Tomiwa Egbewumi champions Character Education for children. Having worked on capacity-building projects across education, media, women’s empowerment, and the religious sectors, she has implemented over 110 transformational workshops in the basic education sector nationwide. An advocate for academic excellence, she promotes child-centeredness and the importance of instilling values in children. Egbewumi is also Principal Consultant at Bloom 360 Social Educational Services and holds a degree in Education, Foundations and Management from Ekiti State University, formerly (Ondo State University) and an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University, lle- Ife. In this interview, she speaks on her passion for driving developmental growth as well as counsel for women.

Take us through your career journey. How did you arrive at being a character educator?

In the year 2000, during my National Youth Service, my career began with my role as a Programmes Officer with African Refugees Foundation (AREF), an NGO founded by the late Ambassador Segun Olusola (The Village Headmaster).  AREF at the time was affiliated with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). My time there exposed me to capacity-building conferences and vocational skills training workshops designed to support and equip refugees at the Oru refugee camp in Ogun State. My first degree is a B.SC (Ed) Education Foundations and Management with a specialty in Social Studies, and I later got a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in 2001/2002. These two degrees became pivotal in my journey. From AREF, I went to work at Literamed Publications Ltd. The company published textbooks for basic education, storybooks, and comic books for children and teenagers. Starting as an officer and growing through the ranks as a manager, my work portfolio covered customer care, branding, CSR, marketing, book rights licensing, and business expansion. My education and business degrees came in handy. Our main customers were private schools, and I had to design and execute ideas that served dual functions of marketing to increase sales turnover and CSR to the schools.

This birthed the initiative of Teachers’ capacity-building workshops, Train the trainers workshops, the first tricycle bookshop on wheels, amongst others. The storybooks and comics promoted positive cultural values and virtues, and trying to market them outside of conventional school walls required creativity and dynamism. We took the books to local and international book fairs & exhibitions, school events, supermarkets, and modern bookshops, and sought distribution partnerships within Africa, Europe, and the USA. My advocacy for character education was greatly influenced while trying to activate content from the books in the form of book reading or storytelling events, writing briefs for graphic artists to design posters. I also considered some information shared with us by educators during a training on classroom management. I realised, to an extent, that intentionally exposing children to positive behavioural information in an attractive way (story books and comics) helped some of our customer schools instill values in their students. After leaving Lantern Books, I started the character education advocacy by sharing online posts with parents and speaking to children in a school setting and closed-room sessions when opportune. Character development and child-centeredness were key factors emphasised during my training as an educator. I still exercise my marketing and business skills in consultancy, ideation, and implementation for women-related visions and empowerment projects.

You have a background in customer relations and marketing. What motivated your transition from that space into your current field?

At a point in my life, I needed more time for family and to reduce my travel times, making me transition to online consultancy for women’s businesses and visions. The extra time on my hands went into character education. I presently serve as a business development executive for an architectural firm.

How crucial is instilling the right values in children to shaping the next generation?

No one can give what they don’t have. If we want people who have premium results and character handling affairs across all strata of life and work, we must teach them values and emphasise their importance. Intellectual brilliance can take one to the top, but good character is needed to sustain it. Being a good boss, colleague, father, mother, and doctor starts with being a good person.

What motivated you to take on the path of ‘Character Education in Children’?

I always have a burden or become unsettled when I see unruly or antisocial behaviours by adults who should know better, like someone throwing out trash from their moving vehicle. It makes me feel an adult failed them in childhood. Knowing that children are shaped by the experience and knowledge they are exposed to means their beliefs and behaviour can be conditioned positively or negatively. Lending my voice to this cause ensures my actions and purpose add to the well-being of society because everyone is a product of a family.

What would you say was the major source of inspiration for ‘Together’?

I made a 22-slide Instagram post about ‘What Your Children Should See You Do because’ I realised the need to expand my advocacy to adults. It became clear that children are mostly influenced by their parents. I wanted married people to build loving relationships while living their normal lives, creating a thriving home environment, and being positive role models. The post garnered great feedback about the meaningfulness of the message, and a couple of people wanted it in a book form or resource. Like I said, I speak with children on simple topics like- Greeting, Responsibility, Self-Esteem, Personal Grooming, but it dawned on me that no amount of this teaching will gain roots in children who find themselves in a toxic environment where the adults may be acting contrary to the lessons I am passing. Imagine teaching a child about telling lies and the consequences, yet the mother or father has a standing instruction of not being at home whenever a particular neighbour comes knocking.

What is the role of the government in proper Character Education for Children?

I believe a good portion of our national basic education curriculum should promote moral, civic, and positive cultural lessons alongside academic subjects. Investment in specialised professional development programmes for character education is necessary. Schools should be encouraged to adopt experiential and discovery teaching methods, as this will foster service learning and community engagement. The government needs to launch a national re-orientation campaign or support initiatives that promote good character, such as national programmes on kindness, leadership, and social responsibility. Promote the usage of the mother tongue for a sense of identity. Discourage or regulate content that is not child-friendly through censorship, laws, and policies, governments, thereby setting behavioural expectations and ethical conduct.

How are you helping to strengthen marriages and build better foundations through your role as a counselor?

I let people know that every action made is a choice, and you have the opportunity to imagine it before it happens. Choose wisely while dealing truthfully and fairly with your spouse. It is a guiding role for inner work by the person across you, which should lead to positive transformation. My book, Together, to be released in July, was written for this purpose. I offer private group chat sessions with engaged or married couples and one-on-one sessions.

In this age of AI and upwardness socially, what should parents do differently to keep with raising children with a positive mindset?

Let children learn and communicate in your local language. The enriching impact of this includes a defined sense of identity and cultural intelligence. My children are being taught the same, so we mandated them to only greet us in the Yoruba language. They are better equipped to manage peer influence and make informed decisions about their role models and idols. The cultural intelligence guides their interactions with people, which eventually rubs off on their behaviour. Another recommendation is to set a foundation of faith and involve your children in the practice. As devout Christians, we teach our children the staples of the faith, such as using devotionals, knowing the Lord’s prayers, reading the bible, teaching them evergreen songs and hymns, and going to church to say the least. As the bible recommends, teach your children the way to go, and they will not depart from it. Resist the convenience of ‘babysitting’ children with digital devices and limit screen time for the tweens and teens. Introduce constructive engagement through reading books, arts & crafts, playing musical instruments, sporting activities, volunteering services, creative writing, and physical board games. Check the motives of the movies and songs they consume and censor where necessary by ensuring you don’t promote such. Expose them to clean messages. The online games they play should not have violent or sexual themes, exposing them to predators. Children have no business hosting or engaging on social media pages unless in cases where a parent or adult is the handler. Expose them to real-life scenarios because many of them live in an unreal world through a digital worldview. My recommendations seem simple, but when implemented with intentionality, we will have better-grounded and confident children.

Share with us some of your implementations for women-related visions and empowerment projects.

My interest in women-related work was kindled while voluntarily serving for over 10 years in a women’s ministry which had women empowerment as one of its focus. I worked with the leader to birth an expression called the 40+ Woman. It was targeted at empowering women 40 years and beyond with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and prepare for productive older years. Aspects spotlighted includes women’s health, estate planning, wellness & beauty entrepreneurship, financial literacy and freedom, purpose, and fulfillment.

What drives you to success?

The need to use all my God-given gifts and acquired skills purposefully. The need to inspire my children towards impact and greatness while leading by example, and letting them see that success starts with working their innate capabilities and God’s help. I want to support the kingdom assignment in the area of family because it matters greatly to God.

How can we get more women to become successful in their efforts and work? What tips do you have for younger women?

Women should own and believe in their passion or work by acting on it before publicity and a breakthrough come. Never despise your endeavour by comparing it with trending ones. You can benchmark your efforts against thought or niche leaders for accountability and progress. Let excellence be evident in your service or product delivery, even if you are operating from your kitchen table. Avoid dealing sentimentally and set up structures for growth. Know that no experience is a waste, and have a winning mentality by turning life’s lemons into lemonade. In 2016, I took time off work because for over eight years we were trying to conceive and have children. Though it felt like a grey period, restlessness made me start a ready-to-eat stew business from home. It was so well-made and packaged that it got retailed by a supermarket chain. At the time, it didn’t rank high in my work profile or seem sophisticated, but I was convinced it could work; confirmation came after I acted. For young women, know your onions and garnish them with confidence, prayers, and good conduct. Age does not always define maturity, so glean from mentors for wisdom and clarity about whatever you want to do. Build healthy friendships where you serve others and they reciprocate because quality support systems count for the long haul.

What key lessons have you learned in your years of practice and impact?

Giving the best to your work, dealing honestly, supporting or serving others, and being consistent and contented with your progress yield rewards over time. The least you receive is a wealth of experience no one can take from you. Experience is gold when properly packaged.

What do you hope to see Nigerian women do differently?

More of us need to focus on our lanes and embrace the responsibilities womanhood and motherhood bring. Accepting this may help us manage our lives, emotions, and expectations from society better. Enjoy your femininity, channel your inner power towards your purpose, and you will not see the gender dichotomy in the workplace or at home. Validation usually comes when you are standing on the podium. Getting there may require more grit, but your results will be so fulfilling if you do not give up.

What is your life mantra?

Do right by yourself, do right by others.