Women entrepreneurs, innovators and young professionals have been urged to tell their stories more intentionally as a way of inspiring change, influencing policy and creating opportunities for others.
This call resonated strongly during a recent Purple School engagement, where participants shared personal journeys of resilience, entrepreneurship and innovation, demonstrating how ordinary challenges can be transformed into solutions with lasting social impact.
Speaking during the session, participants highlighted the importance of recognising and amplifying stories that often go unnoticed despite their significant contributions to communities and economic development.
Founder of Purple School, Mrs. Olive Obioma, was commended for creating a platform that brings together diverse voices across communication, advocacy, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
One of the speakers, Foluso Shado of the Justice Research Institute Nigeria, described the session as a rich blend of experiences that showcased how individuals are turning limited resources into opportunities and survival into thriving enterprises.
According to him, the presentations revealed that innovation is not always driven by large corporations or sophisticated technology but often emerges from people seeking practical solutions to everyday problems.
He cited the example of a fashion entrepreneur who designed clothing to address the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers returning to work, while also helping brides build confidence through thoughtfully designed outfits.
“It goes beyond needle and thread. It is about solving real-life problems and improving people’s quality of life,” he said.
Shado also praised the experienced professionals and mentors who participated in the programme for providing practical guidance and connecting emerging entrepreneurs with platforms that can help scale their ideas and businesses.
He warned that many inspiring stories risk being overshadowed by the fast-paced nature of social media, where algorithms often determine which narratives gain visibility.
