The year she turned 25, Sonia was a baddie. A corporate baddie!
She was a talented legal professional at an oil and gas firm in Abuja.
She wasn’t just doing well, she was thriving.
Confident in meetings. Sharp with contracts. She was the kind of woman who walked into a room and knew she belonged there.
Let’s just say Sonia was a rising star, and there was nothing stopping her.
Seven years later, at 32, Sonia got married. Soon after, she found out she was pregnant.
She was happy and ready for a new chapter, but pregnancy didn’t unfold the way she imagined.
There were complications. Frequent hospital visits. Weeks when her body simply wouldn’t cooperate. She tried to keep up with work, often took meetings, and replied emails from her hospital bed.
She pushed through the nine months.
When she eventually had her baby via Caesarean section [CS], she thought the hardest part was over. Alas, she was in for more.
Recovery was slow. She needed ample time to heal.
Her three-month maternity leave ended before she felt whole again.
She asked for three more months. And then came the call.
The company needed to move forward. There were stalled transactions. Clients waiting. They needed to hire a replacement. And then they did.
*****
When we think about retirement, we picture the distant future.
Grey hair. Quiet mornings. A life we will plan for later.
But for many women, retirement doesn’t wait that long.
It can look like a career pause to care for family, a decision to leave a job that no longer fits or a season where income slows, stops, or shifts long before 60.
Women step out of the workforce more often than they plan to. And when they do, it’s rarely described as retirement. It’s seen as sacrifice, transition, or a temporary break.
Yet financially, the effect is the same, no more steady income.
In those moments, many women find themselves adjusting quickly, relying on spouses or family support and for a long time, that has been the quiet reality.
And if we’re being honest, most women don’t ignore planning because they’re careless. Life just shows up unexpectedly. One day you’re working and earning, the next you’re recalibrating, telling yourself it’s only for a while.
Dear Women,
Life doesn’t always follow a straight line. Careers pause. Plans change. Seasons shift. Preparing for those moments is what truly matters.
Investing in yourself is the first layer of that preparation.
Learn something new. Pick up a skill. Start that small business idea that has been sitting in your notes. Take a course. Explore being a creator. That way, if life takes an unexpected turn, you’re not starting from scratch; you already have something to stand on.
Another important way to invest in yourself is financially.
Save intentionally. Explore short and long-term investment options. One safe and structured investment plan designed for women’s realities in mind is the United Capital Wealth for Women Fund. It is catered towards building a retirement plan for women, even in your 30s.
Ready to make a smarter decision as a woman? Click here to learn more.
