Women have been urged to prioritise their health, personal growth, development, and emotional well-being, with a warning that rising stress and burnout are reducing their productivity and could have significant economic consequences for the country. This call was made at the second edition of The Intentional Woman 2.0, an event organised by the Sistas Beyond Borders Empowerment Foundation, held in Lagos.
Foundation founder calls for intentional living
The Founder of the foundation, Nancy Edet, called on Nigerian women to become more intentional about their personal growth. She stressed that many women continue to shoulder enormous family, career, and business responsibilities without creating time for rest, personal development, or self-care, thereby exposing themselves to physical and emotional breakdown. According to her, the consequences of such lifestyles extend beyond individual health challenges to include economic losses, noting that many women contribute significantly to the economy through careers, businesses, and entrepreneurship.
Normalised pressure and societal expectations
Edet further explained that many women have normalised living under constant pressure while neglecting their personal well-being in an attempt to meet societal expectations. She urged women to move beyond merely 'surviving' daily responsibilities and instead live intentionally and purposefully. The foundation's message was clear: women must take deliberate steps to safeguard their health and future.
Nollywood leader advises breaks from work
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Nollywood Creative Minds Forum, Ijeoma Richards, advised women to deliberately take breaks from work and household chores to safeguard their mental and physical health. The filmmaker observed that many Nigerian women are trapped in continuous routines of work and domestic responsibilities without adequate rest, leaving them mentally exhausted and emotionally drained.
Setting personal goals and plans
Richards further encouraged women to set personal goals and create clear plans for their future, rather than focusing solely on caring for others. She stated, “For everything, we make plans to feed the children and take care of our families, but we do not make plans for our own lives. Women should write down what they want to achieve in one year or five years and work intentionally towards it.” The event concluded with a strong emphasis on the need for women to reclaim their time and energy for personal growth and well-being.
