BREAKING THE STATUS QUO AND RISING ABOVE THE LIMITS.

Hello Sisters. I am Ibukun Akinjo, a young lady from Nigeria. I am a first timer and and I'm glad to be here.

I was introduced to this great platform by Mrs. Aramide Oikelome, the director of Bestsprings Foundation (of blessed memory).  She was so passionate about the wellbeing of humanity and gave her all to see that everyone has access to a better life. She told me I can express my views and concerns here, as well as be a voice to many vulnerable women out there. Hence, here is my first story here.

Over the years, I have seen young women being trained to be “wife material” and fit for matrimonial purposes alone and this norm has always left me baffled as to why the female flock will be befitting for a man’s pleasure alone. I believe there is more to the existence of women on earth than just this kind of absurd mindset. Hence, this birthed my passion to see that every woman around me lives her life to optimal fulfillment and attain her desired heights in life.

The girl child have been made to feel that she is only created to serve domestic and matrimonial functions in life. This in turn has retarded her purpose for living and led to a feeling of low self-esteem, complete vulnerability and absolute mediocrity. Many young ladies are unwilling to dream big, aim high and pursue their goals relentlessly as a result of the premeditated ideas imputed in their minds, which is based on the expectation and status quo of the society. Many times in a typical African setting, the phrase “wife material” has become a repeated statement overtime in the ears of the girl child. The girl child has been saddled with the responsibility of grooming herself into being fit for her husband’s house and perfectly performing all sorts of domestic chores. All of these in sum total have contributed in shaping young women ideas about their essence of living, robbed them of their identity and retarded them in pursuing their goals in life. 

However, this barbaric mindset must be flushed out of our society by standing against it vehemently and lending our voices to the vulnerable among us. In view of this, I desire to lend out my voice by sensitizing young girls within the teenage age group to dream big, aim high and rise above the status quo level of mediocrity and poor self esteem. I want to let them know that they can be all they want to be in life; they can be policy makers and change agents in their societies. I also want to spur their visions and make them realize that they are made for more than mere domestic functions and matrimonial duties. They can break boundaries, conquer territories and rise up to the peak of their achievements in life.

It is my utmost desire that every woman fulfills her purpose of existence and never settle for less. They can be successful career women and as well be fulfilled wives/mothers. I want them to realize that a balance can be obtained between the home front and their career life and they can successfully manage both effectively whilst fulfilling purpose.