiah come to save the Igbo? Then came a man who loves the Igbo from his heart.

‘South East Development Commission Bill has been in the Parliament from year to year, Assembly to Assembly; they refused to sign it into law. But when President Tinubu came, the South East Development Commission became a commission under the law. Tinubu is a warrior, a great President,’ he said.

He added that the President was constructing roads and bridges and providing scholarships and loans, while the First Lady’s empowerment programme was supporting women in the region.

Kalu urged residents of the South-East to turn out on January 16, 2027, to vote for Tinubu and Shettima, insisting that the region had no alternative candidate.

He said, ‘To this end, I am appealing to Ndi Igbo: come January 16, 2027, we don’t have any other candidate. The Igbo are complete. The governors are complete. Abia is here. Enugu is here. Imo is here. Anambra is here. South East is complete. Ndi Igbo have unanimously agreed that we will return President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in 2027 to continue their good work,’ Kalu declared.

The Deputy Speaker also argued that the South-East should not accept a four-year presidential arrangement when other regions had held the office for eight years.

He said, ‘Others have had it for 8 years and we have waited for too long, almost 60 years. Is it fair for us to do 4 years? Those who want Ndi Igbo to do only 4 years, it will not work. Just like others who did 8 years, when it is our turn, we will also do 8 years because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

‘But for now, our mandate is to support the man that has been supporting us. This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo,’ the Deputy Speaker said.

The Marketing expert and academic, Mr. Suleiman Wisdom Onimisi, has been elected as the National President of the Federal Polytechnic Offa Alumni Association.

Onimisi emerged as the winner in the election conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The exercise, which was held both physically and virtually, was supervised by the Board of Trustees of the association led by Engr. Kola Lamidi.

The election took place at the Academic Boardroom of the Polytechnic, located at the institution’s Permanent Site.

Announcing the result, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Abolade Adekunle, disclosed that Suleiman Wisdom polled 40 votes from the online election and secured 48 votes in the physical ballot, making him the overall winner.

With his emergence, Onimisi becomes the third substantive National President of the Federal Polytechnic Offa Alumni Association.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President expressed profound gratitude to members of the association both at home and in the diaspora for the confidence reposed in him.

He said, ‘We remain laser-focused on the task ahead, committed to delivering on our promises, strengthening our Alumni Association, and working together to build a better FEDPOFFA Alumni Association. We are better together.’

Onimisi, who is a staff member of the institution and lectures in the Department of Marketing, commended his predecessors, the pioneer President, Dr. Ayoade Adeyemi Morgan and Comrade Rahman Ayuba, for laying a solid foundation for the association.

He also appreciated the Board of Trustees led by Engr. Kola Lamidi, members of the Electoral Committee and other relevant stakeholders for ensuring a free, fair and credible election.

Other members elected into the National Executive Council are Mr. Amechi Okorie Godwin as National Vice President, Mr. Joel Olawale Afolayan as National General Secretary, Mr. Azeez Saheed Olusola as Assistant National Secretary, Mr. Osifuye Olusegun Olugbuyi as National Financial Secretary, Mr. Salman Abiola Mogboyin as National Treasurer, Mr. Oyetunji Michael Segun as National Social Secretary and Mrs. Atinukemi Abbas as National Publicity Secretary.

IN a move to promote educational development and demonstrate the practical expression of Christian love, Heal The World Ministries International, a faith-based organisation, has donated books worth N4 million to three secondary schools in Ondo State.

The donation, which forms part of the ministry’s commitment to charitable service, community development and the welfare of the less privileged, was extended to The Apostolic High School, Ilara-Mokin; Comprehensive High School, Ilara-Mokin; and Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure.

The initiative underscores the organisation’s belief that Christian faith should translate into practical acts of kindness, generosity and service to humanity, particularly in areas that contribute to the development and future of young people.

Speaking on the intervention, the convener of Heal The World Ministries International, Pastor (Dr) Tola Olukilede, described the donation as an expression of genuine worship and service acceptable to God, stressing that Christianity must go beyond religious observances and verbal declarations of faith.

According to him, the responsibility of believers extends to demonstrating God’s love through tangible interventions that address the needs of individuals and communities.

He explained that providing students with relevant learning materials was a deliberate investment in their academic development, intellectual growth and future contributions to society.

Olukilede noted that education remained a powerful instrument for personal advancement, social transformation and national development, adding that access to appropriate learning resources could strengthen students’ academic performance, promote reading culture and broaden their intellectual horizons.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to its charitable mandate, which includes supporting widows, assisting the needy and promoting education as a tool for empowering individuals and communities.

The cleric also called on individuals, religious organisations, corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to embrace the culture of giving by supporting educational institutions and other initiatives capable of improving the welfare of society.

He urged Christians and other stakeholders to recognise community service as an important aspect of social responsibility, noting that collective efforts were necessary to create opportunities for the younger generation.

Reacting to the gesture, the National President of The Apostolic High School, Ilara-Mokin, Students Association, Mr Kehinde Ekunrin, expressed appreciation to the ministry and its convener for the intervention, describing it as a significant contribution to the educational advancement of students.

Ekunrin said the donation demonstrated the positive impact faith-based organisations could make when their religious convictions were translated into meaningful community engagement.

He noted that the provision of books would enhance students’ access to learning resources, encourage reading habits and support their quest for academic excellence.

He also commended Olukilede for recognising education as a worthy cause deserving sustained investment, expressing the hope that the gesture would inspire other organisations, alumni associations, philanthropists and public-spirited individuals to support schools and contribute to the development of young people.

The association further emphasised the importance of partnerships between educational institutions, charitable organisations and other stakeholders in creating an enabling environment for students to acquire knowledge, develop their potential and prepare for responsible leadership.

The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said that the Igbo entrepreneurial model must be reformed, not discarded, if it is to remain competitive in today’s global economy.

Prof. Okonkwo, who was the facilitator at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of De Imperial Philanthropic Family in Lagos at the weekend, delivered a talk titled ‘Recalibrating the Igbo Entrepreneurial Model for the Emerging Global Economy.’

He maintained that although the strengths of the model, which include individual initiative, self-reliance and a long record of commercial success, remain valuable, the challenge is not to abandon the traditional model but to recalibrate it.

Prof. Okonkwo’s first proposal was to reformulate the Igbo apprenticeship system to ensure that apprentices acquire skills in digital commerce, financial technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, international marketing, business management, intellectual property and export procedures. He advised that these competencies should be incorporated into the system while retaining its practical, mentor-based character.

He criticised universities that conduct research without considering how it could be commercialised, arguing that academic institutions need closer ties with industry. He also urged businesses to create opportunities for young people to contribute ideas and encouraged continuous learning and experimentation to keep indigenous firms dynamic. He further proposed closer exchanges between universities and markets to enable academic knowledge to complement skills from the informal sector.

On recalibrating the Igbo model, Okonkwo said businesses must collaborate more rather than engage in unhealthy competition and rivalry. He said although individual initiative remains a strength of the tradition, the complexity of modern production makes collaboration essential. He pointed to shared production facilities as a way of reducing the costs that small and medium-sized enterprises would otherwise bear individually.

He said: ‘A typical example of collaboration is my relationship with my dear friend and brother, Allen Onyema of Air Peace. This provides a practical illustration of an alternative approach. Many expected us to engage in bitter rivalry but we rejected that and have developed a mutually beneficial and worthy partnership whose significance has resonated within the aviation sector. Collaboration can create opportunities for partnerships and shared growth. Very soon, you would be able to buy Air Peace tickets and fly United Nigeria Airlines with it. These are the kinds of things collaboration among us can bring because there is more to gain than to lose.’

Okonkwo also spent several minutes discussing the export readiness of Nigerian businesses. He said that while studying in Russia, he could import goods from many countries but not from Nigeria because Nigerian products did not meet the required export standards.

He said Nigeria could export some agricultural products, but entering certain markets required meeting specific standards in certification, packaging, quality assurance, export documentation and intellectual property protection.

He cited the Aba Export Group lab, established under Abia State Governor Alex Otti and commissioned in 2025, as an example of institutional support. The lab is designed to help firms standardise, package and brand products for export, with initial focus areas including agro-products and fashion apparel.

He said: ‘Imagine a global economy in which enterprises can meet international standards, deliver consistent quality, and compete on reliability, price, and innovation. Even entrepreneurs can benefit from a more deliberate orientation toward export development and international market integration.

‘As I understand it, some of you here run production businesses. If you can take advantage of this, you can produce globally competitive, high-quality products for export. This requires improving product certification, packaging quality assurance, export logistics documentation, intellectual property protection, and compliance with the regulatory requirements of destination markets.’

VETERAN actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo will give the keynote speech at the sixth International Peace Anyiam-Osigwe Nigeria Digital Content Regulation Conference.

Industry leaders will gather to discuss the future of filmmaking and content distribution as the digital landscape evolves at the event.

Mofe-Damijo, also known as RMD, will speak at the conference on 18 and 19 November at the MUSON Centre in Lagos. He is the first male practitioner from the film industry to deliver the keynote, after Mo Abudu in 2024 and Bolanle Austen-Peters in 2025.

The event organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), will focus on the theme ‘Film and Content Production in the Digital Era: Balancing Regulation and Innovation.’

The conference will bring together filmmakers, streaming platforms, distributors, exhibitors, policymakers, and academics to discuss how Nigeria’s creative industries can adapt to new technology while addressing regulation and audience protection.

RMD has worked for over three decades in acting, filmmaking, journalism, publishing, and public service. He has appeared in more than 60 film and TV productions, making him one of the most recognisable figures in Nigeria’s screen industry.

Before joining the entertainment industry, he worked as a journalist for newspapers like The Guardian and Concord. He later founded MISTER, which his biography calls Nigeria’s first all-gloss men’s lifestyle magazine, and then moved into public relations and film production with his companies White Water Limited and RMD Productions.

He has also worked in government, first as a special adviser and then as Delta State’s commissioner for culture and tourism. This gave him direct experience with the policy issues facing Nigeria’s cultural sector. Through the Richard Mofe-Damijo Foundation, he has supported projects to help new talent and create more opportunities in the creative industries.

Dr Shaibu Husseini, executive director and chief executive of the NFVCB, said RMD’s experience in entertainment, business, and public administration makes him especially well suited to speak at the conference.

‘RMD represents a distinctive blend of creative excellence, entrepreneurial experience and public service,’ Husseini said. ‘His journey across film, media, business and cultural administration offers valuable perspectives on the opportunities before Nigeria’s creative industries and the policy conversations required to sustain their growth.’

Dr Husseini said the conference will look at how regulation can adapt to new digital production and distribution methods without limiting creativity.

‘As the boundaries between film, television and digital content continue to evolve, our challenge as regulators is to create an environment where innovation can flourish while protecting audiences, promoting responsible content and supporting the sustainable development of the industry,’ he said.

This debate is happening as streaming services and digital platforms change how African films and TV shows are financed, distributed, and watched. For Nigeria, where film is a key part of cultural identity and international image, these changes bring both business opportunities and regulatory challenges.

The two-day conference will look at new trends in content production, digital distribution, streaming technology, and the policies needed to help the industry grow.

The annual event is held in honour of Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the filmmaker and founder of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, a prominent advocate for African cinema and its international recognition.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the second phase of its special intervention patrol, codenamed ‘Operation Gaduma’.

This is part of renewed efforts to eliminate the growing menace of fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates on Nigerian roads.

A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), MrOsonduOhaeri on Saturday in Abuja stated that the five-day operation was scheduled from tomorrow, November 2 to Friday, November 6.

Ohaeri said that it represented an escalation of the corps’ commitment to strengthening road safety enforcement while addressing emerging security concerns associated with the unlawful use of vehicle registration plates.

He said that the intervention, approved by the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, would be conducted across selected states, with specially designated senior officers deployed to coordinate and supervise the exercise.

‘Operation Guduma Phase Two builds on the achievements of the first phase conducted in May 2026, which recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states.

‘Of this figure, 1,003 motorists were apprehended for various number plate-related offences, 683 for overloading and mixed-loading, while five persons were arrested for using fake diplomatic number plates.

‘The statistics provide a compelling indication of the scale of the challenge and the need for sustained enforcement,’ he said.

Ohaeri said that the renewed intervention followed growing concerns expressed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fake vehicle registration plates.

These, he said, included covered, defaced, obsolete and counterfeit diplomatic plates.

He added that the security implications of the trend were considerable, particularly given the strategic importance of road transportation in the movement of persons and goods across the country.

Ruth Ozioma Chidiebere is the founder of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Stitches. In this interview by ADERONKE ADESANYA, she speaks on the challenges of building sustainable ventures, tackling period poverty, and expanding opportunities for women and girls.

What inspired you to establish Extraordinary Female in 2018, and how has your vision for the organisation evolved over the years?

Extraordinary Female was born out of my desire to create a platform where women could be celebrated, inspired, and reminded of the extraordinary potential they carry within them. I have always believed that every woman deserves an opportunity to grow, be seen, and make a difference.

We started in 2018 with the Gathering of Extraordinary Females. In 2021, the vision evolved into the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards. Today, we also organise the Gathering of Extraordinary Females as a biannual event and run Pad a Girl Child as part of our community impact efforts.

My vision has grown beyond organising events. I want to build a sustainable platform that empowers women, supports girls, and creates opportunities that make a lasting difference in society. Ultimately, I intend to leave the world a better place than I met it.

How does Extraordinary Female ensure that its programmes translate into tangible opportunities for women beyond awards and recognition?

For me, recognition should be a starting point, not the destination. Through our platforms, we create opportunities for women to gain visibility, build confidence, develop leadership skills, and connect with others who can contribute to their growth.

The Face of Extraordinary Female provides a platform for young women to showcase their abilities, while the Extraordinary Female Awards celebrate women making meaningful contributions in their respective fields. Through the Gathering of Extraordinary Females, we also encourage networking, inspiration and the exchange of ideas.

We are continually working towards building stronger partnerships that will translate these opportunities into mentorship, business development, and sustainable growth for women.

What measurable impact has Extraordinary Female made in the lives of women who have participated in its programmes?

Since 2018, Extraordinary Female has grown from a gathering of women into a platform with flagship events, community outreach and an expanding vision for women’s empowerment. Successfully executing the fifth edition of the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards in 2025 was a significant milestone.

Our programmes have created opportunities to celebrate women, showcase emerging talents and encourage confidence and leadership. Through Pad a Girl Child, we have also carried out outreaches in several rural communities, providing support to girls facing menstrual hygiene challenges.

We are committed to strengthening how we document and measure our impact because I want us to demonstrate not just the activities we organise but the difference they make in people’s lives.

What challenges have you faced in sustaining a women-focused advocacy organisation, particularly in securing funding and corporate partnerships?

One of our biggest challenges has been securing consistent funding. People may believe in a vision, but getting the financial and institutional support needed to sustain it is a different challenge. Building Extraordinary Female has taught me to be resourceful, persistent and strategic. I have had to learn how to build relationships, communicate our value, and keep moving forward even when resources are limited.

These experiences have strengthened my desire to work with corporate organisations, foundations, and individuals who understand the importance of investing in women and girls. I believe that with the right partnerships, we can expand our reach and build a more sustainable organisation.

Through Pad a Girl Child, you address menstrual hygiene among underprivileged schoolgirls. What more needs to be done to tackle period poverty and its impact on girls’ education?

I believe we need to raise much more awareness about period poverty and make sanitary pads affordable and accessible to girls from less privileged backgrounds. No girl should have to miss school or feel ashamed because she cannot afford menstrual hygiene products.

Through Pad a Girl Child, we have taken our outreach to several rural communities, but the challenge is much bigger than any single organisation can address alone. Government, schools, businesses, foundations and individuals must work together to provide affordable sanitary products, improve access to proper sanitation facilities and educate communities about menstrual health. We must also address the stigma surrounding menstruation.

For me, this is about dignity, education, and equal opportunity. Every girl deserves the chance to learn and pursue her dreams without her menstrual cycle becoming a barrier.

As the founder of Extraordinary Stitches, how have you navigated the challenges of building a sustainable fashion business in Nigeria?

I started Extraordinary Stitches from home with a manual sewing machine and basic tools. My journey has taught me that you do not need to have everything before you begin. Sometimes, you start with what you have and build along the way.

Like many Nigerian entrepreneurs, I have faced challenges with the cost of materials, access to equipment, funding and the demands of building a sustainable business. These experiences have taught me that talent alone is not enough. You also need business knowledge, discipline, consistency, and the ability to adapt.

My vision for Extraordinary Stitches extends beyond bespoke fashion to include skills development and fashion training. I want to build a brand that expresses creativity while creating opportunities within the fashion industry.

How do you balance your entrepreneurial ventures with your commitment to women’s empowerment and social advocacy?

I see my businesses and advocacy work as different expressions of my desire to create value and opportunities. Extraordinary Female allows me to champion women and girls, while Extraordinary Stitches gives me an avenue to express my creativity and build a business in the fashion industry.

Balancing both can be demanding, but I am learning to prioritise, manage my time, and approach my responsibilities more strategically. I also recognise the importance of building strong teams and systems. I believe a woman can build a business, pursue a purpose, and contribute to society simultaneously. For me, the goal is to grow personally and professionally while creating something meaningful for others.

How has your involvement in international entrepreneurship platforms shaped your approach to business and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria?

My involvement with Flux Global Entrepreneurship Magazine Ventures (FGGV), where I serve as an ambassador and have held leadership and editorial roles, connected to its Lagos chapter, has broadened my understanding of entrepreneurship, visibility, and strategic relationships. These experiences have reinforced my belief that talent alone is not enough; entrepreneurs also need access to knowledge, networks, funding and markets.

For women in Nigeria, economic empowerment must go beyond encouraging them to start businesses. We must create environments where they can grow sustainable enterprises, access opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to economic development.

I hope to apply the lessons and relationships gained through these engagements to strengthen my businesses and expand the impact of Extraordinary Female.

As you prepare for the sixth edition of the Extraordinary Female Awards, what are your plans for expanding the organisation’s reach and impact across West Africa?

The sixth edition of the Face of Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Female Awards, scheduled for December 2026, is an opportunity to strengthen the vision we have been building since 2018. Our immediate focus is to deliver an impactful event, build stronger partnerships, and create greater value for our contestants, award recipients, and supporters.

Beyond Nigeria, I envision Extraordinary Female building meaningful collaborations across West Africa, creating opportunities for women to connect, learn, showcase their talents, and access resources that support their growth.

Achieving this requires strategic partnerships, sustainable funding, and programmes that respond to the needs of different communities. My goal is to build an organisation whose impact extends beyond its annual events and continues to empower women and girls for years to come.

Your personal philosophy is, ‘In as much as I am content with what I have, I do not settle for less.’ How has this principle influenced your journey as an entrepreneur and advocate for women?

This philosophy captures how I approach life. I believe in gratitude and appreciating how far I have come. But I also believe that being grateful should never prevent us from pursuing greater possibilities. When I started Extraordinary Female and Extraordinary Stitches, I did not have everything I needed. However, I chose to begin with what I had and continue working towards what I envisioned. There have been challenges, but they have taught me resilience, patience and the importance of continuous growth.

I want women to understand that they can appreciate their present circumstances while still aspiring to more. For me, it is not about comparing myself with others; it is about becoming better, doing more, and making a greater contribution. I am content with what I have because I am grateful, but I do not settle for less because I believe there is always room to grow, create opportunities, and leave the world a better place than I met it.

I should have known better.’ ‘I should be further ahead by now.’ ‘I should be stronger.’ ‘I should not feel this way.’ ‘I should have handled it differently.’ How often do these words appear in your thoughts? How often do you look back at a situation and tell yourself what you should have done, or look at your present life and feel you ought to be somewhere else by now?

Sometimes, the word ‘should’ sounds harmless. It can even motivate us to take responsibility, set goals and make improvements. However, when it becomes a constant voice telling us how we must behave, where we ought to be in life and what we should have done differently, it can become a heavy burden. Instead of helping us grow, it can leave us feeling guilty, frustrated and perpetually dissatisfied with ourselves.

Psychologists refer to this pattern as *should statements*, a cognitive distortion that occurs when we hold rigid expectations about how we, other people or situations must be. We tell ourselves that we should never make mistakes, should always be productive, should always be happy or should have everything figured out by a certain age. We may also expect our partners to know exactly what we need without being told, our children to behave perfectly or our careers to progress according to a particular timetable. The problem is not the word itself. The problem begins when our expectations leave little or no room for reality.

Life does not always cooperate with our ‘shoulds’. Sometimes, we can do everything right and still experience disappointment. We can work hard and still need more time to achieve our goals. We can love someone deeply and still misunderstand each other. We can prepare carefully and still encounter unexpected difficulties. We can even have a difficult day without having done anything wrong. Yet, when our expectations become rigid, we may interpret these ordinary experiences as evidence that we have failed.

Imagine someone in their thirties who believes, ‘By now, I should have achieved everything I wanted.’ They look around and see friends buying houses, advancing in their careers, getting married or starting families. Gradually, their attention shifts from what they have achieved to everything they believe is missing. They begin to feel inadequate, as though life has passed them by. But who decided where they were supposed to be at that particular age? While it is natural to have ambitions, life does not come with one universal timetable. People begin from different circumstances, encounter different opportunities and face challenges that others may never see. Comparing our lives with someone else’s milestones can make us overlook the progress we have made on our own journey.

This thinking pattern can also affect how we respond to our emotions. We tell ourselves, ‘I should not be anxious,’ ‘I should not be sad,’ or ‘I should be over this by now.’ In doing so, we add another layer of distress to what we are already experiencing. We are no longer dealing only with sadness, anxiety or disappointment; we are also judging ourselves for feeling that way. We become distressed about being distressed. Instead of allowing ourselves to understand what we feel and what might be contributing to it, we begin to treat our emotions as personal weaknesses that must be eliminated immediately.

There is another side to this thinking trap. Sometimes, we use ‘should’ to judge other people. We think, ‘They should know better,’ ‘They should have called,’ ‘They should understand how I feel,’ or ‘They should behave the way I expect.’ When people fail to meet these expectations, disappointment can quickly turn into anger, resentment or conflict. Of course, there are situations where people should take responsibility for their actions, and there is nothing wrong with expecting respect, honesty and consideration. However, difficulties arise when we assume that other people must automatically understand our needs, share our perspective or respond exactly as we would. People do not always know what we need unless we communicate it, and they may see a situation differently from the way we do.

This does not mean that we should abandon our standards, ignore our responsibilities or accept every situation without question. Healthy expectations help us make decisions, pursue meaningful goals and treat others appropriately. The difference lies in learning to hold those expectations with flexibility. We can acknowledge that we made a mistake without concluding that we are failures. We can recognise that we would have preferred a different outcome while accepting that we cannot change what has already happened. We can want more for ourselves without dismissing the value of where we are today.

Sometimes, a small change in the language we use with ourselves can make a meaningful difference. Instead of saying, ‘I should have done better,’ we can ask, ‘What can I learn from this experience?’ Rather than saying, ‘I should not feel this way,’ we can say, ‘This is how I feel right now, and I can try to understand why.’ Instead of telling ourselves, ‘I should already be there,’ we can ask, ‘What is the next step I can take?’ These questions do not remove responsibility. They help us respond to our circumstances with greater clarity rather than allowing guilt and self criticism to take over.

Here is a little Mind Exercise to carry with you this week. Whenever you catch yourself saying ‘I should’, pause and ask yourself, ‘Is this a realistic expectation, or am I putting unnecessary pressure on myself?’ Consider whether you are responding to what is actually possible in your circumstances or measuring yourself against an inflexible rule. Then try replacing ‘I should’ with ‘I would like to’, ‘I can work towards’ or ‘I am learning to’. Notice how this simple shift changes the way you speak to yourself.

Learning to recognise should statements is not about making excuses or refusing to improve. It is about understanding that growth does not require constant self punishment. You can learn from your mistakes without repeatedly condemning yourself. You can have goals without believing that your worth depends on achieving them by a particular age. You can also hold others accountable while recognising that not every unmet expectation is deliberate wrongdoing.

Until next week, remember that you can hold yourself accountable without constantly making yourself feel inadequate. You are allowed to learn, grow and change without demanding perfection from yourself at every turn.

Teenage preachers of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Ife, Agbowo, Ibadan, have urged Christians to face life’s challenges with the joy and strength of God, stressing that God’s time is always the best in every situation.

The young preachers, Peter Omotoso, who delivered the sermon in English, and Tolulope Abioye, who interpreted it in Yoruba, made the call penultimate Sunday during the church’s 31st Children’s Anniversary, themed ‘The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength,’ taken from Nehemiah 8:10.

They stressed that the joy and strength derived from knowing and trusting God not only provide comfort in times of trial but also lead to salvation and eternal life.

They added that such joy and strength were among the best antidotes to the numerous challenges facing Nigeria and its citizens, as well as the best means of managing personal difficulties, which God would address in His own time and way.

‘The joy of earthly things and possessions is nothing compared to the joy of the Lord. Hence, sinners should seek the forgiveness of God and the joy of His salvation,’ they said.

The young preachers admonished Christians not to allow their troubles to make them forsake God or the joy, strength and wisdom that come from knowing Him and committing their affairs into His hands.

The chairman of the anniversary committee, Ezekiel Afolabi, described the theme as apt, given the challenges facing many people, including Christians. He called for stronger faith in God to navigate the difficult times and experience His joy and strength.

Similarly, the chairperson of the anniversary, Madam Victoria F. Aluko, noted that those who put their trust in God during difficult times would reap joy, adding that living according to His word leads to a fulfilling life.

The Assistant General Superintendent (AGS) and Children’s Coordinator of the church, Pastor Samuel Ogungbemi, said the theme was relevant to the challenges confronting Nigeria and Nigerians, including insecurity and economic hardship. He prayed that such challenges would not rob God’s children of their joy.

Ogungbemi said the mission of the church’s Children’s Department remained to nurture children in the full knowledge of God through Christ, enabling them to grow in Christian character, righteousness, academics and leadership, and ultimately become God’s generals.

Another AGS, Pastor M. A. Ategbero, urged children to depend on God at all times, saying that doing so would strengthen them and give them everlasting joy that no one else could provide.

Relating the anniversary theme to Nigeria’s current situation, Ategbero said the country’s circumstances could not, on their own, guarantee anyone lasting joy. He maintained that personal decisions rooted in the fear of God could help people navigate life’s challenges with the assurance that God would address them at the appropriate time.

As part of the event, nine Senior Secondary Two (SS2) students of the church graduated and were charged to become God’s ambassadors wherever they found themselves and to participate actively in church activities.

The graduation session was anchored by Ogungbemi and Pastor M. O. Olowe, who was represented by Mr Femi Alabi, a children’s teacher and chairman of the anniversary committee.