Award winning Nigerian Singer, Tiwa Savage, has called on women not to allow their gender limit their aspirations in life.
Tiwa handed the advice on her Instagram page on Thursday after being nominated as one of BBC’s 100 Most Inspirational and Innovative Women.
“Don’t let being a woman hinder you, I have and still have to fight to get people to respect and appreciate my work and not limit me because I am female so this really encourages me to keep pushing and breaking boundaries.
“It’s true when they say your brightest moments usually come after your darkest times.
“Keep your head up and work hard through it. The same people laughing at you will celebrate you.
“Do not let anything hold you back because you are a mother, wife, young, older or a female.”
Tiwa, who at the turn of 2017, salvaged her marriage with TeeBillz after a turbulent 2016, further advised that “you can never leave a footprint that will last if you are always working on tiptoes,” quoting Leymar Gbowee, popular Liberian female activist.
The BBC 100 Women also includes Nigerian-British Anne-Marie Imafidon, nominated for her role in supporting women to go into careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Imafidon founded and became CEO of `Stemettes’’ in 2013, a social enterprise promoting women in STEM careers, and was honoured with a Member of the British Empire ( MBE) in 2016.
At 15, she was admitted to a degree program and became the youngest graduate with a Master’s degree from Oxford University at the age of 19.
Seven other Africans made the list, including Adelle Onyango (Kenya), Anita Nderu (Kenya), Chaima Lahsini (Morroco), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Marieme Jamme (Senegal), Naomi Mwaura (Kenya) and Talent Jumo (Zimbabwe).
100 Women is a BBC multi-format series established in 2013. The series examines the role of women in the 21st century and has included events in London and Mexico.
This year’s event which will last for one week will include broadcast, online reports, debates and journalism on the topic of women. Women across the world are encouraged to participate via Twitter and comment on the list, as well as the interviews and debates which follow release of the list.
