Sheroes Rising: How it began

Early 2000 came with the zeal for me to research and write the history of Kajuru chiefdom. It was in the process of my research that I stumbled upon a startling discovery. While  poring through several books and correspondences  on the kingdom of Fulani Zazzau, I discovered that story of the historic Queen Amina of Zaria’s was mentioned in only 2 paragraphs in the entire voluminous book.

Years later in 2017, I was amongst a contingent that went to visit the late

Emir of Zazzau Shehu Idris. While on a tour of the palace, we discovered that there was no picture of Queen Amina or  indicator of her in the long line of photographs of emirs and

their memorabilia. It was unbelievable to know that the Queen would be least documented, and-or remembered in her own kingdom. That was when I understood the gravity of the systematic and deliberate exclusion of women in documented history. Ironically, it has always been there, I just never  noticed it despite being in the media industry; until then.

And it was then I realized the glaring under-reporting and under-representation of women stories since time immemorial despite their immense contribution to nation and community building in different ways and capacities.

Not only are women issues getting the least attention in mainstream media, their work and efforts are also often unappreciated.  And because women stories are untold, women and girls do not have relatable role models to emulate much less aspire to  achieve their dreams.

I remember while I was in school in the late 90s, how all of us; the female students in my class were constantly being advised to chose broadcast journalism against print; because women's pretty faces are needed on screen as that is what entices men to watch news.  A lot of us were discouraged and dropped out of journalism as a result, and those of us who went through with it; went starlight into TV. Meanwhile, IT IS THE MEN THAT WRITE HISTORY.

I look back, reflect and marvel at how easily we were conditioned and manipulated to believe we were helpless and had no choice but to accept whatever was pushed to us. We accepted our helplessness and settled into the social conditioning, relegating our dreams, aspirations and ambitions to the gallows. Hence today, there are publications documenting women, honoring women and telling women stories from the southern part of Nigeria, but from the north; not so much.

For long, this fact stunned and stared me in the face. Haunting me, taunting me and daring me to change the narrative if I care. But it was not until after I had been hit  humbled and awakened by 'mid-life crisis'  in 2018, I decided I was going to ensure that women get the representation they need in media, and girls get the inspiration they deserve.

And thus www.sheroes.ng was born.

Sheroes Rising Development Initiative is a social enterprise designed to document women, honor women, tell women stories and advocate for women and girls. 

Despite running on self efforts, the initiative have run for 3 years impacting on over 2m women and girls all over the world. 

But this time, we are scaling it to reach even more and create greater impact.

Follow us on this journey to the Rise of the Sheroes