This Queen Says

In this profoundly honest conversation, I sit down with a dear friend, Nike Adeoti, who, according to her, passed through Queen’s College quietly but emerged years later as a revolutionary in Cuba, leading student strikes, invading embassies, and learning that standing up for yourself isn’t just acceptable, it’s necessary. Now a doctor, wife, and mother, Nike shares the moment that changed everything: asking herself "Why not you?" when life felt unfair.This conversation explores the danger of dishonesty among women, the freedom of admitting when life isn’t perfect, and the wisdom of understanding that attacks mean you have something valuable. Nike's message is clear: protect what you carry - your joy, your gifts, your calling because if life is coming after it, that's proof it's worth fighting for.Nike’s wisdom in her own words“I was thinking ‘woe is me, what’s happening to me?’ And then I thought: why not you? Would you be happier if it was happening to someone else?”“If you’re carrying something tangible, the devil has business with you. If you’re not, he has no business. So if things are coming after you, you carry something worth protecting.”“Nobody’s poop doesn’t stink. We’ve all got skeletons. Don’t judge people - give them the right conditions, lose all your money, lose your house, and then see if you wouldn’t steal. Get there first, then judge.”“If you don’t have people calling you for advice, you need to check yourself, it means they don’t think anything about you is wise.”“There’s something in your life that’s been constant through thick or thin. Whatever it is, don’t let life steal it from you. That’s what you carry. That’s the authentic you.”------------------------------Thank you for listening! If you have a comment, question, want to be on the podcast or can think of somebody else who should, please don’t hesitate to send a message via Substack, DM on Instagram or send an email to thisqueensays@gmail.com.Music by Bill Bellamy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com

In this hugely enjoyable chat, I sit down with Ify Okafor, from the Class of '97. A a woman who wears many crowns: certified wholeness coach, digital parenting advocate, and as well as her 9-5, Ify reflects on her journey from being a people pleaser to reaching a point today where she unapologetically declares: "you don’t have to be everyone’s cup of tea."At the heart of Ify's message is the courage to recognize that mental load is real and exhausting, and that it is important to know what is important to you. This conversation honours a woman who survived extreme burnout, four high-risk pregnancies and emerged as a reformed people pleaser ready to help other women do the same.Ify’s wisdom in her own words“I realized that I had to forgive people that probably didn't realize they hurt me. They were probably just bleeding and indeed that bled over me. And it was either I hold onto that or I let it go so that I could be free."“You’re lack of planning, ain’t gonna be my source of emergency. I'm sorry. I work, I run a business, but my family is my priority. And I'm very unapologetic about that."“I used to avoid conflict because I felt like conflict meant not liking me. But now, after all the work I've done on myself, I'll tell you what I think. If you don't like it, I get it. I understand. You may not be everybody's cup of tea. We will all be fine.”“God sometimes sends some of us through chaos first so that we can advocate for others about what not to do.”-------------Thank you for listening! If you have a comment, question, want to be on the podcast or can think of somebody else who should, please don’t hesitate to send a message via Substack, DM on Instagram or send an email to thisqueensays@gmail.com.Music by Bill Bellamy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com

In this fun episode, I sit down with Hannatu Adegboyega, a QC ‘99 girl who builds and leads high-performing sales teams in tech. This conversation explores navigating power dynamics as a young Black woman in male-dominated industry, the unspoken office politics women don’t talk about enough, and why being present matters more than having the perfect plan.Hannatu’s message is clear: prepare yourself while you wait, trust the timing even when it makes no sense, and when you’re 65, make sure you can answer the question—who have you helped?Hannatu’s wisdom in her own words“Be present. Be mindful. It’s very easy to get caught up in everything else”“I learned this summer that the most expensive things we did for my children were not the things they talk about most.”“You will give account of the resources and influence you’ve been given in your career, in the marketplace. If you can’t find one person, five people whose life changed because of you, you need to ask for a few more years.”“Enjoy where you are right now. You’re not gonna have it again.”-------Thank you for listening! If you have a comment, question, want to be on the podcast or can think of somebody else who should, please don’t hesitate to send a message via Substack, DM on Instagram or send an email to thisqueensays@gmail.com.Music by Bill Bellamy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Kemi, a brand strategist, storyteller, and founder of Chrystallis Conversations. As a proud Queen's College girl standing on the cusp of 50, Kemi takes me through the defining moments of her life that have led her to where she is finally stepping into her "golden era." This conversation explores the beauty and challenges of change, growth, the pressure to conform, and why women's friendships deserve to be celebrated like weddings.Kemi's message is clear: we are all in the process of becoming, and there's beauty in the ‘chrystallis’ stage - even when it's dark, messy and no one quite understands.Kemi in her own words"No is a complete sentence.""You are allowed to become, you are supposed to be different versions of yourself. Your 10-year-old self is very different from your 20-year-old, from who's sitting here today. But many times it's as though you're supposed to be this one thing, this one version forever.""The process of birthing is messy. There's nothing cute about it. That messiness is what sometimes we, ourselves and often the people around us can't deal with.""I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my friends, my girlfriends, in my life. We should have parties celebrating friendships the way people have weddings."Thank you for listening! If you have a comment, question, want to be on the podcast or can think of somebody else who should, please don’t hesitate to send a message via Substack, DM on Instagram or send an email to thisqueensays@gmail.com.Music by Bill Bellamy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com

In this deeply honest conversation, Enitan sits down with her cousin Tumi Aijbola. As a mother of three who stopped working for 10 years, Tumi reveals her biggest regret: being so focused on the future that she never fully enjoyed being present with her children. She discusses the need to carefully weighing up opportunities before making big decisions, the prophecy she didn't fully embrace, and why she's still waiting to exhale at 45.This conversation explores the pressure women put on themselves, the sacrifices parents make that children never see, and the weight of living in constant preparation for the next thing instead of being present for now. Tumi's message is clear: remove the cape, share your struggles, and stop trying to be superwoman—there's no award for it.Tumi’s Wisdom in Her Own Words“Don’t be too wrapped up in opinions. Live your life to the fullest. Be free. Love hard. Spend time with your loved ones. Don’t take any moment for granted.”“Share your burden. Don’t carry that burden alone. You don’t have to be superwoman all the time. Remove that cape. It’s not worth it. There’s no award for strongest woman ever.”“So far as you’re breathing, there’s still hope. Tomorrow will be better. Don’t hold onto the past. Look forward.”---------------- Thank you for listening! If you have a comment, question, want to be on the podcast or can think of somebody else who should, please don’t hesitate to send a message via Substack, DM on Instagram or send an email to thisqueensays@gmail.com.Music by Bill Bellamy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com

In this heartfelt premiere of "This Queen Says," host Enitan Sawyerr invites listeners to reflect on their journeys—past, present, and future and what you can expect in future episodes: honest conversations with women about life—not careers or networking, but the deeper wisdom that comes from simply living. These are discussions about growth, self-discovery, forgiveness, and becoming kinder to ourselves. Whether you attended Queen's College Lagos or not, if you've ever wondered if you're doing life right or looked at someone else's journey wondering how they figured it all out, this podcast is for you.Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that might change how you see your own journey. Share this with women in your life who need to hear that they're not alone, that their story matters, and that they're doing better than they think. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisqueensays.substack.com