When I first started as a graphic designer within Nigeria’s publishing and advertising industry, there were absolutely no women in this space, zilch! Occupying such a male dominated space solo could have been intimidating; however, I found myself oddly undaunted. I quickly recognised that it gave me a unique opportunity to increase women’s visibility in the creative space by establishing a distinct perspective that broadened the general outlook, one project after the other.
Thanks to a combination of hard-won emotional intelligence and open-minded supervisors, I was able to navigate different opportunities where a ‘fresh’ angle was frequently much needed and welcomed. It was by no means a smooth ride; I quickly learnt that Nigeria is definitely a patriarchal society, where the feminine voice is either shunned or shut down. This experience never deterred me; in fact, I would say it made me even more determined and dogged in ‘louding my voice’ to make sure that there was a space for me and other women creatives that eventually found their way into the industry over the years.
I never shy away from bringing my femininity to the workplace. When I worked as a young Art Director in advertising, I remember when I decided that the creative team needed a library. As a woman, I felt the need to nurture the minds of everyone in that space. I brought the idea up to the management team, identified a space and even donated the first set of books. I also tasked everyone to buy a book and donate it to the library. The CEO was at first a bit sceptical, but then ended up being the first to comply and then the rest was history. Our very first library was born! When I left the organisation, they named this space after me. I will always think back on it and smile, content that I was able to leave a mark.
I believe in building inclusive workspaces, especially for the underrepresented. These days, I find joy in coaching and training the newbies as I continue to address the status quo of an ever-evolving work environment.
