Can we try some honesty? Many of us see Nigeria as a vision killer. We say it to our husbands, our boyfriends and girlfriends. We say it in the salons and we tell it to God in early morning prayers. We believe that this nation kills dreams and kills spirits.
We see a country that rewards mediocrity; that rewards laziness and style over substance. Many women work hard and work fast, but they see those who don’t get to the front seat, sit in business class, get invites to government functions and find spaces on corporate boards. We do great work and it seems that no one cares.
And we think to hell with it: this country doesn’t deserve me. This country makes the possible impossible. You can hustle, you can strive, but to break through, it will fight you every step of the way.
And so with that I say thank you to Women of West Africa for inviting me to give this Keynote Address today. As an avowed feminist, one whose top 5 role models are almost all women, in business and life, and one whose company management is composed more than 50 percent of women, it is a pleasure and an honour to speak to this and the next generation of business and African leaders.
This year, the project, which has consumed fully one-third of my life, turns 10 years old. It so happens on the same year that I, finally, turned 30 and also celebrated 15 years in the media.
You know, ever since we concluded our national assignment running the media campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari, everyone talks about us in these hush tones. Those Red Media guys! Almost as if our story began this year.
Of course, we welcome the attention, we love the praise and we are inspired by the goodwill. For a team that’s run almost exclusively by under 30s, we are honoured to have made history in a county where young people generally stopped making true national history in the 70s.
But our story didn’t start today, obviously.
Chude Jideonwo is host of the TV and radio network #WithChude, which is creating safe spaces for conversations about mental, emotional and spiritual health across Africa. He is also co-founder of human flourishing company, Joy, Inc.
I thank God I read everything through. Chude is an example of that true Nigerian who rose from being a nobody to a great person we all admire today. I also love the fact that he rises together with whoever choose to go with him. I found great inspirations from this. God continues to keep you Mr Chude.