It is now almost four years since I interviewed Blessing Obila. At that time, she was the first runner up of Miss Nigeria 2016. What struck me was her platform to empower ladies and children. She chose to leverage the publicity from her participation to level the playing field for women in a country where women have always played second fiddle. As a young journalist myself at that time starting at Encomium, I could relate with every aspect of her passion. I had joined Encomium because I was unable to break the glass ceiling as a young female journalist seeking to work in the main newspaper outlets.
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Nowadays, Blessing Obila, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Lila Zigenare, dedicates her time and organisation to develop formidable empowerment programs for ladies and children across Nigeria. In particular, her organisation has been the conduit that has connected many secondary school girls with universities and professional schools where they can train and get the opportunity to compete for jobs that were previously solely in the province of men. Its impact has been seen with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as women, while confined to the home, are able to thrive financially and contribute to coffers of the home.

Blessing Obila and Lila Zigenare have also been able to make giant strides in an area of the Nigerian society that has plagued many great concepts. While Blessing is an easterner, she and her organisation are working across Nigeria and gaining the trust of other tribes, something that is often a difficult endeavor. Blessing Obila goes to rural communities in the southwest and the north to speak with community leaders about allowing their daughters to follow their dreams. Miss Obila believes that overcoming tribalism helps build a solid foundation for women empowerment and assures success of these programmes.

Blessing told me back in 2016 that “You learn about womanhood. It is not just about beauty but about brain too. I have a larger brain now.” She went on to say, “We (ladies and girls) don’t really develop our skills. I would like to help people understand their skills and talents so that they can be useful to themselves and their environment.” She is now wiser and has spent the last three years learning from the difficulties associated with gender equality especially in an African nation like Nigeria. In fact, she has faced resistance from men who fear she will upend the traditional family power structure and women who feel Miss Obila is seeking to muddle up the gender roles.

It is amazing and a smart strategy that Blessing has decided to focus more on girls because they are younger and more receptive to change. She has chosen to keep a low public profile to avoid cultural conflicts with those who are threatened by her platform I look forward to another four years of impact by Miss Obila and Lila Zigenare, and how much she would have used her platform, entrepreneurial mindset and genuine passion for empowerment to help the average Nigerian girl know her talents and have a chance at maximising her talent. Blessing Obila is indeed a role model for young girls in Nigeria.
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