Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk – Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016
In Celebration of International Women’s Day, 2016
Event Summary
The Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk – Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016 took place at Lead City University, Ibadan. It was organized by Vital Voices Fellow Olutope(Topsie) Olatilewa Egbetokun (Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk Flag Bearer) and CEO of Business Without Boundaries (BwB) in collaboration and co-sponsoring by Lead City University, Ibadan. Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk – Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016 was well attended by 25 Mentors, 150 Female(s) Delegates from invited private institutions namely Lead City University, Oduduwa University and Ibadan City Polytechnic.
The event started with an opening prayer and singing of Nigeria National Anthem, followed by the introduction of guest, mentors and mentees. Topsie Olatilewa Egbetokun (Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk Flag Bearer) gave a PowerPoint presentation and overview of Vital Voices Global Partnership and the reason for Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk. A recorded video of Hillary Clinton – Former Secretary of State- USA was played as the guest speaker and being the founder of Vital Voices Global Partnership. The recorded video was the “Remarks of Hillary Clinton at 4th Women’s Conference in Beijing, China”. Hillary Clinton spoke on the global issues affecting women worldwide, mentioned that there is no one-size- fit-all solutions when it comes to women issues. Women should be allowed to make their own choices and not judged, there is the need for society to educate and empower women and girls. She stated that investing in women and girls to help unlock their potentials to contribute to society at large. She concluded by making a case for women by saying that Women’s right is Human Right and Human Right is Women’s Right and the two cannot be separated.
There were three panel sessions on various topics
- Mentee(s) Panel Session
- Mentors (Female) Panel Session
- Mentors (Male) Panel Session
The first was the Mentee(s) Panel Session discussion on the topic titled:
Listen to US to help us understand OURSELVES in a confused world: Challenges, limitations, society and peer pressure place on young women?
- What sort of network are young women developing in terms of relations, career-wise and business-wise?
- As young women, what are your current life situations?
- Creating opportunity and opening doors of opportunity for young women.
- What older generations of women now are not telling our generations to tell the next generation of women for sustainability?
- What do you want or expect from older women with experience and expertise
MODERATOR: Lanre Layode PANELISTS: Female Delegates from invited Institutions & Host Institution.
The session was moderated by Lanre Layode and the panelists consisted of female Mentees delegate from Lead City University, Oduduwa University and Ibadan City Polytechnic. The moderator was able to engage the panelists by discussing various issues concerning young women including rape (coping and avoiding it), current life situations, and society peer pressure. In response to questions like “does emerging women want to get married? – some ladies said, they did not want to get married due to their upbringing, things happening around them and too many divorce cases in the society. While some argued that in spite of marriage problems, they were still going to get married and still be happy.
The consensus: The fact that someone is from a broken home, or their parents are divorced or maltreated does not mean their own marriage will not work-out too. It’s about understanding oneself and making right and informed choices.
The second panelist’s session was a response to Mentee(s) Panel Discussion above, where female Mentors were giving a chance to answer and address all the pressing issues and concerns mentee(s) delegate have put forward for direction and solutions.
Female Mentors panelists discussed the topic:
How prepared are young women for the reality of life in a confused world. It’s good to be book-smart, street-smart but ultimately is to be reality-smart?
- Presenting Mentee(s) the reality of being a woman in career, business, and relationships
- Importance of support system at every level in life?
- Discuss women issues people and society is not talking about
- The power of collaboration: Women collaborate while girls compete.
- The power of life – balance, is it possible?
Moderator: Sade Omotayo – CEO, Touristars International
Panelists:
- Rose Odika (Actress & Producer) – Governor Theater Arts & Motion Pictures
- Febisola Okonkwo – CEO, Help Initiatives
- Funmi Roberts –CEO, Fumni Roberts & Co.
- Olajumoke Familoni – Director – Centre for Entrepreneurship & Consultancy at Lead City University
- Peju Babalola – Managing Director – Peejay’s Pharmacy Ltd
- Bukola Adediran– Lecturer – Ibadan City Polytechnic
- Ronke Giwa– Anchor of Hit Morning Show Splash FM 105.5
- Tanwa Odebiyi – Dean, Post Graduate, Lead City University
- Afolakemi Oredein – Dean, Faculty of Education, Lead City University
The panelists of great women sincerely spoke openly to Mentee(s) about the reality of being a woman in life. They used their own personal life experience as practical examples to educate and empower mentee(s) on tackling various issues on sex, courtship, marriage, career & business, domestic violence and rape. Mentor panels stressed the need for Mentees to have good mentors in their life for guidance, as well as good network of people and a solid support system at every level in life.
The consensus was that: Marriage is a good institution and fears of crisis can always be taken care of with wisdom.
Dr. Olajumoke Familoni: Nothing in life is a bed of roses. We need each other as friends and family.
Prof.Tanwa Odebiyi: For you to attain your goals, you must start from scratch. If the foundation is faulty, the building will be destroyed. Look for partners that will help build your dreams and never let anyone put you down.
Barr. Funmi Roberts: Always share your dreams with your partners before you get married. Planning is key to life success.
Prof. Afolakemi Oredein: In other to collaborate with people,first thing first (1)Identify yourself, (2) Move with people at/of your level. Be determined! Know what you want in life and don’t be lazy
Ronke Giwa: Never let anyone put pressure on you. Don’t compete with anyone; we are on different lane, so stay on your lane. Define your own success
Rose Odika: God first, Run your own race. Be who you want to be
Mrs. Bukola Adediran: Learn to multitask, dream big and follow your dream
Febisola Okonkwo: It’s all about passion, doing what you are passionate about.
The last panel session was to show that we cannot be talking about women and girls empowerment without bringing men to the table of discussion for support for them to listen to us and understand what every women in their life’s is going through be it their mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters and daughters. Men are key to pushing change for women and girls. The Male Panelists topic was
Investing in Women & Girls isn’t just about basic human rights; it’s about fully unlocking the potential of half the world’s population.
- When you educate a man, a man is educated, but when you educate a woman and a nation is educated. What does this mean?
- When you empower a woman, you have empowered a community. Is it really true?
- Why does women have so much ripple effect in society, yet little enabling –environment to unlock their potentials?
- What are solutions & strategies for women and girls empowerment and how men champion this great cause?
Moderator: Topsie Olatilewa Egbetokun –Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk Flag Bearer (CEO, Business Without Boundaries –BwB)
Panelists
Dr. Tunde Oseni – Ag. Head, Department of Politics & IR, Lead City University, Ibadan
Isaac Oluyi – CEO, Sourcerite
Femi Jacobs: Lecturer, Mass Communication- Lead City University
Mr. Jide Ogunluyi of Lead City FM 89.1
Tobiloba Ogunleye – Student – Lead City University, Ibadan
The Mentors (Male) panel session talked about the importance of women to get education for empowerment and to get ahead in life. There is the need for women to be supportive as well as, watch the kind of friends and companies they keep. They also stressed the need for women to evaluate themselves, develop plans on how to improve themselves.
Right after the Male Mentors panel discussion, Topsie Olatilewa Egbetokun –Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk Flag Bearer and (CEO, Business Without Boundaries –BwB) presented on behalf of Business Without Boundaries and BwB Foundation, their first ever award this year “Men Empowering Women Award (MEWA)” to two distinguished men for their selfless support and services to women and girls empowerment. The have exhibited their solidarity for women development in every aspect of their life works and they are the HEforSHE and Africa4HER of our time. They were
- Tunde Oseni – Ag. Head, Department of Politics & IR, Lead City University, Ibadan
- Jide Owoeye – Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Lead City University, Ibadan. This was received on his behalf by Mr. Jide Ogunluyi of Lead City FM.
There was also a presentation of certificate to all Mentors for their dedication to women, youth and girls empowerment in Nigeria and Africa.
Similarly, all Mentees delegates had unique group workshop with their assigned Mentors right after watching a short video – Draw Your Future by Patti Dobrowolski
Mentors& Mentees Roundtable Group Session Discussions& Workshop also engaged in3
BOLD STEPS IN LIFE: SEE IT, BELIEVE IT & ACT ON IT
The final part of the event was a walk from the Conference Center to Lead City University Sport Arena, where we walked in solidarity for women and girls empowerment, took lots of pictures, danced to music, and networked with each other. There were lots of hugging, connecting and each people parted ways to go home and reflect on the impact the event has on them.
MENTORING EVENT RESOURCES
- Global Mentoring Walk Event Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHskvGUNMN
- Global Mentoring Walk Video: https://youtu.be/GqcZp0Ujc-c
- Global Mentoring Walk Event Blog: http://bit.ly/1LoQ1iQ
- Global Mentoring Walk Report: bit.ly/1XsfPvj
- Global Mentoring Walk Event Page: bit.ly/1ZSkV4a
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