On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Zikoko held an X (FKA Twitter) space, as part of our #ShifttheStory campaign with four beautiful women on the topic “From NYSC to CEO – Creating Your Own Career Path”. The speakers included Adora Nwodo, a multi-award-winning software engineering manager; Binta Badmus, the founder and creative director of BintaBadmus Lady; Nneka Esther, a self-taught polyglot and the star of episode three of the HER docuseries; and Matilda I. Adegbola as the moderator.
Our speakers spoke about who they were pre-NYSC and what they’ve done post the national program for their careers and to become the women they are today. For those who missed the session, we’ve curated our favourite tips and quotes to help you begin your career journey and get where you need to be.
Our destinations may be different, but the means will always align.
1. Get Something Going
One common thing amongst the speakers was how busy they were pre and post-NYSC. These women were working on different goals and projects, but went through similar means to achieve them. Adora knew early that software engineering was what she wanted. Binta was determined to see her fashion business take off, and Nneka was doing everything she could, hoping one of them would stick. Our speakers also ensured they were consistent with what they had going on. Having something in the works also helps paint a clearer picture of what to expect and helps identify milestone moments.
“I was doing a lot of things at the time. I was learning how to make hair, learning tailoring etc.” – Nneka Esther.
“I want young women to know that it’s okay not to be sure about what you’re doing. All you need to do is be consistent with it.” – Binta Badmus
“The thing with me is that I always have a big picture, or a plan. I try to see if what I’m doing at the time will take me one step closer to my goal. If the answer is yes, I just do it.” – Adora Nwodo
2. Make Yourself Valuable/Scale Up Your Skill
Everyone wants someone who’s useful, and everyone should want to be useful. At least that is what our speakers think, and this thinking has worked well for them. At some point in their lives, and even presently, each of them took courses and training in areas that would benefit them or be useful to their career. Whether it’s getting an additional degree, joining an online masterclass, taking business courses online, or doing an internship, these women were determined to become resourceful and valuable.
“I was also taking a course on the fundamentals of digital marketing, which was about monetising and selling the skills you already have online” – Nneka Esther
“I’m always trying to build skills. Since I was in university, aside from my civil engineering degree, I would take online courses. Data analytics, big data courses. It’s important that we keep working on ourselves as we grow.” – Binta Badmus
“It’s important to provide value to people. When people see that they can get something meaningful from you, it encourages them to support you.” – Adora Nwodo
3. Let Your Strong Head be the Right Head
Sometimes, strong head pays, but let it lead you towards the right path and benefit your career goals. At some point, our speakers had to go against expectations or simply do what they thought was best for them and their careers. But this came at a price. And whether it was fuelled by motivation or fear, these women knew that because they had chosen their various paths, they simply could not fail.
“I was doing a lot of things at the time, so I think it would have been difficult for anybody to complain.” –Nneka Esther
“The first set of people who won’t get your vision is your immediate family. They all thought I could do better than starting a fashion business, especially because I was a first-class student.” – Binta Badmus
“I went against what my parents wanted me to do. So that fear of failure and determination of who I wanted to be, pushed me.” – Adora Nwodo
4. Use Money Wisely
Money talk was real in this space, and the general consensus? Be smart with how you spend your money. Especially when building your career and skill set. Binta started her fashion brand with her ₦15,000 allowance in university, Nneka was on Obasanjo’s internet selling e-books for ₦1000, and Adora bootstrapped her early ideas. Basically, the vibe is to start with what you have but make every Naira count.
“I took a lot of online courses on how to make money online. One of the teachers in a masterclass I joined suggested I create a language study guide and that was it” – Nneka Esther
“I started with my allowance from university, which was ₦15k. I also borrowed money from my sisters and made sure I paid them back. Then I leveraged grants a lot. I applied for and won the Tony Elumelu Foundation grant.” – Binta Badmus
“Most of what I’ve done is related to being employed. So I was using my salaries to fund my ideas.” –Adora Nwodo
5. Follow Who Know Road
This one is a classic. To win in your career, you must move with people who have been where you’re going. Binta mentioned being really intentional about reaching out to her sister’s friend, who was killing it with her fashion brand. This mentorship fast-tracked her growth. Connecting with the right people can literally change your life. Forget being shy! Find mentors and network with intentionality.
“I had someone whom I looked up to, and I think that really helped me. That was my first experience with mentorship, he supported me with reading my university applications and helped with mock interviews.” – Adora Nwodo
“I try to look for people who have done similar things. These people are where you want to be or have been there already, so when they help us, we’re getting tips on how to get to our destinations faster and wiser.” – Binta Badmus
“Sharing your story and progress is important because it helps build connections. It’ll also provide opportunities to work with the kind of people you like. Follow people who are doing something, follow those who know road.” – Nneka Esther
We would love to hear from you, so tune in to the space recording here, and tell us your favourite tips.
Join our X/Twitter Space today, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. on Zikoko_Mag, as we discuss ‘Bag Secured: Level up in your 20s’. See more details on who our speakers are below!
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