Similar to the experiences of most African children, migration, a subset of the capitalist structures disrupted the concept of a nucleus family for me. Our beloved departed grandmother inherently embraced the opportunity to care for my siblings and me. The ethos, values and virtues that I continually strive to espouse got inculcated at this time. These sequential pillars serve as my moral compass and consist of the importance of God, humility and respect for others and the environment.
I enjoyed looking after the family livestock initiated through goats, sheep etc while at the peak of my teenage years, I graduated to take care of the cattle. For some odd reasons, I resonated more with radio, which remains a reliable mode to consume and process information and, more so, prompts my not-so-stable mind to think. I also enjoyed browsing books and magazines which consequently shaped my worldview. Shockingly, their profound odour and my rural settings provoked an inclination to think beyond self. Since then, and up until now, I have been unable to ignore entrenched inequalities and poverty I recently developed the vocabulary to use words like underdevelopment, social injustices, power asymmetries and exclusions to refer to the imprisonment of my fellow villagers and African societies at large.
I am sure that you have been wondering about what necessitates the not-so-marketing-savvy and lengthy introduction. This is because of a belief that my orientation and understanding of the world and its issues are not inseparable and thus informed by my rural upbringing. So, as a founder of Tiyimele Consultants, I tag along with my consciousness breastfed through my granny’s teaching coupled with the context in which I was born and raised. It is therefore not surprising that our consulting firm has an unwavering commitment to African philosophies and approaches. For this reason, we are of the view that our company is an extension of my interconnectedness to my community, environment and that of my departed grandmom.
In conclusion, I and by default, Tiyimele Consultants are and continue to be awed by the resilience of the African people. Thus, our company advocates the exploration of Afrocentric worldviews and paradigms in reforming/tweaking if not rebooting policies/programmes/projects. Unlike in the past, this is a century for Africans to occupy their rightful positions at the dinner tables and begin to direct the development orchestra. We seek opportunities to partner with local and international organisations to advance this timeous reimagination phase for the betterment of Africa and its people.
We are convicted that indigenising development is now!!!
