Titilayomi Ahmadu is the founder, ‘Women Organization of Resources, Knowledge and Skills (WORKS), a non-governmental organisation that mentors women and talented young ladies. She is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation-Nigeria (CITN) and an entrepreneur. In this interview, she takes you into her accounting world, passion working with struggling women and many more.
What is the story behind WORKS?
I have always loved to work with women. Maybe the attraction became intense because I am married to a Muslim, who I follow to most of their events. It was at such gatherings that I discovered the need to protect the women the more, and therefore fill in the gap. Women naturally are the weaker sex, a bit silent,
coupled with their religion. So, that development gingered me into action. Again, as a chartered accountant, I do not like to work for people because I feel it limits me; that also added to thinking outside the box to discover other areas where I can serve. So, my starting up an NGO gave other women and myself the opportunity go into skills acquisition. I must also confess that I struggled as a Muslim wife because somehow, I was caught between two dominant religions. Though my husband is a very nice man, but not lowering my Christian standard. Therefore, I look out for fellow struggling women who were missing in action for one reason or the other and work with them. I went through such and didn’t cope immediately until much later in life. I, therefore, settled in my mind that I would help women who were and are in my shoes, struggling and determined to make a headway.
What are some of the achievements of the organization so far?
Our focus is to lift women, from the girl-child to growing into comprehensive womanhood, including the widows and downtrodden women. Anything that we can offer for the women is our primary target. We help women at every stage the much we can. My NGO does not inspire handouts rather inspire strong women to achieve and be better people. We do a lot of teachings and awareness to get the women’s mind to think aright, discover who they are and that is the greatest achievement so far. Interestingly, we boost them to be strong leaders, stand firm and be the best they could be. Again, we also teach them to make their mistakes, learn from them and get back on track. When I travel with my husband to Mecca, I see it as a learning process since I am not a Muslim. I use the opportunity to be abreast of information and what I will impart to the women when I return. I have also taught them that marrying from another religion will not determine one’s end, but the relationship between the two might be better than those from the same religion. Yet, it does not stop me from practicing my own religion.
With the love and passion I have for my women’s group, and the extent I can go to support them, when I discovered an online platform called, “Women With Their Own Money” I registered some women and myself because it is about women who are eager and want to make their own money. Any opportunity that will help me to help others is very key to the organization.
Turning back to your accounting profession, how has it helped your personal business?
I am a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. I have an accounting practice which is headed by my partner now. I used to lead it but when I started the NGO and other businesses, I passed it on to someone else. The knowledge has helped me teach women financial management with the little resources they have. How they can put things together into good use, savings and thrift which have also helped us to organize small-scale businesses and make profit as well. As every opportunity is not taken for granted, I teach them how to start with low income savings (thrift), which helps and works for the women. We do not dash money, but make good, sincere and responsible opportunity of the time to yield money.
What do you think about women in leadership and mainstream politics?
Although I am not a card-carrying member of any political party, I lend my voice and support to a responsible government at all times. I encourage women to discover themselves and be in a position of authority because they are the cradle of civilization and multi-taskers. In fact, it has always been said that when you want any job to be done, give it to the women. I know women reason better and are more sincere in discharging their works. I believe in what the women can do as the records have rightly stated. Women will always make the difference.
Inflation is a major challenge at the moment. It affects a lot of SMEs. What advice do you have for them?
For periods of inflation, that is the reason I encourage women not to be lazy, instead be involved in multiple streams of income. With that, they will not feel the inflation; and this is the honest truth. If someone depends on one stream, that is when inflation will affect them. I personally made money through network marketing, not even from my accounting profession that is my core area.
What was your COVID-19 experience?
I made the most of my money in network marketing during the COVID-19. In one of the weeks, I made N4.2m because it is passive income. An unexpected income that shows up when you need it. Though I worked for it and that is why my nickname in business is Mama Pablo. It is a story of Pablo and Bruno who were two friends physically carrying and selling water in their village. Going to the stream and bringing it to the village until Pablo said, ‹let us dig a trench and let the water flow by itself, so the villagers could fetch and pay. Bruno refused and insisted on the old arrangement and Pablo left him. Bruno continued with the physical strength labour until he couldn’t do it anymore because his hands and back hurt. Pablo had already followed his dream and watched money roll into his pocket without stress. With time, Bruno was tired and wasn’t able to do much again.
How was growing up?
Growing up was fun and a time of leadership training for me. My parents and teachers all prepared me for the headship roles I am playing today which I am enjoying as a grown woman. Part of my growing up were the schools I attended. I started out from Iseyin in Oyo State to Queens School, Ibadan and Federal Government Girls College, Odogbolu, in Ogun State for my A ‘Levels before I gained admission into University of Ife for my firs degree. Then, I have been married to my teenage sweetheart for 39 years and we are blessed with children and grandchildren.
What are your expectations for the rest of 2023 and 2024?
I expect to see strong financially built women standing on their feet; working hard and defending their financial pressures without depending on anybody including husbands and government.
