Professor Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose, SAN, has urged women to remain steadfast in the face of rejection, emphasizing that persistence, courage, and faith are essential ingredients for success.
Bamgbose, the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, gave this charge on March 18 at the Phenomenal Women Conference 2.0 themed “Power of the Voice: Influence, Impact, Inspire.”
Speaking on the conference theme, she highlighted the significance of women’s voices, drawing a powerful analogy from childbirth.
“Is there anyone here who did not cry at birth? It would have given the medical team concern,” she said, stressing that the voice is a symbol of life, power, and presence.
According to her, a woman’s voice goes beyond mere sound, describing it as a tool for action and transformation.
“Your voice is not just a sound; your voice is action, your voice is influence, your voice is transformation. When you speak with clarity and purpose, people listen and when they listen, there must be change,” she stated.
Bamgbose also shared personal insights from her career journey, recounting how she relied on faith when making critical decisions. After completing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), she received two job offers and sought guidance from her father, who directed her to seek divine direction.
She eventually chose the Ministry of Justice over another offer and later relocated to Ibadan after marriage, where she began working at the University of Ibadan and experienced rapid career progression.
Highlighting the factors behind her success, she listed faith in God, hard work, consistency, self-belief, and discipline.
“I did not take shortcuts. I believed in myself and never doubted my abilities,” she said, adding, “Never accept ‘No’ as final. A ‘No’ today can become a ‘Yes’ tomorrow.”
She further encouraged women to embrace mentorship, collaboration, and networking as key drivers of growth and professional advancement.
Also speaking at the event, the convener, Ifeoma Ben, reiterated the importance of women’s voices in shaping society. She noted that every woman’s voice carries the power to influence decisions, create impact, and inspire change not only in her own life but in the lives of others.
“One of the things that makes this conference unique is our focus on storytelling not theory, not perfection, but real, lived experiences,” she said.
