It all began with a girl child;
one who knew who she was meant to be,
but not how to become her.
A girl who desired more for herself,
even when society whispered limits into her ears- telling her there was no “more” to reach for.
They said:
“You are just a girl.
Yours is the life behind the curtain,
not the stage, not the spotlight.”
But she resisted.
She may not have seen the full picture,
yet she held onto a glimpse,
and that glimpse became her compass,
guiding her through storms and silent battles.
Years later, she stands- not at the end, but far from the beginning.
Now, she wears many crowns:
a mother,
a wife,
a woman of faith,
a vessel of purpose,
a leader,
a voice,
a light to younger women finding their way.
And though she carries these roles with grace,
there are days the weight feels heavy-
when strength stretches thin,
and the silence grows loud.
Still, she rises.
You may say she chose this path
and yes, she did.
But that choice is not ordinary;
it is the mark of a dignified woman,
one who dares, endures, and becomes.
So to every woman wearing many hats;
You are strong.
You are bold.
You are a pathfinder in uncharted Lands.
You are a voice that refuses to be silenced.
Keep holding the fort
for we, the younger generation,
have found courage in your light,
and through your journey,
we have learned to believe, to dream,
and to walk boldly in purpose.
And to the men who stand beside such women;
who do not dim their light,
but guard it, nurture it,
and let it shine beyond borders;
You are Ọkùnrin gidi.
_ Ireoluwa Ogeleye