Life of a schooling mum

I recently read a post online where the best graduating student from Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria (CGPA 4.89 out of 5.0) had been interviewed. The content of her interview or her responses to the questions asked is not what I intend to discuss on this post. Rather, it is the responses of people to her success that I would like to address. There were many comments about how easy it must have been for her to graduate with a first class because she attended a private university. Others were sure that if she had attended a public school, she would probably have graduated with a second class  lower degree at the most.  They undermined her success forgetting that in the same graduating set, 86 students had graduated with a third class degree,     119 had second class lower and 123 had second class upper degrees. Of the 28 who made the first class, this girl had come out tops. The comments not only baffled me but also started to infuriate me as I had...

It is hard enough juggling a demanding career, young children, and general family responsibilities with keeping fit or just having your alone time but I dare say that fitting in fitness goals into  the life of a schooling mum is so much harder. You might wonder why - As a grad student or to be more specific, a PhD student, you never feel like you have done enough. Your mind is always busy analysing your day, analysing how much work you have put in and how much more work needs to be done. Add that to the responsibility of raising one active toddler or more if you are lucky, then you get a really busy mom whose day is busy to the teeth.  Today, I'm just going to share with you 5 tips on how I have managed to keep up with my gym routine (though I fail at it once in a while). 

Post by Shakirat O. Raji By now, it is no news that women are viewed differently in this part of the world. Our society places more emphasis on the male child than the female child. Sadly, the trend is of increase as I write. While growing up, my instinct as small as I was then could decipher the treatment meted on the female child. While the situation is a bit different in my household, the environment I found myself seemingly encouraged boys to be egocentric. In my primary school days, I lost count of being bullied by boys in my class. I always thought it was because of my short stature which I hated myself for being not tall. I was constantly timid, shy and of course not confident. I was not the engaging student anymore. I withdrew to myself completely and became a lone ranger.

Post written by Samuel Osho In a world that is constantly moving and in active search of knowledge, individuals are no longer satiated with the taste of a first degree. Everyone wants to make advancement along career paths and acquire more educational degrees. Canada is one of the hunting grounds for excellent experience when it comes to graduate studies due to many reasons. For many, securing admissions to some of the top universities with an assurance of a full scholarship is a herculean task and one that requires diligence and dedication. That's right! These are some steps and tips that can help to ease the stress and steady your hands on the steering wheel as you kick-start this journey. 

A dear friend sent me a link to this article which was first published on www.stylishacademic.com . I read it and it made so much sense as it was relatable, real and funny. I took it a step further to peruse the website - beautiful. I had to seek the editor's permission to re-publish it here and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

By now many of you might have come across Chimamanda's piece on how to raise a feminist but I thought to share it here for those who haven't. Recently she said that her feminism is different from that of Beyonce Knowles', a comment that generated different reactions. This piece , in the same manner, has generated varying views and reviews. I think it's a beautiful and well-written piece but I must add that I do not agree with her 100 percent. However, I would like to hear what you all think.  “DEAR IJEAWELE, OR A FEMINIST MANIFESTO IN FIFTEEN SUGGESTIONS” By Chimamanda Adichie Dear Ijeawele, What joy. And what lovely names: Chizalum Adaora. She is so beautiful. Only a day old and she already looks curious about the world. Your note made me cry. You know how I get foolishly emotional sometimes. Please know that I take your charge – how to raise her feminist – very seriously. And I understand what you mean by not always knowing what the feminist response...

The  World Bank Vice-President for Africa,  Makhtar Diop says,  “Africa’s youth is Africa’s biggest asset and investing in young children is the smartest investment countries can make,”. The d emand for expertise in the area of early childhood development is increasing and exceeds current capacity, especially in the Africa region. Therefore, the Fellowship aims to build capacity within countries in the Africa region by developing a cohort of young professionals with technical and operational skills to support increased investments in early childhood. Approximately 10 fellows will be selected and hired as short-term consultants for one year beginning early 2017, with the possibility of being renewed for a second year. Fellows will receive ongoing training and work experience across relevant sectors, including education, health, nutrition and social protection.  The Fellowship will include a brief orientation at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D...