Stablemums’ CEO on Why Healthy Woman Means Healthy Household, Key to SDGs Attainment



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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