In this WETi (What Expert Tells
Infoprations), Adeola Ojabanjo-Lawal speaks about the place of women in healthy
household, society and realization of women and children related goals of
Sustainable Development Agenda of the global leaders.
From Broadcast Journalist to NGO Expert, why the move?
Broadcast
journalist is what I love doing and still love to do, so it never over. Why the
NGO? I discovered along the line that sitting in studios to analyse issues will
not help us as a people, but joining the people to work will help move faster.
Before I got my first job, I had looked for few NGOs works, until I got the
opportunity in the media. It's going to be more of partnership now. Using
my skills as a broadcast journalist is to drive a cause. Both are still on the
burner.
What are the rationales for
establishing Stablemums considering the fact that our society is male
dominated?
Stablemums
is a project I have struggled with. When I had my daughter, I went through a
lot as a new mother who had an emergency c-section (story for another day). It
was then I discovered that women go through a lot, especially after giving
birth because I almost got drowned in depression, but thanks to a sensitive
husband and his friend who came through for me. I got support from other
people as well, but it was just overwhelming. I pulled through and I saw the
need to create a platform for mothers to see that life can a lot be easier when
we support ourselves, tell our stories and encourage other mothers. Motherhood
is beautiful, but has its own challenges. This is not even about male dominated
society, for me, I don't even see that way. All I know is that when a woman is
healthy, the household is healthy. Oh, good I am speaking with a research agency.
Let's ask older women if they even lived a fulfilled life apart from taking
care of their children and husband's and even sacrificed for extended family.
All these are acts of kindness, but at the detriment of the fulfillment of the
woman.
How would you situate Stablemums
within the SDGs? Is there a link between the two?
There
is a link between Stablemums and SDGs. Although, SDGs just emphasized on
ante-natal but we are taking it further, Post-natal and beyond. Situating Stablemums
within the SDGs is not a problem. Goal 3 is "Good health and
well-being". And just like the saying Educate a girl and then you have
educated a nation. If the health of a woman is sound both physically and
mentally, then the household is safe. Just like when you asked about a male
dominated society, we still have a woman domesticated society.
There are many NGOs in Oyo state and
Western Nigeria advocating for the woman and children cause. How would you
intend to differentiate yourself?
Yes,
there are many woman and girl cause NGOs, but Stablemums is focused on building
a community of women who are physically and mentally healthy and In turn raise
happy and healthy children who will build our society. Women hear other stories
of women, coping mechanisms and better ways to raise children other than the
way they themselves were raised.
It is a common knowledge that people
venture into social entrepreneurship in this part of the world because of
grants from international and local organizations including philanthropists.
How do you intend to fund your advocacy activities now and in the next five
years?
Grant
is even the last thing on my mind. We intend to start from our level that is
using the social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and we hope to take it
from there. One step at a time. When the time comes for grants and fundraising,
it is going to happen.
What is the place of women in the
attainment of SDGs in Nigeria?
Women
have the most of the role to play in the SDGs because they are the major
stakeholders and a contributor to the advancement of a thriving society. They
are prudent, good decision makers, usually not transactional but
transformational to mention a few. They can also help with education, just like
gossip spreads fast, that same way women can help spread this gospel of SDGs.
How can research help NGOs that focus
on SDGs in its attainment?
Research is germane. If
we want to grow, even develop, there is the need to know our level of work done
and what is left. This can only be achieved through Research. We barely have
data for anything. For instance, let's put a figure to the number of women who
are depressed after giving birth, we don't even know and so to provide services
in such area is not known. What is the figure of unemployed graduates and
underemployed, we don't have because there are no data to back it up.
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