Education
A Manifesto for Empowerment and Action: A Review of Smash The Glass Ceiling by Olamitayo Irantiola
Title: Smash The Glass Ceiling: Empowering African Women to Break Barriers and Achieve their Dreams
Author: Olamitayo Ebunola Irantiola
Pagination: 244 pages
Publisher: Peo Davies Communications
Year of Publication: 2025
Reviewer: Dr Kehinde Olubanjo
Smash the Glass Ceiling is a powerful manifesto for women striving to break free from deeply rooted societal, cultural, and religious barriers. In this insightful and audacious work, Olamitayo Irantiola blends personal experiences, historical references, and academic insight to confront and unravel the multifaceted forms of gender discrimination that persist across society, especially in leadership roles within African contexts.
Irantiola’s message is unmistakably clear from the first page: women are not second-class citizens. They are not afterthoughts. They are leaders, changemakers, visionaries. This short but potent book dares to challenge stereotypes, dismantle myths surrounding women’s capabilities, and inspire women to assert their rightful place in every sphere of influence – from the home to the church, to the highest levels of governance.
Each chapter of the book acts like a stage of awakening, encouraging readers to progress from awareness to courage, and then from courage to action. She draws attention to the subtle and overt ways women are marginalized – ways that often go unnoticed because they have been normalized for generations. From being passed over for leadership roles to being discouraged from expressing ambition, women are often taught to play small. Irantiola offers a powerful counter-narrative: women must rise, lead, and thrive in spaces where they have historically been excluded.
In one of the book’s standout moments, Irantiola writes, “You are not weak; you are a woman.” This punchy, affirming language defines the book’s tone. Each page is laden with declarations – some poetic, others prophetic – that stir the soul. She encourages women to reject self-doubt, embrace their full identity, and stop apologizing for taking up space.
Importantly, Irantiola doesn’t merely point out the problem – she proposes solutions. With practical steps and motivational insights, the book offers strategies for breaking mental, emotional, and institutional barriers. It advocates for women’s inclusion in pastoral leadership, political participation, business, and beyond. In doing so, it transcends personal empowerment and becomes a broader call to collective social change.
One of the most refreshing aspects of Smash the Glass Ceiling is its grounding in spirituality without being dogmatic. While addressing faith-based environments, particularly the church, Irantiola boldly questions the exclusion of women from pulpits and leadership boards. She reimagines a faith community that embraces both sons and daughters as vessels of power and wisdom. This makes the book particularly relevant for African women, many of whom navigate a complex intersection of faith, tradition, and ambition.
While the work is largely declarative and poetic, it does not lack substance. Irantiola’s reflections are undergirded by historical awareness and cultural critique. She is not just cheerleading; she is diagnosing societal patterns and prescribing remedies. She challenges patriarchal systems that tokenize women rather than fully include them and warns against superficial feminism that neglects structural change.
In terms of literary style, Irantiola’s voice is clear, bold, and at times lyrical. She does not shy away from repetition, using it as a rhetorical tool to drive her points home. Her cadence often mimics spoken word poetry, making the book ideal for live readings, workshops, or empowerment seminars. You can imagine a roomful of women nodding, snapping, or even standing to their feet as the words resonate deeply with their lived experiences.
Another strength of the book lies in its inclusivity. Irantiola does not speak only to women in high offices or elite circles. Her message embraces all women – students, homemakers, entrepreneurs, clerics, and professionals. It speaks to the young girl silenced in the classroom, the woman whose ambition is mocked, and the leader whose voice is constantly questioned. To all these women, she says: your presence is valid, your dreams are possible, your ceiling is meant to be shattered.
Smash the Glass Ceiling is also a valuable resource for mentors, educators, and gender equality advocates. It provides language that can be used to inspire, empower, and equip others. For men, too, it is a compelling read – one that invites introspection and partnership in dismantling systems that restrict and oppress. By the time the reader reaches the final chapter, the voice becomes even more urgent, more prophetic. It is as though the author is passing a torch, saying: “You have read the words; now embody them. Let this book not be a bookshelf decoration but a battle cry.”
What ultimately makes Smash the Glass Ceiling unique and impactful is not just its content but its conviction. It is not a passive commentary on gender roles; it is a full-throated declaration of purpose and power. It says that the time for waiting is over. That the barriers must fall. That women should not only be invited to the table but also empowered to lead it or build a better one.
In a world still grappling with inequality, erasure, and gendered expectations, this book is timely. It is more than a motivational manual – it is a manifesto. And in the hands of the right reader, it is not just a book, it is a sledgehammer!
About the Reviewer
Kehinde Olubanjo is a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Cancer Institute – National Institutes of Health (NCI-NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America. He contributes to clinical pharmacology studies by analyzing cancer drugs and determining their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. He earned his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Arkansas, with a research focus on microdialysis – a powerful technique for studying drug distribution in biological systems. His expertise bridges drug analysis, bioanalytical method development, and the broader intersection of chemistry, public health, and translational medicine. Beyond the lab, Kehinde is passionate about science communication and exploring how research can drive health equity and societal impact.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has dismissed rumours suggesting Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco have been abandoned, describing the reports as misleading and “deliberately crafted to misinform the public.”
Recently, a video went viral on social media showing that the students studying in Morocco under the federal government scholarship scheme were facing hardships, including homelessness and a lack of medical support.
However, in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid federal government scholarship has been abandoned.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year, in line with the Federal Government’s obligations.
“Any temporary delays in outstanding payments are attributable to fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance,” Mr Alausa stated.
“The Minister further stated that no new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or at any time thereafter. Documents being circulated to suggest otherwise are fake, unauthenticated, and constitute a calculated attempt to mislead the public and discredit government policy.
“Dr Alausa explained that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review, which established that Nigeria now possesses sufficient capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver the affected programmes locally.
“Consequently, only scholarships that are fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.
“Notwithstanding this policy shift, the Federal Government remains fully committed to students already enrolled under the previous arrangements and will continue to support them until the completion of their programmes.
“In addition, students who may prefer to discontinue their studies abroad may formally write to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards. Such students are being offered the option of returning to Nigeria, where they will be seamlessly reintegrated into appropriate tertiary institutions of their choice. The Federal Government will also cover their return travel costs to ensure a smooth and orderly transition,” the statement noted.
According to the Minister, the current administration remains committed to eliminating inefficiencies and abuses within the scholarship system, stressing that past practices that sponsored overseas training for courses already well established in Nigeria placed avoidable financial burdens on the nation.
He reaffirmed that the ongoing reforms are therefore aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and the prudent management of public resources.
The federal government reiterated its unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students and strongly rejects misinformation, blackmail, or any attempt to undermine policies designed to strengthen national capacity and safeguard the integrity of the education sector.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A significant step has been taken by the duo of Alternative Bank (AltBank) and the Busayo Ademuyiwa Foundation (BAF) to address the declining access to trained educators across Nigeria.
The two organisations recently a one-day capacity programme for teachers in the country at the 2025 BAF Teachers’ Conference in Lagos.
The event delivered hands-on training to hundreds of primary and secondary school teachers drawn from underserved communities across the country.
Nigeria’s education sector sits at a critical inflection point. With over 65 per cent of classrooms in underserved regions lacking access to trained educators or modern teaching tools, the learning crisis represents a structural failure with long-term economic consequences if not adequately addressed.
Rather than focus on policy rhetoric or aspirational targets, the conference tackled hard realities including teacher burnout, mental resilience, classroom innovation on a budget, and digital skill development.
Sessions were designed for practicality and replication, enabling attendees to take back immediately usable tools and frameworks to their schools. Specialised workshops on emotional health, low-tech teaching methodologies, and inclusive learning design underscored a broader commitment to both teacher well-being and student outcomes.
Key stakeholders in attendance included policymakers, school heads, and representatives from Nigeria’s corporate CSR sector, underscoring the convergence between social investment and educational equity.
Featured speakers included the president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Mr Audu Titus Amba; the General Manager of BIC Nigeria, Mr Anthony Amawe; the founder of Almanah Hope Foundation, Hope Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi; and Doyinsola Jawando-Adebomehin of Sequoia Span.
“The people who hold up Nigeria’s education system don’t need applause, they need backup,” the Executive Director for South at AltBank, Mrs Korede Demola-Adeniyi, stated.
“We see this platform as critical infrastructure. Equipping a teacher with the right tools and support is the most direct path to long-term national productivity,” she added.
“The challenge in Nigeria’s education sector is execution, not awareness. This partnership is part of a broader operational strategy to find the pressure points, inject support where it changes outcomes, and back it with measurable value. Our role is catalytic, not just financial,” Mrs Demola-Adeniyi stated further.
Business Post reports that the conference aligns with the bank’s HEART Strategy, a long-term investment thesis focused on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Technology.
Under this framework, the Bank continues to deploy capital and partnerships into scalable solutions targeting Nigeria’s most underserved sectors.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Plans have been concluded by Nigerian Breweries to support about 1,000 Nigerian students in Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.
The foremost brewing company is carrying out this empowerment initiative with a leading non-profit organisation, FATE Foundation, through the Orange Corners Student Ambassadors Programme of the Netherlands.
This partnership marks a significant step in advancing youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.
This is because the scheme is to promote entrepreneurship and offer networking opportunities in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Ambassadors are selected from specific universities to inspire students to see entrepreneurship as a desirable career path and to foster a culture of innovation within universities.
It targets students aged 18–35 currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.
“The partnership reinforces Nigerian Breweries’ long-standing commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development. Through initiatives like this, we are creating pathways for the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in Nigeria,” the Corporate Affairs Director for Nigerian Breweries, Mr Uzodinma Odenigbo, stated.
He further highlighted the company’s track record in youth empowerment, noting that since the renewed focus on youth empowerment and entreprenuership, Nigerian Breweries has impacted 2,365 young Nigerians across 24 states and the FCT.
Also speaking on the partnership, the Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Ms Adenike Adeyemi, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between Nigerian Breweries and the Orange Corners Programme.
“Nigerian Breweries has been a longstanding partner with Orange Corners Nigeria in many ways. We are delighted to have the company continue to support the Orange Corners Programme and elated that this commitment will reach an additional 1000 young Nigerians leveraging the proven Orange Corners Student Ambassadors framework,” she said.
Ms Adeyemi outlined FATE Foundation’s role to include designing and delivering the training curriculum, managing student registration and participation, maintaining accurate records of all beneficiaries, and coordinating all logistical and technical aspects to ensure successful programme delivery.
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