Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye is one young lady that is blessed with beauty and the brain to go with. The CEO and founder of Rubies Ink Initiative, she talked to us about her book, Breaking the Silence, her other pet projects, her family and more. Enjoy…
Can we meet you?
My name is Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye. I am a mother and a wife. I’m a mother of two children; two beautiful girls. I am the CEO and founder of Rubbies Ink Initiative, the organizers of Walk Against Rape Campaign in Nigeria and Project Capable.
How long have you been into this?
We started in 2010; we started the campaign in 2010.
Tell us about the book you just wrote.
The book is titled Breaking the Silence. It’s a book on rape and sexual abuse. It’s written to sensitise the society on the scourge of rape and sexual abuse. It also contains information on help lines and help centres where people can get help. In essence, if you have a case you want to report, the book contains information, the steps you need to take in going to get medical or legal backing as well as numbers you can call. You will get all these for free inside the book. The foreword was written by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a member of the Federal House of Representatives.
What inspired you to write the book, Breaking the Silence?
My strong passion for humanity, my love for change. I am passionate about anything that has to do with justice. I like people getting justice, I don’t like people being cheated in anyway. So, when I see people being sexually abused, and the abuser is walking freely on the street, I feel guilty as a citizen of this country. I need to do something and that is what I am doing with the book. Trying to support and compliment the work of government in trying to stop rape and curb sexual abuse.
How far do you think Breaking the Silence will help curb the menace?
If we can have people reporting cases of rape, it is going to do two things: (1) The victims will open up, tell us their stories and we will be able to counsel them. (2) The perpetrators won’t walk on our streets freely. It means we can actually put people in jail for raping people. So, before we know it, when people know that they will go to jail for raping other people, they will stop it. So, we have to start from somewhere and that’s what we are doing with the book. Telling the society that you can help us and the government. Let us work together, let us stop this together. So, the book contains all the information people need on rape and sexual abuse. Everything you need to know and everything you need to do. Where you report cases, places you need to avoid for the students of universities and secondary schools, vital signs you need to watch out for in rapists and abusers, among other vital information on rape and sexual abuse.
What should be done to perpetrators that still walk about freely?
Firstly, the reason why victims don’t come out is because of stigmatization. When you are being stigmatized, when the society makes you feel being raped is your fault, you are filthy, you are not worthy to belong to a particular group. We are trying to also stop that. Let’s stop the stigmatization. Secondly, I need to say it: The Ministry of Women Affairs, Lagos State is doing a fantastic job. Lagos State is setting the pace for other states to follow. I am telling you authoritatively now that once you report a case to the Lagos State government, they take it up, counsel the victims and make the perpetrators face the punishment for the crime committed.
What were the challenges you faced while writing the book?
First, the target audience. How will these people look at the book? You try to simplify your words so that people can understand. So, it took me a while researching and trying to look for simplicity in words to suit the common man, the layman on the street. An illiterate can read the book and understand and even if you can’t understand some parts, you will understand help line; that you need to call for help. It’s written in a way that people would understand. The diction you can assimilate properly. It’s a must have for everybody.
How did you come about funding the book, Breaking the Silence?
Personally, we funded it, Ruby Ink Initiative. If we have our way, we will print millions of copies and give them it out to people. In creating the book, we are calling on well meaning Nigerians, established Nigerians to buy into the vision and sow the book into the lives of people and spread the message.
Let’s digress a bit, tell us about your background?
I’m from Edo State, I grew up in a family of four, my mum, my elder brother, a young sister and myself. I attended St Saviour’s High School, Ijokun-Ikotun. I acquired a diploma in Computer Science and Programming/Desktop Publishing from Lagos City Computer College. From there I proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. I did a two – year diploma in Marketing, then I proceeded for my B.Sc in Sociology.
Where do you picture these rape victims after reading your book, say in two or three years to come?
I see them being free and healed. A problem shared is a problem solved. When you are able to come out, forget the past, share your story, you see other people being inspired. In three years, they are free, they are healed. They are ready to walk on the street freely, knowing full well that people can identify them as that girl that came out to tell her story. But because people are not informed, they tend to withdraw into their shell. But if we allow people to come out and tell us their story, in three years, they will be free.
What is your definition of being successful?
Being successful means to attain a particular level in life. When you find yourself in a particular pedestal in life, you have too many resources at your disposal, then you help other people with it. Being successful means seeing people around you progress, seeing them succeed; that’s success.
At this stage in your life, do you consider yourself as being successful?
Let me tell you one thing about success; even the richest man in the world wants to have more money. Some people come out and say I’m fulfilled at this stage of my life right now. Yes, I am fulfilled. I have two beautiful girls, I have a lovely husband, I have a wonderful home, I have projects that I am proud of and I have people embracing my projects and supporting me. It’s not only about so much money in your bank account. For the fact that I have young people that I mentor, I have a lot of young boys and young girls around me, I encourage them, and I see them doing well in their different fields. So, to me, that’s success. At this stage in my life, I’m fulfilled. If you meet me in five years’ time, I’m sure the story will be different.
What are those things you crave for but are yet to achieve?
First, one of our short term aims is to have a one-stop centre, a place you can walk in and get free counseling, free medical service and free legal system/justice. That is, you having a lawyer that will help you get justice. If we can have that in different local governments, that is what I’m looking at. So many people don’t know where to go to; the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs, like I said earlier on, they are doing a fantastic job. But we need more hands on deck, we need more of those centers at our disposal. So, it means that as I’m in Ojodu right now, I can actually walk down to Ojodu local government and I will get a one-stop centre. I can report my case, I can be counseled and I know I will get justice. That is the big picture, that is what we are looking at.
Lastly, where can we get your books?
It can be bought in Jumia Nigeria. That’s the biggest on-line retail store in Nigeria. For those who need the book, you can easily contact me by adding me on facebook, follow me on twitter and we have a blogspot, walkagainstrapenigeria/blogspot.com
NB: First published December 2013