This Nigerian Life.

As a little girl growing up in Lagos, Lanre ( Lala) loved playing football with the boys and didn’t mind playing shirtless like they did, much to the annoyance of her mother; who sent her to Vivian Fowler College for Girls to “keep an eye on her”, instead of the military school that Lanre really wanted. We discuss almost getting expelled from school for defending herself from bullies; raising resi...

At age 12, you couldn’t convince Rolake (Rolls) that she hadn’t caused a great offence to her mother. Why else would she be moved from her comfort zone in Lagos; South West Nigeria, to boarding school in Abuja in the North? We discuss culture shocks, her love for sports and fitness, why modern dating is problematic and becoming resilient after trauma. What Makes you Tick is a series of conversatio...

Khadija (Dija) was 1 of 4 girls to graduate from her male-dominated engineering class. As a conservative muslim, it wasn’t common for girls to pursue Stem studies, but Dija’s father and grandmother particularly- were some of her biggest cheerleaders. We discuss life as a Muslim woman in tech; protecting children in this digital age, data privacy, demystifying AI for Africans and learning from Tik...

Being a new mom can be daunting and Simileoluwa (Simi) knew she’d be a mother who isn’t shy to ask for help; she wouldn’t fall for the supermom trope. In this episode we discuss what the actual “village” is versus what we were sold. How her friendships changed after marriage, new-age grandparents and why open communication and practicality in marriage matters more than romantic love. What Makes yo...

What if the key to knowing yourself better is simply sitting still? It’s hard, I know! In this episode, I explore why solitude matters and how our thoughts shape the direction of our lives. With so much noise competing for our attention, creating quiet time helps us define who we really are on our own terms. I’m sharing my personal journey with solitude and why I believe it deserves more of our at...

If you asked me whether I believe in myself, I’d confidently say yes. But the truth is, that’s not always the case. In this episode, I dive into the quiet ways we sabotage our own progress: fear disguised as perfectionism, and the little lies we tell ourselves to stay comfortable. Real growth is doing what you said you would do, even when the circumstances aren’t great. For me, recording this podc...

This episode discusses counselling and therapy and why I believe they’re often conflated. They are similar but the key difference is that counselling is short term, offering quick relief while therapy is longer and deals with root causes of issues. Therapy requires deep vulnerability from the patient in a safe space created by the practitioner- so it’s not just vibes and as popular as it may seem,...

This episode explores self-worth, enlightenment, and releasing old identities. As a self-proclaimed independent woman, unemployment has helped me reconnect with my softer side- the part of me that isn’t constantly in survival mode. You know, that space where you can breathe a little- where you’re not “ always guiding ” ( Nigerian slang for being tough, guarded, and completely self-reliant ) and al...

Hey listeners, How do we break free from family trauma patterns? In this episode, I share my personal experience with family trauma. Exploring the combination of trusting my intuition and listening to my inner wisdom; taking personal accountability and responsibility for my healing without blame or shame. This episode is for anyone navigating the messy, beautiful work of healing generational wound...

In this episode, I read an excerpt from my essay in We Will Lead Africa Volume 5: Technology, Science, and Innovation . This is easily the most exciting and affirming thing to happen to me so far this year- seeing my name in print. Whoo hoo! 🎉Buy your copy [ here ] and enjoy my essay along with the other inspiring stories. Now, a behind-the-scenes moment: my voice was so tense while recording thi...

In this episode I talk about hope with a sprinkle of delusion which is my fuel on most days. Other days I wallow in hopelessness, but not for too long. When I say friends, it includes my amazing sister who has been a rock despite the physical distance between us. Recommended resources: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown , Alain de Botton’s YouTube, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ; here’s a free version...

Hiya! My plan was to relaunch the podcast in a neat and polished way, forgetting the most important thing: having an outlet for my thoughts. A wave of inspiration led to this recording which I have the pleasure of sharing with you- in spite of the many doubts scrambling in my head. Welcome to my thoughts! 😁 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

Hey friends, Brené Brown said “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”. So here I am, back with my mic ready to laugh, learn and have conversations that feel like catching up with your favorite people. It’s going to be fun, a little chaotic, and full of good realness. Hit play and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

Hey listeners! I’ve been dealing with life and a huge lack of motivation. But I’m getting over it gradually. This is a little something to say I’m back now and I have some stories coming. Email me at thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or connect with me on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl. Better still, send a voice note if you’re using the Anchor app. Please rate the podcast on Apple podcasts and Spotify. Thi...

I’ve been dealing with anxiety for sometime now and I decided to seek therapy. I spoke with a therapist twice a week for about 2 weeks and what did I learn? Listen to find out. Send your feedback & comments via thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl. You can also send me a voice note using the voice function in the Anchor app. Remember, to give the podcast a rating on Apple p...

Nigeria is hard, there’s no sugar coating it. While migrating is not new, it has become more popular to see internet articles, posts etc advising young Nigerians to leave the country and the options available. Of particular interest is Canada. The number of Nigerians who obtained permanent residency in Canada has increased from a little over 4000 in 2015 to 12,600 in 2019. For this episode, Funke...

It’s February! Which means two things, Valentine’s Day and the first anniversary of this podcast!🎈🎈🥳 I did it “Joe” if you get the reference. 14 episodes and counting. I’m so proud of my work & grateful for the support I’ve received. In this episode, I talk about navigating the dating scene in Lagos and giving dating apps a second try. Send your feedback & comments to thisnigerianlifepod@gmail....

Wecome to the first episode for 2021! * cue applause* 🥳🥳 I'm sharing my well wishes and thoughts for the year, so this episode is very brief. Send your feedback & comments via thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl. You can also send me a voice note using the voice function in the Anchor app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

This episode explores the similarities & differences between the youth protests in Thailand and Nigeria. Discussing the Thailand side of things is my friend and colleague Mike( @mzungumike on IG). Share your feedback & comments via thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl. You can also send me a voice note using the voice function in the Anchor app. This is a public episode. If...

Nigeria has been on high alert for the past 3 days! This is my take on the movement by Nigerian youth against police brutality, where we are today and how we can sustain momentum. Share your feedback & comments via thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl. You can also use the voice message function in the Anchor app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

I’m so grateful for 10 episodes!🥳 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisnigerianlifepod.substack.com

Sex is always a riveting subject, depending on the context and who you talk about it with. Lately, we see more women owning their bodies, or expressing the beauty of their sexuality through art; specifically through writing. My guest Dupe Kuku a.k.a Abeni is a writer of erotica and we explore the topic together. Find some of her stories on Facebook.com using #Abenilinks. Share your feedback & comm...

They say men are simple beings, but are they really? In this episode, my friend Kofo gives his opinion about what men want; men want to be shown love, to receive gifts and be appreciated, etc. We also discuss areas for women to improve in their relationships with men. Kofo is a Digital Media professional living in Lagos. He enjoys good food and the occasional banter on social media. Share your fee...

Boundaries are important people! Some things that are better kept to yourself; like unsolicited comments or advice about a person’s body. In this episode, Jola and I discuss our experience with body shaming and the unhealthy obsession with women’s bodies. Send your feedback, comments or greetings to me at thisnigerianlifepod@gmail.com or on Twitter @dark_lawyergirl This is a public episode. If you...

Rape and other forms of violence against women and girls have been a hot topic for weeks now, with many women speaking up demanding justice. As much as we hear these reports, countless cases still go unreported. Those that do get reported are subjected to hate and different tactics to keep them silent. But #WeAreTired and we will not be silent! In this episode, I talk about being an ally and advoc...