Exclusive: ONE Ambassador Bisola Aiyeola on Why Every Girl deserves an Education, #SGIT, Motherhood, Love & Music

After coming in as the first runner-up in what can be classified as the biggest reality TV show in Africa Big Brother Naija, multi-talented Bisola Aiyeola has been working hard non-stop! From attending the United Nations General Assembly and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event to advocating for young girls getting a good education on behalf of international campaigning and advocacy organization ONE.

In an exclusive chat with BellaNaija, the ONE ambassador speaks passionately about her advocacy work plus she gives us the scoop on life after BBNaija, her new music, Skinny Girl in Transit, motherhood and love.

Today, as we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, this interview with Bisola Aiyeola is timely as it reminds us that we all have a role to play in making the world a better place for each and every girl.

Read the full Interview below!

We could not help but feel a swell of pride when we saw you in New York during 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 72) and then at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event where you spoke up for Girls Education.

It was a very enlightening experience I must say. I got to listen to Barack Obama, Bill and Melinda Gates, PM Justin Trudeau and other individuals around the globe who are putting in lots of efforts to make the world a better place and I am happy that I am part of ONE.org and we are lending our voice to help educate all girls.

With ONE #GirlsCount campaign that advocates for young girls getting a quality education, would you say your personal story is pushing you to do more?

Yes, my personal story is pushing me and also the fact that I have a daughter. By advocating for girl’s education we are helping to raise a generation of people who know the importance of education and who will use education to empower themselves and their communities.

Globally 130 million girls are out of school, with over 50 million of them in Africa. ONE is launching a report on October 11 (International Day of the Girl Child), which highlights the toughest countries for a girl to get an education and the huge barriers girls face to getting the education they deserve, especially in Africa. The issue of girls education is predominantly faced in Northern Nigeria.

Why is this campaign very important to you and how can we also do better?

Nine out of the ten worst countries are in Africa. Over 50 million girls are out of school in Africa – that’s over 50 million potential engineers, entrepreneurs and politicians whose leadership the world is missing out on. It’s a continental crisis that perpetuates poverty. ONE calls on African and world leaders to make a bold action to tackle the global education emergency.

It starts with committing to work towards delivering 20 percent of national budgets to education. You too can get involved by showing your support by posting a video or a picture encouraging our leaders to invest in girls education.

We know you were selected as ONE Ambassador during BBNaija. We will love to know more…

My primary role as ONE ambassador is to advocate for basic education for the girl child all the way up to secondary school. Every girl child globally should have at least primary school education rather than no education at all.

In the BBNaija house, you bravely opened up about not graduating from university and being a single mum. That really endeared a lot of people to you and also inspired others. Seeing as the norm in Africa is to shy away from discussions like those, what inspired your candour?

Too many people are silent about issues like this because they have been mocked and shamed. I am proud to be a mother and times are changing. Silence has done more harm than good to a lot of people, so what inspired me to speak was my journey in life, my ups and my hope that my journey would encourage others.

What has been the biggest difference for you, in terms of your career, before and after BBNaija?

The growth. My career still requires a lot of hard work but I’m in a good place. I work with an amazing management team, The Temple Company. I am able to help people more but some friends feel I don’t have time for them anymore. I just try to make them understand that I’m still trying to adjust my work and family to this new phase of my life and if they want to still be part of this journey they should come on board.

Will your character, Didi in “Skinny Girl in Transit” get her own “Mide”?

Lips sealed, you just have to watch this season unfold every Friday. I pray Didi gets her own Mide too. But anyway, we will see.

Talking about romance, is dating easier or more difficult now that you are THE Bisola Aiyeola and is love a priority?

About dating, it’s like there’s a thick cloak covering my dating sensors because there are no dates *laughs*. I don’t know if it’s easier or more difficult. I guess I’ve just been more occupied with work. Love is not a priority. Work and family & my activism take priority.

We know you have a new single out now.

Music is definitely taking focus now because I never really put my all into it but now I have the Temple Company and Temple Music. I will roll out more music for sure.

Do you consider yourself a comedian? We miss your skits on Instagram!

I haven’t considered myself a comedian but people always call me that. I also miss those Instagram skits *laughs*. So I have a few that will be out soon. I’m not giving up on those skits.

You have been on the grind in the entertainment industry for many years and now you are a star. Many people can relate to striving so hard to make it in their chosen professions or businesses and it seems like they can’t “catch a break”. What advice do you have for them?

My advice will be “don’t stop”. It’s been a long tough journey for me and I am not even started yet. So what I’ll tell anybody is consistency is your friend. Keep pushing, one day the breakthrough will come.

What does the future hold for Bisola

With God on my side, with good health, long life, family and friends and a sound mind, I see greatness. More music, more movies and more giving back to society.

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It was great chatting with Bisola Aiyeola! We love her even more now.

BNers, today is the International Day of the Girl Child.
Globally 130 millions girls are out of school, with over 50 million of them in Africa. ONE is launching a report today – October 11, which highlights the toughest countries for a girl to get an education and the huge barriers girls face to getting the education they deserve, especially in Africa. The issue of girls education is predominantly faced in Northern Nigeria.

Nine out of the ten worst countries are in Africa. Over 50 million girls are out of school in Africa – that’s over 51 million potential engineers, entrepreneurs and politicians whose leadership the world is missing out on. It’s a continental crisis that perpetuates poverty.

ONE calls on African and world leaders to make a bold action to tackle the global education emergency. It starts with committing to work towards delivering 20 percent of national budgets to education.

You too can get involved by showing your support by posting a video or a picture encouraging our leaders to invest in girls education by going to https://girlscount.one.org/