Dr Francesca Fajinmi, the Chief Executive Officer of MFE Corp and founder of a nongovernmental organisation, Your Black Matters, through its mission work, touches lives and creates a platform where black individuals could redefine their narratives, access unprecedented opportunities and reinvent their relations within and beyond their communities. In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, she speaks on the story behind Your Black Matters (YBM), mission, humanitarian activities and decision to expand to Africa with focus on Nigeria and the Pan African Youth (PAY) Global conference, among other issues.
What inspired you to go into humanitarian and development activities?
The mission statement of our church captures the essence of my journey into mission work. As missionaries, we are committed to building His church through worldwide evangelism, discipleship, caregiving and multiplication of growing churches, all to the glory of God. YBM, on the other hand, was a different story. In 2020, I was challenged to create a platform where all people will have the opportunity to understand, influence and advance black matters. The death of George Floyd was the catalyst. I was initially fearful about the proposition because of the possibility of a backlash or losing my position in the corporate world, but my son reminded me that it would be a small price for the cause.
What is the story behind Your Black Matters (YBM)?
The story behind Your Black Matters (YBM) originates from a profound commitment to challenge and dismantle the enduring effects of colonial mentalities on the Black race. Our founder, inspired by personal experiences and the collective struggles of black communities worldwide, envisioned a platform that could foster mental liberation, educational empowerment, and systemic change. YBM was born out of the necessity to create spaces where black individuals could redefine their narratives, access unprecedented opportunities, and be at the forefront of reimagining their relations within and beyond their communities. Through dedicated efforts like workshops on mental decolonisation, scholarship programmes for disadvantaged students and engaging dialogues via our podcast series, YBM is a testament to the power of collective action and the belief in a future where the Black race thrives, unbound by historical constraints.
What is your focus?
For centuries, Blacks have endured unfair treatment and marginalisation worldwide. Your Black Matters (YBM) is a global nonprofit organisation, with a clear and unwavering mission: to uplift, amplify, and inspire the Black race. YBM conducts workshops and seminars on mental decolonisation of the Black race; we provide a four-year university scholarship programme for academically gifted yet economically disadvantaged students. Our nonprofit collaborates with Dios International Missionary Church, the Fajinmi Foundation and private donors to award scholarships valued at N2,000,000 per recipient, enabling attendance at private African universities. We launched ‘Reimagining Black Relations, a podcast series featuring experts from various fields discussing solutions to challenges faced by the Black race and I engage with diverse institutions to advocate for and elevate black voices; this is to collectively change the trajectory of the Black race.
Why are you moving to Africa?
The foundational idea behind moving to Africa and specifically targeting Nigeria, alongside the U.S., Brazil, and South Africa stems from our strategic vision to address the needs and uplift the spirits of the Black Diaspora globally. Nigeria, with its distinction as the country with the largest Black population worldwide, stands as a pivotal hub for our operations. This move is not just about geographical expansion but a deliberate effort to connect deeply with the roots and rich cultural heritage of the Black race. Our presence in Africa, in particular Nigeria, allows us to tap into a wealth of knowledge, resilience, and potential that is crucial for driving our initiatives forward. It enables us to work directly with communities that are at the heart of our mission, providing tailored solutions to the unique challenges they face, and leveraging local insights for global impact. This strategic decision underscores our commitment to fostering a world where black individuals everywhere can access the tools and resources they need to thrive, marking a significant step towards realising the comprehensive vision of YBM’s success.
What is the Pan-African Youth (PAY) Global conference about?
The purpose of PAY is to collaborate with organisations in Africa and globally, towards the common goal of preparing the current generation and future generations for effective leadership in Africa and the world.
How do you pick your beneficiaries?
When organisations invite us to speak, we leverage these platforms to identify and engage potential beneficiaries for our programmes. Through workshops, seminars and direct interactions, we inform attendees about our university scholarship programme, accessible via our website, and our ‘Reimagining Black Relations’ podcast series. This outreach, combined with collaborations with institutions like Dios International Missionary Church and the Fajinmi Foundation, allows us to reach academically gifted yet economically disadvantaged students and other individuals interested in the mental decolonisation of the Black race, thereby expanding our impact and fulfilling our mission.
What do you want to achieve with the expansion in Nigeria?
With our expansion in Nigeria, we aim to deepen our impact on the mental decolonisation and educational empowerment of the Black race. Specifically, we intend to increase the reach of our workshops and seminars, broaden the scope of our university scholarship programme to support more academically gifted yet economically disadvantaged students, and enhance the dissemination of our ‘Reimagining Black Relations’ podcast. By collaborating more closely with local partners, we aspire to create sustainable change, elevate black voices and advocate for their rights and opportunities within and beyond Nigeria.
Challenges?
One of our primary challenges is securing consistent funding to sustain and scale our initiatives such as the scholarship programme and mental decolonisation workshops. Another significant hurdle is overcoming societal and systemic barriers that hinder the full realisation of our mission to empower the Black race. Additionally, expanding our reach within diverse communities requires navigating cultural sensitivities and building trust. We are also faced with the challenge of keeping our content and programmes relevant in an ever-evolving global discourse on race and empowerment. Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to our goals and continuously seek innovative solutions and partnerships to overcome them.
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