Her Money Moves: IWD Conference Inspires Students to Take Charge of Their Financial Freedom

By

By Taiwo Oyedeji
The Office of the Vice President of the Great Ife Students' Union, on Saturday, May 24, hosted the International Women's Day 2025 Conference themed "Her Money Moves." The event, aimed at empowering women to take charge of their financial futures, was hosted by Odediji Christianah, Vice President of the Great Ife Students’ Union.

The conference featured prominent speakers including Babalola Elizabeth, Financial Advisor at The Money Africa, and Mr. David Oyeleye, Head of Entrepreneurship Development at ONDEA ODSG. Esteemed judges present were Professor Marcelina Ijadunola, CEO of Spur Hub; Iyaji Queeneth, CEO of Queeneth Kitchen; and Ikechukwu Cynthia, Founder of Jomi Global. The Chairperson of the day, Professor M.O. Babalola (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics), was represented by Professor Opeyemi Ekundayo.

Although scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM, the event officially commenced at 11:38 AM with Alawode Ewaoluwa (The Clerk, Great Ife Student’ Union) and Damilola Fashina (DBlack) as the hosts. Following the introduction of the guests, the Vice President, GISU, Odediji Christianah delivered the opening remarks. She shared the inspiration behind the conference, stating that “Her Money Moves” was born out of a desire to address the financial vulnerability women often face. It was also designed to encourage students, especially women, to begin building their financial independence as early as possible.

In her opening address, Professor Ekundayo, representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor, emphasized that finance is central to achieving gender equality. She stated, “Without money, nothing can be done. Women must be intentional about securing their financial future.” She added that OAU will continue to advocate for a decisive and financial future for its students.

Mr. David Oyeleye, one of the invited speakers, delivered his lecture on financial mindset. He stated, “Money is not racist or patriarchal. It flows to those who vibrate towards its energy.” He emphasized that money is just a figure capable of affecting people's emotions and that wealth or poverty is not defined by how much money one has, but by one's mindset about it. He also explained how money has evolved over the years and stressed the need to understand its language to acquire it. He concluded by urging attendees to build credibility, character, confidence, and creativity, while also learning to save money, time, and energy.
 
The second speaker, Babalola Elizabeth, delivered her speech titled “Smart Choices, Strong Future: The Roadmap to Financial Independence.” She addressed the behavioral aspect of money management, stating, “Money management is not about the amount you have, but the behaviour you form towards it.” She emphasized taking control of one's money through budgeting by prioritizing needs and goals over wants, and setting both short and long-term financial goals. She offered financial solutions, from creating emergency funds that can be accessed within 24hrs to investing in real estate and buying shares. 

The highlight of the event was the pitch competition, judged by Professor Marcellina Ijadunola, Ikechukwu Cynthia, and Iyaji Queeneth. Ten student entrepreneurs pitched their brand expansion ideas, competing for a sponsorship from Optimus Bank. Three winners emerged from the competition. 

The grand prize of five hundred thousand naira (₦500,000) was awarded to the CEO of Fenimi Wears, a streetwear brand. The first runner-up, Cinder and Stones, a minimalist accessories brand, received three hundred thousand naira (₦300,000). The second runner-up, CEO of Baybie, a lip cosmetics brand, received two hundred thousand naira (₦200,000).

The event concluded with a networking session and a renewed sense of inspiration among attendees.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking Barriers: Exclusive Interview with the Only Female Bus Driver on OAU Campus

By
Image
By Esther Ademola The Icons Organization, in collaboration with Great Ife Network, recently conducted an exclusive interview with Mrs. Elugbaju, the sole female driver on the OAU campus. Standing out as the only woman among the Towngboro drivers, Mrs. Elugbaju has sparked curiosity about her motivation. During the interview, she shared insights into her experiences and shed light on her journey as a female driver in a male-dominated field. Question : Can you introduce yourself? Mrs Elugbaju : My name is Mrs Elugbaju. I am one of the driver of buses in the campus, I'm the only lady. Question : How did you become a bus driver especially in a University like Obafemi Awolowo University? Mrs Elugbaju:  I'm a civil servant. This is just a part time job for me. After office hour like 5:00pm, I do bring my bus and I will be loading from campus to gate and from gate to Campus like around 7:30pm-8:00pm then I will go back. READ ALSO: OAU Secures Two Gold Medals in Judo at FA...
Read more

Fresher's Week'24: Students' Union Holds Freshers Inter-Faculty Debate

By
Image
By  Adetunji Oluwafemi The Great Ife Students’ Union on Monday, 3rd November 2024, held its planned inter-faculty debate for freshmen. The debate is part of the events that have been prepared for Fresher’s Week 2024. The event experienced a slight delay, as the venue was moved from the 1000-seater to Oduduwa Hall by the order of the school management, which requested that the initial venue be vacated because the office of the Vice President, responsible for the event, failed to seek permission before using it. The event began at 12:35 PM. Faculties were paired and assigned topics: the Faculty of Administration and Science had the topic "Corrupt Democracies are Preferable to Dictatorships"; the Faculty of Agriculture and Dentistry debated on the topic "Subsidy is a Necessary Compromise of the Government, and Should be Implemented in Areas of Essential Public Domains"; the Faculty of Arts and Technology had the topic "Civil Disobedience is a Moral Wea...
Read more

SPECIAL REPORT: Inside UI and OAU Public Hostels

By
Image
By The Icons Organization and Indy Press  For Deborah, a 100-level student and resident of Obafemi Awolowo Hall of residence, University of Ibadan, staying in her hall of residence was a choice she made because she was in her first year of study. She believed this choice was the safest way to get familiar with the school and its environment. Posi, another student, on the other hand, resides in a school hostel due to proximity. “I stay in Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence because of its proximity to classes; the fact that it is cheaper, it is less stressful than house hunting, and much safer than staying outside school,” Posi explained.  Posi's reason for staying in Obafemi Awolowo Hall is the same as that of many students who find themselves in public hostels — it is often cheaper and closer to school. This goes to show just how important hostel accommodation is for students in any university, as it affects both their academics and overall wellbeing.  Unfortun...
Read more