Nigerian musician Simi has called on parents to teach their daughters the importance of self-sufficiency and emphasised the critical necessity for women to attain financial independence.
Simi highlighted the security that comes with financial freedom and urged women to take charge of their financial destinies in a recent TikTok video.
Simi emphasised that women may defend themselves and stand tall, secure in their capacity to take care of themselves, when they are financially independent. She underlined that women’s safety and welfare depend on economic power.
Acknowledging her own privilege, Simi reflected on her upbringing and the support she received, recognizing that not all women have had the same opportunities.
She appealed to society to step in and provide opportunities for deserving women, promoting gender equality and empowerment.
She said:
“Please do not raise your daughters to think that when they grow up, all they have to do is rely on someone that they don’t have to take care of themselves. When someone is spoiling you, it shouldn’t be because you cannot spoil yourself. As they are spoiling you, you too are spoiling them, and let them know that you’re standing strong.
“There is security in knowing that you have got yourself. A woman’s economic power is in protecting herself fending for herself and being able to confidently acknowledge that she is a complete person. You deserve good things; you need to occupy space.
“I admit that I say this from a place of privilege. I grew up among people who believed in me, pushed me and encouraged me. I had chances that took me from here to here but some women had to work with less.
“Less love, less faith, less kindness and opportunities, and that’s where we are a society have to step in and when you are in a position to give a deserving woman an opportunity, please give it to her”.
