By Eberechi Obinagwam
Women across the globe have been asked to create a new beginning if the beginning they were born into is not favourable.
This was said by CEO, AT3, Tosin Adejeko, at Wimbiz 22nd Annual Conference held from 2nd to 3rd November, at Eko Hotels, Lagos.
Adejoke who is also an Advisor, Start Up Africa, Global Speaker Tv Host while sharing a life story of how she shifted from the banking world to communications, said she created a new beginning when her beginning was not favourable at the age of 30.
“I had to move from banking to communications when my beginning as a banker was not favourable. Not that I was not doing well, I was doing pretty well. I went back to school to start afresh in communications. People that know me from my 20’s knew me as a banker but from my 30’s as communications person. So, if your beginning is not favourable, you can create a new beginning,” she said.
She added: “If you do not stand for something you will not stand at all. AT3 that is standing today started from my dining table. I sat down to think of failed space from the company I was working and I came up with something that can bridge that gap. I promised to be a consultant that will not fail and that was it. I had to work hard to keep that promise,” she said.
Adejoke advised women to work and earn their money so that they do not lick their husbands’ legs. “My father had money but, he always tells us that this is his own money that we should work for our own. He was a famous banker back then but at a point he went down. My up bringing made me who I am today,” she said.
Also, Dr.Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the Executive Director, Women Advocates Research & Documentation Center (WARDC), urged the private sector to partner the civil society and the public sector in the fight against all forms of violence against women, describing the menace as one that affects every woman regardless of class, education or age.
“Gender discrimination has no boundary and the only thing that can push it out is the sustainable goal,” she said.
CEO, Software Nigeria LTD, Simon Melchior told women at the conference to create their own brand, live their own narrative. He disclosed that government is not our problem because Nigeria has been growing without government. “The government is not going to create employment, it is partnering with government to create jobs.”
Stating about his challenges in software, he said: “I am most worried about retaining my staff. After training them and giving them opportunity to grow and they Japa.”
