CELEBRATING BALANCE FOR BETTER; INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2019

"Anybody who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without the feminine ferment." – Karl Marx

International Women's Day is merrily and indulgently praised everywhere throughout the world worshiping the noteworthy commitments and accomplishments of ladies who have sparkled in their individual spaces. It isn't important that these ladies must be the CEOs or proprietors of worldwide organizations; they can be customary ladies making close to nothing or enormous commitments in their own particular manner to the society.

Throughout history, in every culture around the world, extraordinary women have pushed society to think bigger, move forward and create. Helen Keller, Aretha Franklin, Oby Ezekweli, Serena Williams Hillary Clinton, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dr Ola Brown (Orekunrin), J. K. Rowling, Mother Teresa, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,  Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Ibukun Awosika, Folorunsho Alakija, Margaret Thatcher, Hajiya Khadija Gambo Hawaja, or our own one of a kind mothers who fill our hearts with tremendous pride that we have such women to move us in varying social statuses.

"There is no limit to what we as women can achieve."- Michelle Obama  

 "There is no force more powerful than a woman who is determined to rise."- W.E.B Du Bois 

We live in a world where boys are raised to be afraid of fear and vulnerability. Yes, they are taught to mask their true self. How about the girls that grow to be women? Girls are taught to be less ambitious, less successful so as not to threaten the men. They are told to shrink themselves and live in the shadow of who they are meant to be. These girls grow to become women who silence themselves. They walk into a board room filled with men and get this "you don't belong here" look.

Everyone wants to make a change but no one wants to actually BE the change. We hear about gender equality a lot but when its time to walk the talk it takes COURAGE, DETERMINATION & STRENGTH to be able to rise up for our cause.

As women, we are much more capable than what we think and we should not let gender limit what we can achieve in life.

The theme of this year's International Women's Day is BALANCE FOR BETTER. I would say that Balance for Better should not just involve the women but also the men so that everyone stays enlightened. Creating an environment where women and men can feel confident and thrive is how we achieve a more gender-balanced world.  It means an equal representation of men and women at all levels of leadership, more importantly, it means reaching a place where we never assume that a role or a career path is out of reach because of gender.

In honour of IWD some hard working ladies and I rendered our voice for a BALANCE FOR BETTER to help inspire and empower fellow women to find their voice for what they truly deserve. (Watch Here) its a 4 minutes video.

I hope that our world soon becomes set free from gender disparity where men and women are true to themselves. It's my responsibility as much as it's yours to make this world a gender-balanced one. I am totally ready for a more gender-balanced world because BETTER THE BALANCE, BETTER THE WORLD.

Balance for Better Pose

The pose is to show that you are committing to "balancing for better" and that you will challenge the status quo and help forge more equality for women. The hands put out on each side, palms up indicate balance. 

I want the ladies associated with me ambitious and aspiring to get to the very top and if they are fine living a life of mediocrity or a dependent life or a low-key life, it shouldn't be because of what society would say, or to please a man, it should come from the innermost conviction and a matter of choice. Who chooses mediocrity anyways? Most times, it is often as a result of a lack of enlightenment.

"I definitely wouldn't want my future daughter to live a life solely to please a man...neither would I want that for any of my female friends or would I expect a lady to do that for me." - Temitope Ojo

That is why we need more women who are vocal about encouraging other ladies to aspire to become more. It is not going to be easy because, honestly, the odds are not really in favor of women. That is why we see an unfair balance between men CEOs and women CEOs, but if more men can be brought into the picture, and serve as real partners for their wives and lovers, eventually - it may take a while, probably a generation of more enlightened folks - but eventually, there would be a balance.

Top ten worlds most gender equal countries

1. Iceland

2. Norway

3. Finland

4. Rwanda

5. Sweden

6. Nicaragua

7. Slovenia

8. Ireland

9. New Zealand

10. Philippines

(Source: Global Gender Gap Report 2017, World Economic Forum)

This IWD 2019, recognize each lady in your life and let them know their significance and the exceptional spot they hold in your life.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY💓💓💓

Who are the women heroes that changed your world for the better? Mention them in the comments beneath!