By Chukwuma Umeorah
Award-winning journalist Stephanie Busari has called on women to take control of their narratives, emphasizing that their achievements, struggles, and contributions must not go undocumented.
Speaking at the launch of her book “Her Story: Taking Root, Sparking Change” in Lagos, Busari stressed the need for women to actively share their experiences, rejecting societal norms that encourage silence. “As women, especially, a lot of us shy away from tooting our horn, but you have to tell your stories. You have to talk about what you are doing. You have to shout about your achievements so that those coming behind you can be inspired,” she said.
Busari also urged men to foster a more inclusive environment, particularly in leadership and politics, recognizing the significant contributions and capabilities of women across various sectors. She affirmed that the book is only the beginning of a larger movement. “We are building a movement that will inspire, challenge, and elevate the next generation of women leaders. The world is watching Africa, and the stories of these women will shape the continent’s future,” she declared.
The book showcases the stories of 40 trailblazing women from Africa, the Middle East, and the diaspora, each contributing a chapter that underscores the transformative power of personal narratives in leadership, mentorship, and community development. For some, it was more than a book, it is a documentation of personal reflection. In the chapter she contributed to the book, Neya Kalu, CEO of Basecoat and Chairman of The Sun Publishing, shared how she had to fight against societal expectations to carve a path for herself in business and media. “As a young Nigerian woman balancing business ownership, media leadership, and family legacies, I have fought for every inch of my success in a world that often insists women must choose one path. I have chosen all of them.”
Kalu emphasized the importance of rejecting limiting labels, adding, “Why must we choose one path when we can excel at many? Who decided that a woman must be one thing?” Kalu was also honored with the Rising Star award at the event in the Extraordinary Women and Their Allies category.
Beyond the book’s unveiling, the night also marked the launch of HerStoryGlobal, a digital platform dedicated to mentorship and leadership development. The initiative received strong backing, with His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, making a donation and committing to distributing the book in schools across Lagos to inspire young girls.
The event also took on a deeply emotional tone when Yana Galang, leader of the Parents of Missing Chibok Schoolgirls Association, was honored on stage. Galang, whose daughter has been missing for 11 years, spoke about the unending pain of waiting for her child’s return. “If they are not found, we remain with the trauma. We are still calling on the government, to put in more effort to go to Borno and search and find where these girls are,” she said. Despite the grief, she found meaning in sharing her experience, noting, “Actually, in anything bad, you can have something good out of it. If this had not happened to us, what story could I give to the world?”
Other speakers reinforced the importance of women taking ownership of their space in leadership and governance. The book launch also featured an art exhibition, which raised over N15 million to support girl-child education initiatives. The night concluded with the inaugural Her Story Awards, recognizing women and allies championing progress in leadership, advocacy, business, and creative industries. Among the honorees were Betty Irabor, Olori Atuwatse III, Funke Akindele, and Tony Elumelu, who was recognized for his role as a male ally in women’s advancement.