the question curiosity for something more than just having children and
more than just having children and
more than just having children and getting married is the motivation for
getting married is the motivation for
getting married is the motivation for everything that I ever want to achieve
everything that I ever want to achieve
everything that I ever want to achieve or do in life as an African woman who
or do in life as an African woman who
or do in life as an African woman who wants some more than just being married
wants some more than just being married
wants some more than just being married it’s a decision you have to think about
it’s a decision you have to think about
it’s a decision you have to think about carefully because he comes with a lot of
carefully because he comes with a lot of
carefully because he comes with a lot of sacrifices and challenges in the winter
sacrifices and challenges in the winter
sacrifices and challenges in the winter of 2016 I touched down at the Wichita
of 2016 I touched down at the Wichita
of 2016 I touched down at the Wichita Airport with three children ages 7 5 and
Airport with three children ages 7 5 and
Airport with three children ages 7 5 and 16 months after traveling for more than
16 months after traveling for more than
16 months after traveling for more than 48 hours because I was coming to fulfill
48 hours because I was coming to fulfill
48 hours because I was coming to fulfill a dream that I’ve had from when I was 17
a dream that I’ve had from when I was 17
a dream that I’ve had from when I was 17 I’ve always wanted an American education
I’ve always wanted an American education
I’ve always wanted an American education but there were so many things along the
but there were so many things along the
but there were so many things along the way that did not afford me that
way that did not afford me that
way that did not afford me that opportunity at that time for me I knew
opportunity at that time for me I knew
opportunity at that time for me I knew it was going to be a new phase of life a
it was going to be a new phase of life a
it was going to be a new phase of life a new phase of uncertainties uncharted
new phase of uncertainties uncharted
new phase of uncertainties uncharted waters what I was ready tonight you’re
waters what I was ready tonight you’re
waters what I was ready tonight you’re going to hear the story of limited of
going to hear the story of limited of
going to hear the story of limited of limitless possibilities a story of
limitless possibilities a story of
limitless possibilities a story of courage and of story a story of hard
courage and of story a story of hard
courage and of story a story of hard work I’m here to tell you tonight that
work I’m here to tell you tonight that
work I’m here to tell you tonight that anything is possible anything you put
anything is possible anything you put
anything is possible anything you put your heart to achieve you can I grew up
your heart to achieve you can I grew up
your heart to achieve you can I grew up in a very loving home and growing up so
in a very loving home and growing up so
in a very loving home and growing up so many people thought I was a strange
many people thought I was a strange
many people thought I was a strange child strange in the sense that I would
child strange in the sense that I would
child strange in the sense that I would ask the kind of questions that other
ask the kind of questions that other
ask the kind of questions that other kids wouldn’t ask growing up in Africa
kids wouldn’t ask growing up in Africa
kids wouldn’t ask growing up in Africa you really do not ask your parents so
you really do not ask your parents so
you really do not ask your parents so many questions you do as you are told
many questions you do as you are told
many questions you do as you are told so when you ask questions it makes you
so when you ask questions it makes you
so when you ask questions it makes you look like you’re rude and you’re nothing
look like you’re rude and you’re nothing
look like you’re rude and you’re nothing I had the opportunity to experience love
I had the opportunity to experience love
I had the opportunity to experience love support and care from parents who had so
support and care from parents who had so
support and care from parents who had so much love to give but we’re very poor my
much love to give but we’re very poor my
much love to give but we’re very poor my parents were
parents were
parents were really poor so I grew up in a poor home
really poor so I grew up in a poor home
really poor so I grew up in a poor home but my dad thought that every girl child
but my dad thought that every girl child
but my dad thought that every girl child had the same opportunity like the boy
had the same opportunity like the boy
had the same opportunity like the boy child so he enrolled me in the public
child so he enrolled me in the public
child so he enrolled me in the public school the public school was very far
school the public school was very far
school the public school was very far away from my home and so we had to work
away from my home and so we had to work
away from my home and so we had to work so many miles to go to school and for so
so many miles to go to school and for so
so many miles to go to school and for so many of those days we had to go to
many of those days we had to go to
many of those days we had to go to school hungry
school hungry
school hungry I liked school I liked school for three
I liked school I liked school for three
I liked school I liked school for three reasons
reasons
reasons first he afforded me the opportunity to
first he afforded me the opportunity to
first he afforded me the opportunity to learn to read and to write and so as a
learn to read and to write and so as a
learn to read and to write and so as a child I would write down my thoughts
child I would write down my thoughts
child I would write down my thoughts write down the things I thought about my
write down the things I thought about my
write down the things I thought about my environment and all of that secondly I
environment and all of that secondly I
environment and all of that secondly I liked school because it was my escape
liked school because it was my escape
liked school because it was my escape from the realities of the poverty that I
from the realities of the poverty that I
from the realities of the poverty that I grew up to every morning
grew up to every morning
grew up to every morning deadly I liked school because my school
deadly I liked school because my school
deadly I liked school because my school was a communal kind of setting so my
was a communal kind of setting so my
was a communal kind of setting so my classmates will share their food with me
classmates will share their food with me
classmates will share their food with me so it was a very good reason to always
so it was a very good reason to always
so it was a very good reason to always want to go to school because I knew I
want to go to school because I knew I
want to go to school because I knew I was going to eat somebody’s food and so
was going to eat somebody’s food and so
was going to eat somebody’s food and so I went through school with a hat and the
I went through school with a hat and the
I went through school with a hat and the dream that one day I would become
dream that one day I would become
dream that one day I would become somebody and probably change the
somebody and probably change the
somebody and probably change the situation in my home I went to school I
situation in my home I went to school I
situation in my home I went to school I went through the primary school and I
went through the primary school and I
went through the primary school and I got into high school and in high school
got into high school and in high school
got into high school and in high school I started discovering some of my talents
I started discovering some of my talents
I started discovering some of my talents and so I ended up becoming the what you
and so I ended up becoming the what you
and so I ended up becoming the what you call the prefect the social prefect and
call the prefect the social prefect and
call the prefect the social prefect and so what I would do was to represent the
so what I would do was to represent the
so what I would do was to represent the school in speeches literary activities
school in speeches literary activities
school in speeches literary activities and all those things that had to do with
and all those things that had to do with
and all those things that had to do with socials it was a beautiful time in high
socials it was a beautiful time in high
socials it was a beautiful time in high school but as high school was nearing to
school but as high school was nearing to
school but as high school was nearing to an end I knew there was going to be a
an end I knew there was going to be a
an end I knew there was going to be a problem with going to college because
problem with going to college because
problem with going to college because who was going to fund college and so I
who was going to fund college and so I
who was going to fund college and so I wrote the entrance exam into one of the
wrote the entrance exam into one of the
wrote the entrance exam into one of the best schools in the country at the time
best schools in the country at the time
best schools in the country at the time and when the results came back I got
and when the results came back I got
and when the results came back I got admitted into the University of Nigeria
admitted into the University of Nigeria
admitted into the University of Nigeria at that time
at that time
at that time when the news came home it was a sets
when the news came home it was a sets
when the news came home it was a sets head with mixed feelings yes
head with mixed feelings yes
head with mixed feelings yes I was excited but at the same time how
I was excited but at the same time how
I was excited but at the same time how am I going to get funding for school and
am I going to get funding for school and
am I going to get funding for school and so my parents called me one of those
so my parents called me one of those
so my parents called me one of those nights I’ll tell you something about
nights I’ll tell you something about
nights I’ll tell you something about African parents and when they have
African parents and when they have
African parents and when they have serious conversations then wake you up
serious conversations then wake you up
serious conversations then wake you up in the middle of the night say around 1
in the middle of the night say around 1
in the middle of the night say around 1 a.m. 2 a.m.
a.m. 2 a.m.
a.m. 2 a.m. and when they wake you up at that time
and when they wake you up at that time
and when they wake you up at that time of the night they they’re very dramatic
of the night they they’re very dramatic
of the night they they’re very dramatic about it they sit down and they they
about it they sit down and they they
about it they sit down and they they call your name mercy you say yes mommy
call your name mercy you say yes mommy
call your name mercy you say yes mommy mercy you say yes mommy and agui again
mercy you say yes mommy and agui again
mercy you say yes mommy and agui again mercy you say yes mommy how many times
mercy you say yes mommy how many times
mercy you say yes mommy how many times did I call that it three times you have
did I call that it three times you have
did I call that it three times you have to answer and I think the reason they
to answer and I think the reason they
to answer and I think the reason they did that was to make sure they had your
did that was to make sure they had your
did that was to make sure they had your attention because seriously how do you
attention because seriously how do you
attention because seriously how do you wake somebody up in the middle of the
wake somebody up in the middle of the
wake somebody up in the middle of the night to have serious conversations
night to have serious conversations
night to have serious conversations anyway we sat down day and my dad said
anyway we sat down day and my dad said
anyway we sat down day and my dad said congratulations we saw your letter and
congratulations we saw your letter and
congratulations we saw your letter and but I you know you can go to school and
but I you know you can go to school and
but I you know you can go to school and I said daddy
I said daddy
I said daddy I want to go to school he said yes I
I want to go to school he said yes I
I want to go to school he said yes I also want you to go to school but you
also want you to go to school but you
also want you to go to school but you cannot go to school because how do we
cannot go to school because how do we
cannot go to school because how do we fund your education I said daddy I’m
fund your education I said daddy I’m
fund your education I said daddy I’m going to go to school and my mom who had
going to go to school and my mom who had
going to go to school and my mom who had been quiet all this time looks at my
been quiet all this time looks at my
been quiet all this time looks at my father and said the girl said she wants
father and said the girl said she wants
father and said the girl said she wants to go to school so she will go to school
to go to school so she will go to school
to go to school so she will go to school you needed to see the look my father
you needed to see the look my father
you needed to see the look my father gave to her life that was not what we
gave to her life that was not what we
gave to her life that was not what we agreed before we we woke her up but then
agreed before we we woke her up but then
agreed before we we woke her up but then my mom said she will go to school and
my mom said she will go to school and
my mom said she will go to school and then she made a statement that left an
then she made a statement that left an
then she made a statement that left an impression on my young mind
impression on my young mind
impression on my young mind she said perhaps if she goes to school
she said perhaps if she goes to school
she said perhaps if she goes to school she will live a better life than what
she will live a better life than what
she will live a better life than what she has grown up with it she goes to
she has grown up with it she goes to
she has grown up with it she goes to school
school
school she will not only be a huge blessing to
she will not only be a huge blessing to
she will not only be a huge blessing to herself she can also be a blessing to
herself she can also be a blessing to
herself she can also be a blessing to other people
other people
other people her future children and the community I
her future children and the community I
her future children and the community I think she should go to school so my dad
think she should go to school so my dad
think she should go to school so my dad said okay she should go to school how do
said okay she should go to school how do
said okay she should go to school how do we fund it she said
we fund it she said
we fund it she said have my rappers to sell now I’m going to
have my rappers to sell now I’m going to
have my rappers to sell now I’m going to tell you about the rappers in Nigeria
tell you about the rappers in Nigeria
tell you about the rappers in Nigeria the rapper is our ethnic fabric and from
the rapper is our ethnic fabric and from
the rapper is our ethnic fabric and from the part of the country where my mum
the part of the country where my mum
the part of the country where my mum comes from it is huge because when you
comes from it is huge because when you
comes from it is huge because when you get married the whole community will
get married the whole community will
get married the whole community will contribute money to buy you those
contribute money to buy you those
contribute money to buy you those fabrics and so for her that was all she
fabrics and so for her that was all she
fabrics and so for her that was all she had because looking around the house
had because looking around the house
had because looking around the house there was really nothing to sell right
there was really nothing to sell right
there was really nothing to sell right so she brought this how wealth this
so she brought this how wealth this
so she brought this how wealth this rappers and said we will go to the
rappers and said we will go to the
rappers and said we will go to the market tomorrow and we will sell them
market tomorrow and we will sell them
market tomorrow and we will sell them when we sell them you would be able to
when we sell them you would be able to
when we sell them you would be able to pay for you to go to school so the next
pay for you to go to school so the next
pay for you to go to school so the next day my mom packs everything into that
day my mom packs everything into that
day my mom packs everything into that big dudes bag and I went to the market
big dudes bag and I went to the market
big dudes bag and I went to the market with her when I go to the market with
with her when I go to the market with
with her when I go to the market with the size of the bag I was expecting that
the size of the bag I was expecting that
the size of the bag I was expecting that the money we would get in return would
the money we would get in return would
the money we would get in return would be something reasonable when she gave
be something reasonable when she gave
be something reasonable when she gave them the bag the money to give to her
them the bag the money to give to her
them the bag the money to give to her was very little like what’s happening
was very little like what’s happening
was very little like what’s happening here she said yes that’s the cost that’s
here she said yes that’s the cost that’s
here she said yes that’s the cost that’s the cost for the exchange the money was
the cost for the exchange the money was
the cost for the exchange the money was just enough to pay for my transportation
just enough to pay for my transportation
just enough to pay for my transportation to school and to pay for my first
to school and to pay for my first
to school and to pay for my first semester and remember I was going for a
semester and remember I was going for a
semester and remember I was going for a 4-year program and when we got home she
4-year program and when we got home she
4-year program and when we got home she said take all of it she gave me all of
said take all of it she gave me all of
said take all of it she gave me all of the money as you say go to school and I
the money as you say go to school and I
the money as you say go to school and I said mommy but how am I going to fund
said mommy but how am I going to fund
said mommy but how am I going to fund her mean she said that all starts with
her mean she said that all starts with
her mean she said that all starts with this one and that was how I entered the
this one and that was how I entered the
this one and that was how I entered the road it was a road trip of about 12
road it was a road trip of about 12
road it was a road trip of about 12 hours to the University of Nigeria at
hours to the University of Nigeria at
hours to the University of Nigeria at that time when I got to school I knew
that time when I got to school I knew
that time when I got to school I knew there was no going back home right I
there was no going back home right I
there was no going back home right I needed to continue to the next four
needed to continue to the next four
needed to continue to the next four years what did I how did I found myself
years what did I how did I found myself
years what did I how did I found myself through school I started cooking for
through school I started cooking for
through school I started cooking for students you know students who look for
students you know students who look for
students you know students who look for every opportunity to celebrate something
every opportunity to celebrate something
every opportunity to celebrate something so there was always birthdays or
so there was always birthdays or
so there was always birthdays or somebody was graduating or somebody was
somebody was graduating or somebody was
somebody was graduating or somebody was doing something so I would cook I would
doing something so I would cook I would
doing something so I would cook I would do students hair then I would bake and
do students hair then I would bake and
do students hair then I would bake and at the time I didn’t have the oven to
at the time I didn’t have the oven to
at the time I didn’t have the oven to bake so what I would do is that I would
bake so what I would do is that I would
bake so what I would do is that I would take the stove and I’ll cook my sand in
take the stove and I’ll cook my sand in
take the stove and I’ll cook my sand in a big pot for say 20 minutes when it’s
a big pot for say 20 minutes when it’s
a big pot for say 20 minutes when it’s all heated up I take my baked
all heated up I take my baked
all heated up I take my baked put in the pot and cover the pot and
put in the pot and cover the pot and
put in the pot and cover the pot and after 20 minutes I’m going to have a
after 20 minutes I’m going to have a
after 20 minutes I’m going to have a really good baked cake and that my cake
really good baked cake and that my cake
really good baked cake and that my cake became very popular in school and
became very popular in school and
became very popular in school and everybody wanted a cake and that was how
everybody wanted a cake and that was how
everybody wanted a cake and that was how I was able to fund my education for
I was able to fund my education for
I was able to fund my education for those four years graduating as the first
those four years graduating as the first
those four years graduating as the first ever graduate in the whole of the family
ever graduate in the whole of the family
ever graduate in the whole of the family from generations up until that time when
from generations up until that time when
from generations up until that time when I graduated from college there is
I graduated from college there is
I graduated from college there is something we call the National Youth
something we call the National Youth
something we call the National Youth Service Corps back home in Nigeria it
Service Corps back home in Nigeria it
Service Corps back home in Nigeria it will be an example of the Peace Corps
will be an example of the Peace Corps
will be an example of the Peace Corps here in the US where you get to serve
here in the US where you get to serve
here in the US where you get to serve the country for one year I was sent to
the country for one year I was sent to
the country for one year I was sent to the northern part of Nigeria now to get
the northern part of Nigeria now to get
the northern part of Nigeria now to get to the northern part of Nigeria
to the northern part of Nigeria
to the northern part of Nigeria yes it’s within a country but it was
yes it’s within a country but it was
yes it’s within a country but it was like a foodies journey when I got that
like a foodies journey when I got that
like a foodies journey when I got that it said I was going to be teaching
it said I was going to be teaching
it said I was going to be teaching English and literature in a mixed public
English and literature in a mixed public
English and literature in a mixed public school the first day I go to the school
school the first day I go to the school
school the first day I go to the school I went into my class and they said it
I went into my class and they said it
I went into my class and they said it was a mixed school but when I got into
was a mixed school but when I got into
was a mixed school but when I got into the class number one the class was
the class number one the class was
the class number one the class was overpopulated there were over sixty
overpopulated there were over sixty
overpopulated there were over sixty students in the class and there were
students in the class and there were
students in the class and there were just five girls in the class and like
just five girls in the class and like
just five girls in the class and like what is happening here the math is not
what is happening here the math is not
what is happening here the math is not adding up
adding up
adding up if it’s a mid school there should be
if it’s a mid school there should be
if it’s a mid school there should be some number more number of girls in this
some number more number of girls in this
some number more number of girls in this class and I started asking questions and
class and I started asking questions and
class and I started asking questions and they said the girls don’t come to school
they said the girls don’t come to school
they said the girls don’t come to school because the appearance will not allow
because the appearance will not allow
because the appearance will not allow them come to school and for when they
them come to school and for when they
them come to school and for when they get to the age of 13 14 they get married
get to the age of 13 14 they get married
get to the age of 13 14 they get married off to some men like this is ridiculous
off to some men like this is ridiculous
off to some men like this is ridiculous in this same country what is happening
in this same country what is happening
in this same country what is happening here now from the southern part of
here now from the southern part of
here now from the southern part of Nigeria why come from the issue was
Nigeria why come from the issue was
Nigeria why come from the issue was poverty people wanted to send their kids
poverty people wanted to send their kids
poverty people wanted to send their kids to school but some of them didn’t have
to school but some of them didn’t have
to school but some of them didn’t have money but here it was the fact that
money but here it was the fact that
money but here it was the fact that these girls were not allowed to go to
these girls were not allowed to go to
these girls were not allowed to go to school I said I asked him I said what
school I said I asked him I said what
school I said I asked him I said what can I do to to cause a change and so I
can I do to to cause a change and so I
can I do to to cause a change and so I started an after-school program where I
started an after-school program where I
started an after-school program where I would gather some of these girls
would gather some of these girls
would gather some of these girls and teach them how to read and write the
and teach them how to read and write the
and teach them how to read and write the the mother’s trusted us I would say us
the mother’s trusted us I would say us
the mother’s trusted us I would say us because eventually some people joined
because eventually some people joined
because eventually some people joined the mother’s trusted us because it was
the mother’s trusted us because it was
the mother’s trusted us because it was not a structured school environment it
not a structured school environment it
not a structured school environment it was they didn’t see it at school and so
was they didn’t see it at school and so
was they didn’t see it at school and so these girls we would teach them teach
these girls we would teach them teach
these girls we would teach them teach them English took them literature
them English took them literature
them English took them literature eventually some other core members
eventually some other core members
eventually some other core members decided to join me and some of them said
decided to join me and some of them said
decided to join me and some of them said I teach in math and science the program
I teach in math and science the program
I teach in math and science the program grew it grew to the extent that some of
grew it grew to the extent that some of
grew it grew to the extent that some of those girls eventually got enrolled into
those girls eventually got enrolled into
those girls eventually got enrolled into proper school structures but then it was
proper school structures but then it was
proper school structures but then it was a one-year program right and so so many
a one-year program right and so so many
a one-year program right and so so many of us had to go back home and this other
of us had to go back home and this other
of us had to go back home and this other core members left but I knew I wasn’t
core members left but I knew I wasn’t
core members left but I knew I wasn’t going anywhere I stayed back I stayed
going anywhere I stayed back I stayed
going anywhere I stayed back I stayed back for another 70 years trying to see
back for another 70 years trying to see
back for another 70 years trying to see how I could contribute water to making
how I could contribute water to making
how I could contribute water to making the situation better to have more girls
the situation better to have more girls
the situation better to have more girls in school
in school
in school and so I started working with an NGO an
and so I started working with an NGO an
and so I started working with an NGO an NGO is called a non-governmental
NGO is called a non-governmental
NGO is called a non-governmental organization something you would call
organization something you would call
organization something you would call the nonprofit here in United States you
the nonprofit here in United States you
the nonprofit here in United States you might want to ask why why why would you
might want to ask why why why would you
might want to ask why why why would you want to stay but why did you stay back I
want to stay but why did you stay back I
want to stay but why did you stay back I stayed back because some of the figures
stayed back because some of the figures
stayed back because some of the figures out there were really very alarming
out there were really very alarming
out there were really very alarming girls education is not a privilege I
girls education is not a privilege I
girls education is not a privilege I found that it is a human right and I
found that it is a human right and I
found that it is a human right and I felt these girls had the right to go to
felt these girls had the right to go to
felt these girls had the right to go to school then I saw that it is part of our
school then I saw that it is part of our
school then I saw that it is part of our responsibility it was enough of all the
responsibility it was enough of all the
responsibility it was enough of all the talks we needed to do something about it
talks we needed to do something about it
talks we needed to do something about it and educating girls contribute
and educating girls contribute
and educating girls contribute significantly to stable prosperous and
significantly to stable prosperous and
significantly to stable prosperous and healthy nation I was an example of what
healthy nation I was an example of what
healthy nation I was an example of what education can do in the life of a girl
education can do in the life of a girl
education can do in the life of a girl and for me I felt this girls needed to
and for me I felt this girls needed to
and for me I felt this girls needed to be empowered if they knew better they
be empowered if they knew better they
be empowered if they knew better they would do better and I was by I stayed
would do better and I was by I stayed
would do better and I was by I stayed back and so this nonprofit I started
back and so this nonprofit I started
back and so this nonprofit I started working with I liked their vision and I
working with I liked their vision and I
working with I liked their vision and I liked their mission because they were
liked their mission because they were
liked their mission because they were interested in the things that resonates
interested in the things that resonates
interested in the things that resonates with me and so I became in charge of
with me and so I became in charge of
with me and so I became in charge of getting partners
getting partners
getting partners oops with individuals and corporate
oops with individuals and corporate
oops with individuals and corporate organizations who would help to sponsor
organizations who would help to sponsor
organizations who would help to sponsor some of those programs that we had for
some of those programs that we had for
some of those programs that we had for the fall for those children and we would
the fall for those children and we would
the fall for those children and we would take them to school pay for their school
take them to school pay for their school
take them to school pay for their school fees pay for supplies feed them clothe
fees pay for supplies feed them clothe
fees pay for supplies feed them clothe them and we started distributing reading
them and we started distributing reading
them and we started distributing reading materials all over the state at that
materials all over the state at that
materials all over the state at that time so we go from primary schools
time so we go from primary schools
time so we go from primary schools elementary schools to high school and we
elementary schools to high school and we
elementary schools to high school and we distribute these materials because we
distribute these materials because we
distribute these materials because we just knew that with education there can
just knew that with education there can
just knew that with education there can be a lot of difference eventually I had
be a lot of difference eventually I had
be a lot of difference eventually I had to leave the northern part of Nigeria
to leave the northern part of Nigeria
to leave the northern part of Nigeria because within the seven years I got
because within the seven years I got
because within the seven years I got married to this very wonderful man and I
married to this very wonderful man and I
married to this very wonderful man and I had some kids and when you have children
had some kids and when you have children
had some kids and when you have children you know the dynamics change the place
you know the dynamics change the place
you know the dynamics change the place became very dangerous to live in because
became very dangerous to live in because
became very dangerous to live in because we had all this extremism going on there
we had all this extremism going on there
we had all this extremism going on there and we had to leave so I moved to the
and we had to leave so I moved to the
and we had to leave so I moved to the capital of the nation when I got there I
capital of the nation when I got there I
capital of the nation when I got there I found another need what was the need so
found another need what was the need so
found another need what was the need so many women were breadwinners in their
many women were breadwinners in their
many women were breadwinners in their homes and they were struggling with the
homes and they were struggling with the
homes and they were struggling with the small businesses they couldn’t get
small businesses they couldn’t get
small businesses they couldn’t get funding from banks because there was no
funding from banks because there was no
funding from banks because there was no collateral and so what we started doing
collateral and so what we started doing
collateral and so what we started doing at that time was that I started a firm
at that time was that I started a firm
at that time was that I started a firm called him on consult where we would go
called him on consult where we would go
called him on consult where we would go to this little businesses and just teach
to this little businesses and just teach
to this little businesses and just teach them basic bookkeeping like if you can
them basic bookkeeping like if you can
them basic bookkeeping like if you can keep your books straight you probably
keep your books straight you probably
keep your books straight you probably will have something to show to the banks
will have something to show to the banks
will have something to show to the banks and the banks will give you money to run
and the banks will give you money to run
and the banks will give you money to run your business and that was how we
your business and that was how we
your business and that was how we started given the services for free we
started given the services for free we
started given the services for free we would train those women on things like
would train those women on things like
would train those women on things like customer care how to retain the
customer care how to retain the
customer care how to retain the customers that you have and this woman
customers that you have and this woman
customers that you have and this woman went on to improve and grow their
went on to improve and grow their
went on to improve and grow their businesses and some of them really could
businesses and some of them really could
businesses and some of them really could now find could not get funding from
now find could not get funding from
now find could not get funding from disbands the story that I am telling
disbands the story that I am telling
disbands the story that I am telling tonight is a story that has affected me
tonight is a story that has affected me
tonight is a story that has affected me in so many ways and that is the reason I
in so many ways and that is the reason I
in so many ways and that is the reason I came back to school I came back to
came back to school I came back to
came back to school I came back to school because just beyond giving those
school because just beyond giving those
school because just beyond giving those services to those women
services to those women
services to those women private organisations and government
private organisations and government
private organisations and government agencies that I call in my firm to offer
agencies that I call in my firm to offer
agencies that I call in my firm to offer services to them and I found out that
services to them and I found out that
services to them and I found out that there was a huge knowledge gap in the
there was a huge knowledge gap in the
there was a huge knowledge gap in the capital at that time in my country
capital at that time in my country
capital at that time in my country generally and I said you know what mercy
generally and I said you know what mercy
generally and I said you know what mercy this is the time for you to go improve
this is the time for you to go improve
this is the time for you to go improve on yourself add value to yourself and
on yourself add value to yourself and
on yourself add value to yourself and come out and combat so that you can lend
come out and combat so that you can lend
come out and combat so that you can lend your voice to issues that concern girls
your voice to issues that concern girls
your voice to issues that concern girls women lend your voice to pot and push
women lend your voice to pot and push
women lend your voice to pot and push policies that will make it easier for
policies that will make it easier for
policies that will make it easier for this women to succeed in what they do
this women to succeed in what they do
this women to succeed in what they do and so after 20 years remember my dream
and so after 20 years remember my dream
and so after 20 years remember my dream of coming to get a US education after 20
of coming to get a US education after 20
of coming to get a US education after 20 years I am here almost rounding up with
years I am here almost rounding up with
years I am here almost rounding up with my program what am I trying to say
my program what am I trying to say
my program what am I trying to say if you’re here and you think you want to
if you’re here and you think you want to
if you’re here and you think you want to change the world we can begin to change
change the world we can begin to change
change the world we can begin to change the world from our little space one
the world from our little space one
the world from our little space one person at a time helping out somebody
person at a time helping out somebody
person at a time helping out somebody helping out an organization with your
helping out an organization with your
helping out an organization with your one hour two hours helping that little
one hour two hours helping that little
one hour two hours helping that little girl or boy who needs help with math
girl or boy who needs help with math
girl or boy who needs help with math with reading we can change the world
with reading we can change the world
with reading we can change the world from where we are and as we do that it
from where we are and as we do that it
from where we are and as we do that it extends to the to changing the whole to
extends to the to changing the whole to
extends to the to changing the whole to change in the whole world right and so
change in the whole world right and so
change in the whole world right and so that is why I am saying if you even have
that is why I am saying if you even have
that is why I am saying if you even have dreams and you feel that right now I am
dreams and you feel that right now I am
dreams and you feel that right now I am too old to go back to those dreams go
too old to go back to those dreams go
too old to go back to those dreams go back to what I call your dream board
back to what I call your dream board
back to what I call your dream board dust those dreams and cream them because
dust those dreams and cream them because
dust those dreams and cream them because you can you can achieve everything that
you can you can achieve everything that
you can you can achieve everything that you have set your heart to achieve and
you have set your heart to achieve and
you have set your heart to achieve and if you’re here you think going back to
if you’re here you think going back to
if you’re here you think going back to school I’m too old to go back to school
school I’m too old to go back to school
school I’m too old to go back to school I am saying you are not to also go back
I am saying you are not to also go back
I am saying you are not to also go back to school you are not to also go back to
to school you are not to also go back to
to school you are not to also go back to those dreams that you that you’ve always
those dreams that you that you’ve always
those dreams that you that you’ve always had as a child and today what do we have
had as a child and today what do we have
had as a child and today what do we have those girls have gone back to school
those girls have gone back to school
those girls have gone back to school some of them went on to graduate from
some of them went on to graduate from
some of them went on to graduate from college and today I am here telling you
college and today I am here telling you
college and today I am here telling you we can make so much difference if we can
we can make so much difference if we can
we can make so much difference if we can make em can give just a little bit of
make em can give just a little bit of
make em can give just a little bit of what we have thank you
what we have thank you
what we have thank you you
”
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