Nigerian senator suspended after making sexual harassment claims
This week, we start in Nigeria, where a female senator was suspended after reporting sexual harassment. Next, we travel to Uganda where four women share their experiences with discrimination against natural hair in schools and misrepresentation in the media. And finally,?we spotlight the female coaches breaking barriers in football.
But first, Happy International Women’s Day to all our women readers around the world! You are worth celebrating every day. Always remember that you matter and you're heard. Your hard work, anxiety, wins, doubts, every single part that makes you you, matters. You are an integral part of the work we do at Minority Africa. You inspire us, reminding us daily why our work is important and pushing us to go beyond until we can #AccelerateAction one story at a time.
Now, as a woman, it’s easy to overlook what you’ve accomplished or how much you’ve grown because there’s always another milestone ahead. Whether it’s earning a degree, hitting a KPI, getting promoted, or even having a baby, there’s always something new to do.? But it’s just as important to pause and appreciate how far you’ve come. That’s why, for IWD this year, we asked a few women to write a letter to their younger selves—a reminder of their growth and just how much they’ve achieved.
Here’s what they had to say:
Precious: "It gets better. Don’t be afraid. I know everything feels overwhelming, and most of the time, you're overstimulated because you only have one working ear, and it affects your speech. But it gets better—not necessarily easier, but worth it. And I’m happy you’re still here. You study Law, lead a communications team in Morocco, and can afford ice cream. Unfortunately, Gala is now 500 naira, but we’ll celebrate the win that you're alive and life is better than we imagined. Take care."
Rhoda: "Hey lil Rhoda, you’ve worked hard to ensure you don’t live in scarcity anymore, and it’s going great. You no longer feel like you don’t belong or that you’re inferior. You’re not weird like you were told a million times—just different. And it's?“good different”. Some people love you for who you are. Your resilience is the reason I’m where I am now, so thank you, baby girl. You did great."