In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023, CareerLife Nigeria, a renowned NGO dedicated to fostering measurable career success, successfully conducted the second cohort of its Career Moms Mentorship Program.
This ground-breaking initiative is specifically designed to support mothers who have taken a career break to raise children and are facing challenges reintegrating into the workforce.
“Many women encounter significant difficulties when attempting to return to work after having children, and often end up leaving their jobs altogether,” Yewande Jinadu, founder of CareerLife Nigeria, explained.
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“Having personally experienced these struggles after the birth of my first child, I decided to establish this program to provide women with the essential support system they need to regain control of their careers.”
The 10-week mentorship program commenced on March 11th and ended on May 13th, 2023. Throughout the duration of the program, participants engaged in transformative discussions centered around breaking through workplace barriers and stereotypes, overcoming limiting mindsets, strategies for navigating workplace politics, common job search mistakes to avoid, and maintaining holistic well-being as a woman, among other empowering topics.
The Career Moms Program focused on the growth and development of participants, resulting in increased visibility on the professional networking platform – LinkedIn, enhanced interview skills, and successful job placements.
One program participant expressed her gratitude, stating, “Through the program, I rediscovered my passion for reading and writing. I revamped my CV using the comprehensive template provided, which led to two interview invitations within two weeks.”
“Although I declined one job offer due to unfavourable terms, my self-confidence has skyrocketed. I now know that I am more than capable.”
Another program participant shared her newfound determination, saying, “No matter the current circumstances, I constantly remind myself to stay focused on my goals. A career break does not define me.”
The Career Moms Program enlisted the expertise of ten mentors, all accomplished senior career women who have thrived in various fields.
Notable mentors include: Fope Daniels, Wunmi Adelusi, Edememe Oladiji-Wusu, Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue, Engineer Zansi Adebowale, Yemikola Falayojo, Teju Fola-Alade, Toyin Onigbanjo, Ajoke Jegede, and Dara Akintonde.
Each Saturday, these mentors guided participants through different aspects of the workplace, empowering them to pursue better opportunities.
This transformative initiative by CareerLife Nigeria is just one of the organization’s efforts to equip Nigerian youth with vital employability skills and combat unemployment.
Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 8, CareerLife Nigeria continues to develop and execute various programs and activities, such as the Employability Fitness Program, which pairs jobseekers with employers and assists them in overcoming interview anxiety.
By empowering mothers, CareerLife Nigeria believes it is empowering entire families, fostering a brighter and more inclusive future. Together, we can create a world of equal opportunities, free from discrimination, where women can pursue their professional aspirations with confidence.
