Women shouldn’t invite everlasting sorrow just for five minutes enjoyment —Sisi mama

Akinyoola Oyatoyinbo popularly known as Sisi mama, is a woman of many parts; she is a broadcaster, an event planner, decorator, cake producer and a fashion designer, among other vocations. Known for her advocacy for women empowerment and growth, she speaks with ADEOLA OJO, about the need for streams of income for women, personal development and upholding moral values among other issues.

You are a female broadcaster, what inspired you to tow this path?

While growing up, I met some people that made the job attractive to me. I used to listen to programmes on television, then, we had only one television which was NTA before BCOS now came and much later, Galaxy television came. But thank God, the elders we used to see then that made it interesting for us did well, they include Gbenga Adeboye of blessed memory and Kola Olootu, Gboyega Lawal and Bade Ojuade among others. They inspired me so much that when I acquired my JAMB form, I applied for Mass Communication at the Lagos State University and when I graduated, I served at Abriba village in Abia state. It was then I discovered that salary work will not sustain me so I started learning some vocations, particularly fashion designing, because my landlord’s wife, as a corper, was one and I was learning from her. I am an event planner, a decorator, I make cakes and I am an engager. So, I do so many things.

So, you believe a woman must have streams of income?

Definitely. From my experience, a woman must have streams of income. When we graduated and I couldn’t get a job, I decided to focus on the things that I know how to do, I specifically focused on fashion designing as core but along the line, customers started asking why I don’t also make cakes, so I went to learn that as well as decoration. But the person I learnt decoration from is a man and his wife was an engager, so she used to take me to events so I ended up learning that too and when I was graduating as a decorator, she also gave me a certificate as an engager, so I do that too and I am one of the elders in engagement services in Nigeria

What are the challenges you faced in your career path?

They bare many but let me first say that challenges are part of life. The first one is that in this profession, many men think women should be willing to be immoral to move forward, for many their sexual advances should not be rebuffed. They believe you must be willing to sleep with them to move to climb up no matter what you have in your brain. As long as you refuse to compromise, they will block your advancement, but I decided never to compromise. I held my ground to do what is right but basically, they like to take sexual advantage of women but women need to hold their moral values; they shouldn’t invite everlasting sorrow into their life just for five minutes enjoyment. If women will stand their ground and hold the belief that its hard work and God that gives blessings that last; it is important that women take due process and understand that there is an appointed time for success. One other painful experience is something that happened at a point in my career, we were told to bring a programme demo but when I submitted, they said there is no space at that time but they said they will rearrange their programme schedule and give me time but they didn’t call me as promised only for me to discover that another person has started the  programme with my idea and I’m talking of a popular radio in Ibadan. This happens to many people, it is quite discouraging and I even  said I will stop this job but people encouraged me and I got over it.

How do you maintain work-life balance with all you do?

It is important as a woman, especially those in our profession to marry a man that is understanding but it also takes grace but I make sure that I put everything in place especially to ensure the welfare of my children are taken care of, especially their food but it is easier for me because I am a freelancer and not a full staff.

My advice to every women is to take a stand and work at personal development, there is a need for women to work at self-growth and don’t depend on people to give them handouts. Many women are lazy; they just want to depend on men. As a woman, you must be financially independent. Then, persevere, be willing to sacrifice, any woman that doesn’t want to face challenges in marriage will not last there.

Women should take care of their children and put them on the right path; you are investing in your future when you take care of children and ensure they follow the right path. Also, women need to give room for mentorship, help each other grow and ensure they are shoulders to lean on. Share knowledge and don’t be selfish.

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