BLESSING AKPAN

Blessing Akpan is an author, educationist and a tech enthusiast with major strength in social media marketing. Passionate about programming and coding, Blessing is a Scratch educator, introducing and enlightening kids about technology via the Scratch programming platform. Blessing acts as a student mentor for Technovation. In this role, she trains and supports young girls to solve real-world problems in local and global communities using technology. Blessing is passionate about providing solutions to issues in the community through education, leadership and capacity building.

"A Better World Is Where We Prioritize Human Above All"

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I was born and brought up in Nigeria, specifically the South-South Region. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country with 3 prominent languages being Igbo (for the Easterners), Yoruba (for the Westerners) and Hausa (for the Northerners). Also, it is beautiful how others have come to learn each other’s language, such that an Easterner is seen to be speaking A Westerner’s language and vice-versa. 

I was born into the Ibibio tribe which is one of the minor languages in the country. My parents also speak Ibibio. All through my primary school and secondary school days, I wanted to learn how to speak other languages, but I couldn’t because I had no opportunity to travel outside the state or learn by way of formal education. The first time I had to travel was in secondary school when I had to participate in a competition outside the state which was just for a couple of days.

As a young person born and raised in a typical low-income background in Nigeria with limited learning opportunities, I came to face a lot of educational challenges which has overtime contributed immensely in shaping my academic interests and professional/Community engagements over the last few years.

Knowing well the significance of quality education, especially for disadvantaged children from low-income families and communities, I decided to challenge the status quo. I navigated through my primary and secondary education with the support of my family and teachers who saw potential in me. Putting together these experiences, I realized there is little or nothing a child who is not adequately educated could do for the community. Not every child would have the support I had. And realizing the power young people have in tackling local and global challenges, I knew my voice is needed and since it’s a cause close to my heart, I had to take it up for every child.

Since I was passionate about volunteering, I decided to start there and notable of the organizations I volunteered with included; Widows and Orphans Empowerment Organization (WEWE) from 2017 to 2018 where I served as an assistant Documentation officer and a community volunteer, SMART Gang throughout 2019 and Selfless for Africa from 2018 till date. As a volunteer with WEWE, I learnt so much about child protection and safeguarding which happened to be where my foundation was laid.

The paths I have taken in the last 3 years have brought me where I am now – advocating for children, teaching kids how to code and utilizing the digital space productively. Our story may not have started notably, but we as humans are armed with the power to change the course of our lives, whether negatively or positively. I believe in the power of determination, hard work and faith in God. And I believe that though we aren’t winning today, tomorrow is another day and it will certainly be our turn..

Q: What is your view of the Coronavirus crisis and the world as it is today? How do you define the concept of a better world especially given the hard lessons we have taken from this unprecedented crisis?

The crisis came on us unexpectedly. No country can say they were completely ready for it, although we could say some countries had a better structure in place to tackle impending crises. We can see that every sector has been greatly shaken and we are left at the mercies of our best brains and of course, God. 

However, a better world is where we prioritize human above all. This crisis has opened our eyes to the things we neglected which of course needed more attention. Human capital investment cannot be underestimated. While in some countries, things are moving forward like it never stopped, countries like Nigeria are suffering from the repercussions of misplaced priority by the leading structures. I hope that when all of this is over, we will know the importance of facing our failed system, of being solution orientated, of investing in human capital. Because the lessons will linger for a long time.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently and how do you think CoVid-19 will affect your country?

Like other societies, my society has gotten its bits of the crisis. We are going through the same Economic breakdown but most alarmingly, security is being breached. Young people whose legitimate means of livelihood had been taken away as a result of the lockdown have seen another way to make ends meet by involving in different kinds of crimes such as robbery, cyber crime and the rest. With Schools being shut down and a lot of children not having access to Remote learning, we can only imagine how much widened the gap would be in educational access and opportunities for young people. But then I believe with a strategize approach, we can rise above all these.

Q: As a young individual what are a few of the hurdles that you had to overcome up until today?

A lot of times I’ve had to make difficult decisions not because it favours me, but because I sense it’s the right thing to do. With the times I got caught up with procrastination and overwhelming moments, I try as much as possible to maintain a positive mindset and seek the right counsel and that has sustained me till today.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

A mentor is someone who has been there before, who has overcome the odds and has mastered the art of doing it over and over.

I know I will make mistakes, but with a mentor, I can’t make the terrible ones. I know I will feel overwhelmed sometimes, but because my mentor is more experienced and has been there, it would be easy to get myself back and keep striving.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?

The lessons I have learnt over the course of my 3 years in community service and educational development is never to underestimate myself. Over the years, I had prevented myself from doing a lot of things, taking important decisions because I felt I would not get it right. But I came to realize I was wrong. I have learnt to trust my intuition, take responsibility for my actions and be bold enough to do it and not to be afraid.

Although I sometimes face challenges like lack of resources, overwhelming moments, juxtaposing my work with studies, etc, I have to learn to leverage productively on my network and delegate where need be.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Sifon Udo is from Akwa Ibom and the Founder of Smart Mothers Foundation. Hundreds of teen moms have been transformed by Sifon. She doesn't just enlighten and sensitize these girls on sex education but supports and provides means of livelihood for these young girls who have been a victim and organizes programs to better their lives. 

Smart Mother’s Foundation advocates for teen mothers' health, education policies and consciously works toward the inclusion of teen mothers in education, social welfare, health-care, equitable work and quality lifestyle.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

Child marriage is common in Nigeria, with 43% of girls being married before their 18th birthday and 17% before they turn 15. Female genital mutilation in Nigeria accounts for most cases worldwide. The practice is considered harmful to girls and women and a violation of human rights.

Domestic violence has also become a thing in Nigeria. However, there has been an effort in increasing capacity building and development for women. Both public and private sectors have risen to make this possible. We believe that with capacity-building opportunities being made available to women, they will be able to rise to their potentials.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are. Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our true individual selves, if we didn’t have the weight of gender expectations. ― by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Q: Share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about enabling skill-based learning for children. That is one thing I lacked while growing up and I am glad I was able to pick it up at some point in my life. Quality education is not just giving every child an opportunity to go to school, but giving them the opportunity to sufficiently express their creativity, pursue what they love doing while you merely guide them through.

I’ve been embarking on that project for a while now and I want to keep doing this – Provide training for children in core areas they show interest in, and getting mentors on board to see to it, that they utilize it for good and keep at it.