How technology tools and resources enables me get connected, express myself and grow my impact.

“A Strong, deliberate connections infuse our passion with new people, new ideas and new energy”

Connections also known as relationship building is a series of activities designed to introduce, engage and keep people in touched. Though the strategies vary from virtual or physical, the same principles of going beyond our usual network applied.

I should have probably excelled in my social work beyond measure at the point of joining the online community. From the point I joined world pulse, I became convinced that connections are the cornerstone of my work progress. My organization (Girls Education Mission International) had a serious problem of visibility and sustainability. Consequently, all my team left me alone. I kept on planning, organizing, managing and sustaining. In all these exhausted states, I became traumatized and activated unhealed wounds that threatened my Vision until the time I become engaged with the online community. My engagement online gave me the connections and trust that I needed to keep moving on. I suddenly realized that the key to creating viable alternative of achieving success is in connections.

I became convinced that technology tools and resources have a potential to create or reconnect relationships. Accessing the technology tools and resources like World pulse enabled me to connect with women across the globe instantly and explored relevant resources.

This is how technology helps me create connections, reconnect relationships and transformed my community.

Many of my relationships with both my local international audience started out either directly or indirectly through my social networks like, facebook, twitter and world pulse. We started our communication online, and then gradually moved them to a real-time environment e.g. (speaking on Skype and phone). Eventually if lived closed enough to each other, we eventually arranged to meet in person. Further more Social media have increased the frequency with which I communicate friends and family from distance environment. They have also helped me reconnect with dozens of people with whom I grew up but had lost touch.

Online tools and resources have also made me and my work visible. Using facebook and other online tools, I pitch my work through sharing of facts, photos, and videos. Online tools and resources enabled me built, brand and monetized my work in ways that were never opened to me before. It also enabled me to experiment with ideas that were more outside the box compared to any other model I had utilized in the past. While technology helped me build relationships with my audiences, it also helped me build most valuable relationship there is- the one within myself.

My engagement online not only has it enabled me acquired digital and leadership skills to effectively perform lead a movement, it has also provided me with resources got me shortlisted for both international and local events. The online visibility of my work has earned me and my organization over 10 recognitions and honors both at local and international scenes.

I had an opportunity to transform my community as a result of my engagement withWorld pulse online community. I was unexpectedly selected and supported as a world pulse member to facilitate the Women and the Web Alliance World Pulse Women training in Nigeria. With this opportunity, it was an avenue that women in community became empowered. The first cohort of the Women and the Web Alliance World pulse women training began inJos on the 7th February 2017 with a small technology discussion group of women known as a'Living Room Session' wherewomen's advocates after discussing the benefits, challenges and solution women face in using technology tools, were also introduced to world pulse in a familiar and comfortable environment. On 29th February 2017 I also facilitated the world pulse digital training withyoung women of various backgrounds introducing them to world pulse and anonline resource called'Free basics'.On the International Women's day March 8, 2017, I had the last training for the first cohort of the WWA program. The training was for the future female entrepereuners who are students undergoing training in various vocational skills.

I’ve worked with these sets of women to develop their business capacity and their social and career relationships through technology. I have done this primarily by helping them learn how toexpress and market their products and services through social media. I have also helpedthemin building networks. Many of these connections evolved into friendship and ongoing collaborations.

Yes! Technology tools might in some ways have negative impact on us, as in some cases, it has a great potential to help us women get connected, express ourselves and grow together collectively. And that’s the world we are trying to create at world pulse.

It's been all the way,moments of digital empowerment, impact-making and of course a great opportunity for young women to #BeBoldForChange, to #LogOnRiseUpand to keepconnecting and collaborating online and offline both for their empowerment and transformation of their various communities.

I am glad to connect women to World pulse andraised the#WorldPulseWavefrom the city of Jos, Nigeria.