Community fails to acknowledge women's selfless contributions, Mary Njoku ponders the hardships faced by women

Mary Njoku, a prominent Nollywood actress and media entrepreneur, has spoken out against the societal tendency to downplay the sacrifices and accomplishments of women, highlighting the numerous responsibilities that many women undertake without receiving the recognition they deserve.

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In a recent Instagram post, Njoku recounted a conversation she had with a male colleague on Wednesday, during which he expressed his frustration with the pressure of providing for others, building a business, and supporting those who depend on him.

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According to Njoku, when she attempted to empathize with her colleague's struggles, he dismissed her response, claiming that women are incapable of understanding such responsibilities.

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Njoku shared a personal anecdote, stating that a few years ago, she had a conversation with a colleague she had hired for a project, in which he discussed the pressure of providing for others and building a business, to which she responded with understanding, only to be told that as a woman, she could not possibly relate.

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She recalled saying "I understand" to her colleague, who then replied, "No, you don't, you can't possibly understand, you are a woman, women don't understand that kind of pressure," prompting Njoku to smile and respond, "Of course, how can I?">

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Njoku then proceeded to sign her colleague's cheque, hand it to him, and bid him farewell, choosing not to argue the point, as she believed that her actions spoke louder than her words.

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Reflecting on the experiences of many African women, Njoku, who is the wife of IrokoTV founder Jason Njoku, noted that countless women have spent years providing financial and emotional support to their families, often without receiving any acknowledgment.

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For generations, countless African women have shouldered the burden of entire families, long before they had husbands or children, helping to raise siblings, paying school fees, supporting parents, and caring for relatives, all while carrying responsibilities that were never intended for one person to bear alone.

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Many of these women continue to carry this load even after getting married and starting families of their own, yet they rarely receive credit for their efforts, and their sacrifices are often overlooked or attributed to the nearest man.

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Society has traditionally celebrated men as providers, while treating many women's contributions as expected, invisible, or secondary, according to Njoku.

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Njoku encouraged women to recognize the value of their efforts and celebrate their accomplishments, telling them to "take their flowers" and acknowledge the significance of their work.

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In a message to women who are providing, building, leading, nurturing, sacrificing, and succeeding at work while still holding their homes together, Njoku said, "You've been carrying far more than most people will ever acknowledge, your work matters, your sacrifices count, your success is yours, and you don't need anyone's permission to own it."