In a special series to mark this year’s International Women’s Month, or more accurately Women’s History Month, youth talk show Rubbin’ Minds rejigged its programming since the first week of March with a focus on the theme #ChooseToChallenge. The series was sponsored by beverage brand Lipton, and for the second time strengthening their corporate commitment in celebrating the successes of women across various industries and highlighting the gender disparity that still exists.
Regular host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu was joined by media personality Bolanle Olukanni and the first episode on March 7 featured an impressive lineup. Bolanle sat with talk show powerhouse Agatha Amatha whose show Inside Out ran for 21 years and revolutionised local television. Inside Out was famous for asking the hard questions on sociopolitical issues, from unemployment, corruption, sexual harassment, child abuse, gender-based violence, drug trafficking and so on.
Athough she studied botany, Agatha was very much art-inclined and always loved to talk. There wasn’t a talk show like Inside Out at the time, and when she got married to fellow Nollywood actor Fred Amatha, the love for broadcasting became a thing she knew she had to explore. Interestingly, Agatha had been always a curious person and never allowed herself to be limited because she was a woman. Asked by Bolanle about the transitioning from talk show host to the CEO of her own media house and if her gender was an obstacle for her, Agatha says, ”I do not see my gender as an issue, so while you are saying to me that I’m a woman, I’m saying to you that I’m a human being.”
The next guest was Aisha Yesufu. Vociferously critiquing the Buhari administration and its impunity on social media, Aisha became one of the staunch conveners and pillars of the #ENDSARS movement, amplifying the voice of the people on protest grounds. But before now, she was one of the founders of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, advocating for the return of more than 200 girls that were abducted from Chibok secondary school in 2014.
”When you are poor in Nigeria, you are faceless, nameless and voiceless,” Aisha says, describing how she grew up in the ghetto in Kano facing poverty and the prevalence of child marriages, wanting to be educated and financially independent. It’s also why activism is weaved around national issues.
Oby Onyediako, a taxi driver, came right after Aisha. Oby became a driver due to unemployment and with a car of hers lying fallow, she saw a business opportunity. In a trade that is mostly dominated by men, Oby is being visible as a woman and challenging the norms around it.
The conversation continues!
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