DR. DAYO OLUYEMI-KUSA @ 60

Photo Above: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa after the cutting of her 60th birthday cake & Below L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ 60 with Barr. Sharon Ikeazor, Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Abuja

On the 17th of May, 2018, I turned 60! I can't believe I'm 60 already. I did not intend to celebrate, but my youngest child (son), Ayokunnu Kusa, an Agro-preneur (an entrepreneur in the field of agriculture) had other plans. Ayo is a graduate of Agriculture (Animal Breeding & Genetics). Unknown to me, Ayo had invited my friends and colleagues to an interactive session at my residence in Abuja for 12 noon to discuss a topic he knows I'm very passionate about: 'The female academic/social entrepreneur in a depressed economy'.

My son, Ayo, is the only one left at home since his elder brothers Tope Kusa (a Medical Doctor) and Seun Kayode Kusa (a Law graduate/Chartered Mediator & Conciliator/Writer/Public speaker) were out of town. Lest I forget, I congratulate you, Dr. Tope Kusa, my eldest child (son), for your new co-authored publication in the (American) Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) titled 'Divergent responses to kisspeptin in children with delayed puberty' - https://insight.jci.org/articles/new/99109. Thanks also for your touching message and gift on my 60th birthday. I love you always, dear son!  My friends exhaustively discussed the topic and came up with the following recommendations:

The female academic/entrepreneur in a depressed economy needs to:

*Work harder than her male counterparts to succeed in this clime.
*Be innovative.
*Be technology/social media/internet savvy and use same to promote her business.
*Constantly update her knowledge in her core area of specialisation.
*Document her effort in the form of books, CDs, etc for future generations...

Ayo informed my guests that I, his mother, was on top of my game, already doing all the positive things expected of an academic/social entrepreneur in this clime. Later in the evening, there was a soiree which lasted till the wee hours of the morning. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'm proud of you, dear son for organising the beautiful party for me. Ayo, you are doing very well as an Agro-preneur, using technology to optimise your presence in the agricultural value chain in Nigeria. You are a young and dynamic entrepreneur. Nigeria needs more young men and women like you to seize the moment and take their destiny in their hands. Thanks once again for organising the mini colloquium and party in my honour.

Many thanks to my friends who are too numerous to exhaust here. But I must mention a few of them:

*Mrs. Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi - MD Doxa Digital/Voice-preneur & foremost MC in Abuja
*Barrister Sharon Ikeazor - Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD)
*Prof. Dakas Dakas - Professor of Law/SAN
*Ms. Idayat Hassan - Director, Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD)
*Ms. Biodun Baiyewu-Tewu - Country Director, Global Rights
*Ms. Lucia Balonwu - Country Director, Volunteer Services Organisation (VSO)
*Dr. Amina Salihu - Progamme Manager, McArthur Foundation
*Prof. Anthonia Simbine - Commissioner, INEC
*Dr. Chief Mike Ozekhome - Foremost Legal Practitioner/SAN
*Chief (Mrs) Remi Adiukwu - Frontline Politician
*Amb. Samuel Dabeng - Retired Ambassador, FMFA
*Mrs. Eugenia Abu - NTA/Social entrepreneur
*Ms. Ene Ede - Gender Advisor, Search For Common Ground (SFCG)
*Barrister Ebere Ifendu - President, Women In Politics Forum (WIPF)/Publicity Secretary, Labour Party (LP)

I simply cannot exhaust the list. I thank you all for making my 60th birthday memorable with your presence, gifts and prayers...

                         Photo below: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa cutting her birthday cake @ 60!