“I did it because i didn’t have a choice” The story of a self-made woman

  

They say the secret of men, or in this case a woman, is in
their stories. Read Chinwe’s story and see if you can share yours too…

I had thought that being a graduate would mean all my
worries were over, but to my surprise it was as though jobs were running from
me. Just when I was about to give up, an old friend recommended me for a job;
to replace her colleague who was going on leave. I was hungry to make it, and
determined to prove to people that I could be something after all. My employers
saw it in me – the career drive that can send an innocent lady to do
anything possible – and that’s how I felt.  

Now it dawns on me that although I had risen in my career,
I feel like I’ve fallen so low. 

I didn’t have a choice- it was either that… or nothing.
“You have to go the extra mile to get more out of life”, my boss used to tell
me. Other times he would say “sacrifices are part of business… prove to me you
are worthy of this promotion; that you can do anything, no matter what it
takes, to get what you want.”

He never cared about the repercussions as he saw us as
tools that can be sent out and used all because of an extra client in his
pocket. I simply couldn’t see it, as I was blinded by pressure and the desire
to prove myself.  Sometimes I would return home with tears in my eyes,
unable to let people know what I went through to get to where I was. That’s how
my life has been. I had to grow, I had to be relevant, I had to do it because I
didn’t have a choice.”

That’s all she said before she was overcome with tears-
you wouldn’t need a soothsayer to tell you sexual harassment is more prevalent
than you can possibly imagine. Chinwe’s story echoes the experiences of several
others who are taken advantage of at work just because they are women and are
desperate.

This why the SBA Group is organising a conference titled
Sexual Harassment in Sales; seeking to answer the question – “Is the Nigerian
Business Environments Conducive for Nigerian Female Professionals? 

With renowned Keynote Speaker Foluke Daramola, who is a
top filmmaker and activist and founder of ‘Passion Against Rape in Africa’
(PARA), a PAN World Global rape foundation aimed at fighting rape in Africa and
Panellists carefully selected from the professional and business sectors, the
conference would be one of it’s kind.

The conference is planned as a forum for discussions with
professional women, providing them a platform to interact and share their
experiences and survival tactics in a very demanding world. Another objective
is to provide support for vulnerable female professionals. It would be an
excellent networking opportunity for all delegates. 

Participation fee is NGN10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira). 

If you’re ready to join the cause, let’s hear your story
and contribution… Don’t underestimate what it can do!

Date: 20th of November, 2015