I AM THE INNOVATIVE WOMAN

I AM THE INNOVATIVE WOMAN

Written By: Blessing Epum

I celebrate the Nigerian woman

I celebrate the African woman

I celebrate the Western woman

Every woman on the surface of the earth

Born or yet unborn I celebrate!

In 2023, we celebrate women, Yes!

No matter the race, tribe, or colour,

We celebrate our differences

We celebrate our similarities

We celebrate our uniqueness

And we celebrate not just "women"

but the innovative "WO-man"

And now the big QUESTION

Who is an innovative woman?

I stand in my street wondering...

How do I buy some foodstuff now?

With no cash but money in my accounts

And most traders were only used to cash

Don't blame them,

If you come from my country

You would know why.

Watching me closely, 

she followed her instincts and

She questioned me, 

"Madam you wan buy something?"

With an affirmation mixed with uncertainty

I summoned the courage to reply, 

Yes, but no cash ooo...

Then, she laughed..., 

"Madam where you see cash?

No cash for this country nah"

I get account number and even POS 

Wow! I couldn't believe it

Even this illiterate woman?

See how innovative she is in her petty trade

Developing adaptive measures

Embracing technology in retaining her sales

While some shut down their businesses,

This petty trader-cum-innovative woman

Stood up to the challenges.

This is my desire for every woman

As I left her shop that day,

I left inspired by her doggedness 

and the resilience of a powerful

WO-man called a petty trader.

Today, the DigitALL campaign is born

The cry of this baby is heard in every nation, 

Whether white or black, Old or young

This call is heard by every woman

Be innovative!

Be creative!

Be tech-savvy!

Don't sit on the fence

Don't say, but I'm only a woman

Rather say, I am a woman with a difference!

Just before you buy that lil princess a doll

And her brother a computer game

Remember gender equality,

Innocently, you try to make them happy

Psychologically and Intellectually

A programmer, software developer,

Web designer, digital marketer,

An innovative IT expert has just been denied and destroyed.

This is a call for gender equality

A call to embrace the innovative woman

A cry to welcome the technologically inclined woman

With women supporting women

Sharing ideas and opportunities, 

Let's make the world a better place!

Happy International Women's Day💃