Round up… trips, people, tech, you name it!

First off, two fingers in the air for period pain if you’re a lady reading this; it’s 4.40am and I’ve been up now for close to an hour because my belly is talking to me in ways I’m sure can be nicer and definitely less painful! In fact, can I get two fingers in the air from the guys as well, for obvious reasons? Done? Thank you very much.

Now that I’m awake, I started reflecting on a lot of things and first off is my round ups should be a lot more frequent! So I’ll work on that. A quick second is that I am blessed. Like, God has really crowned my year with good things, things money can buy, and the things money cannot buy. Especially the things money cannot buy! So grateful.

My niece turned six months old yesterday, and she’s an absolute beauty. Gosh! Just watching her grow, all the developments we’ve seen and continue to see, and her smiles. Sweet baby Jesus my niece’s smile can melt ice! Thank you God for such a gorgeous, healthy, happy baby!

In other baby news, our flu has cleared! So for three weeks or more Talia and I were coughing, runny noses, etc. Like cough syrup after cough syrup, one antibiotics course after the other, the flu refused to clear. At some point it occurred to me we were probably just re-infecting ourselves, lol. Glad to announce that we’re both fine now (the devil is put to shame once again, whoop)!

At the end of July I was invited to #TechPlus2016 to speak; had been pencilled down for two panels – one on cyberbullying, internet security in the age of social media, and the other one on increasing digital literacy for women. Both panels featured very interesting panelists, and I enjoyed speaking about TechHer, things we do, lessons we’ve learned and how they intersect with the topics.

So my friend Nana was a panelist as well, and so we were in Lagos together. I’ll attempt to chronicle the trip.

First off, that morning our flight was scheduled for 9.30am, and I had a prior engagement for 7.15am on NTA (Nigerian Television Authority) to talk about social media, entrepreneurship, etc. As you can imagine I had to be up really early to pack, head to the station to say my piece, and then sped off to the airport… Found a really nice, safe, but quick cabbie to drive me, and of course we’d detailed one of our friends working at the airport to check us in.

He calls and says that our tickets were for the 22nd of August, not the 22nd of July. W-H-A-T? And so the calls began to the organizers, they called the travel agents who booked the flight, we spoke to the airline, plenty talk. From no seats on any flight that day, to none for our class of ticket, to rescheduling us to a 10am flight that got delayed till 1pm.

We went into a restaurant to wait and encountered a very rude, uncouth man. Fathers and mothers, train your sons. Some things are unacceptable, including raising your voice or trading insults. Am I perfect? No, but in the last few days I’ve met some very uncultured young men. It is shameful.

Anyway, we finally took off about 1pm, and got into Lagos safely (praise God for that). Soon as we touched down, we were in the able hands and care of the #TechPlus2016 team, and I must take a full moment to appreciate the warmth and stellar logistics ground team they had in place to cater to us.

Got to the hotel, checked in, and barely had enough time to freshen up and head to my first panel. Interesting, intimate, just the way I liked it. Was nice to bump into my brother Chude on the way in…always a joy to see that man.

Panel done, we explored the exhibition area and I was so impressed! As a child of God planning an exhibition for TechHer myself, there was so much to be impressed by! We will get there, and very soon! I copped a ring, some bangles, and some gorgeous fabric, and I can’t wait to see what my designer #NitazCouture does with it! Been a long time since a designer/seamstress/tailor excited me, and it’s so refreshing that Francesca, head honcho at #Nitaz not only knows her craft, she knows my body and what works. So great!

Next day was easy. My session was about 4pm but we went to Nana’s session at 2pm and wandered off into the exhibition area again. We attended a few other sessions, including one with Teju Ajani, Frank Donga, and a few other people. Interesting how content is so dynamic but totally reliant on the principle of relatability. Can people relate with what you’re going to put out as a producer or curator? If it’s a yes, you’re on the road to doing well!

Sunday morning I worshipped with Pastor Ituah Ighodalo’s church, Trinity House. Amazing! It was the sixth anniversary of the church, and I remember the prayer his wife led, both in thanksgiving and committing the rest of the year into God’s hands. God is amazing I tell you. I had a great time, and I must visit again. By the way, their choir is amazing! Something the choir sang resonated with me so much, “my status is changing, no more decline, I’m on my way to better days”. In Jesus name!

Then, it was a dash back to the hotel to grab our bags and head to the airport. Airline? Arik. And that means that is a totally different article by itself. I’ll write it!

Bruce and/or Caitlyn Jenner: The Emilee Danielson perspective

Hey folks!

So, when the hoopla about Bruce Jenner becoming a woman rent the air and social media, I kept quiet. Not because I didn’t have an opinion, but because every dissenting voice was tagged everything from homophobic to even terrorist, and I knew I wouldn’t be patient with anyone who called me any of the above.

Another reason was because I felt like people on either side of the divide (for or against transsexuality) were too ‘violent’ in the reasoning/arguments; this is one major problem I have with the feminist struggle debate in Nigeria but that’s for another day.

I didn’t bother about the effect on his family (he’s been married to women thrice), his children. I must admit I wondered about all the laurels he had won as a man, would they now be called to question because he had ‘transitioned’ to a woman? I also wondered if she would have periods, etc.

Funny as they were, I largely ignored the memes and jokes that were born out of his public announcement, and the subsequent ‘I am Cait’ TV show. Couldn’t be bothered, not my money, not my body.

What really irked me however were the countless awards Bruce, now Caitlyn Jenner, started receiving left, right, and center. Especially the Arthur Ashe Courage award, and I don’t apologise for not being moved by her speech either. To be honest, I questioned the courage in being wealthy enough to alter one’s body, make a TV show out of it, and ride the crest of popularity after achieving international acclaim as a man, but again I kept quiet and soon resigned myself to shaking my head each time a reference to her ‘strength as a woman’ was made. SMH.

Somehow, I stumbled upon this piece by Emilee Danielson, a grandmother based in Minnesota, USA, and what she had to say about Caitlyn saying severally about ‘identifying with women’. And I agreed with her totally. Like, is there any word more intense than ‘totally’? Apply it to the way I agree with this granny.

And so, I thought to share!

Interestingly, from the time Mrs Danielson put the post up, her page has gotten reported to Facebook for nudity (this woman is a Christian, and a radio presenter), and so Facebook has taken it down quite a number of times. According to her, she’s verified it like the 7th time already, has reported to Facebook that she is being bullied (online) and she still knows more people who were offended by the post will report her page for everything false so it’s taken down again. But she stands by her truth.

I stand with her today. Thank you Emilee Danielson, for expressing so succinctly, everything I had in my mind.