Ope is near to completing her post-graduate law degree in South Africa. She is currently on placement in Mozambique as part of her second semester studies.

Ope believes that women hold the key to bring change

I think Africans are gradually coming to terms with the fact that women have more roles to play in society beyond cleaning, cooking and child bearing.

It is becoming obvious that African women can lead in diverse positions.

I have had the fortune of determining the role I want to play in the society and not allowing society to construct who I can and should be.

I chose to study law much to the chagrin of many; even women that I had hoped would encourage me.

My mother, who is now 63-years-old, was a dominant force and she stood by me throughout.

After hearing about my admission to university, a neighbour told me the implication would be having to choose between having a 'home' - marriage and children - and becoming a lawyer.

Feeling a bit discouraged I told my mother. She went to the woman and gave her a lecture about discouraging young girls and their ambitions!

Circumstances

Her mother, my grandmother, didn't go to school and from what my mother has told me it was really impressed on them - my mother and her three sisters - to go to school.

My father contributed greatly to my mother's success. She became what she wanted to be because he was so progressively minded

All four sisters did attend school up till secondary level however it was only my mother that chose to continue her studying.

She wanted to study law but society and circumstances wouldn't let her.

Her ambitions at that stage of her life could not be realised.

Society perhaps created a level, as did poverty and location. She grew up in a very rural area of Nigeria.

My mother became a primary school teacher and rose to position of head teacher.

My grandmother was pleased that one of her daughters amounted to something.

Supportive

However my mother didn't just stop there - she continued striving towards her dream of achieving a university degree by taking part-time lessons while teaching.

Her dream did come true.

But only when she was in her 60s having brought up eight children.

Viewpoints on the role of women in modern Africa

My father contributed greatly to my mother's success. She became what she wanted to be because he was so progressively minded.

A lot of his friends admitted that they would never have been able to stand for it if my mother had been their wife but my supportive father never complained.

When we were teenagers, my siblings and I, used to complain about her dedication to studying and never really understood why it was so important to her.

On the other hand we expected to be given an education.

Naturally I wanted it and had the support my mother gave me but she did expect a lot. More than my father did.

She really pushed us hard, sometimes we felt she pushed us too hard.

Now I am pleased that she was and she definitely has been made proud - our family now includes a doctor, dentist, lawyer, engineer, accountant and economist who has since re-trained as a nurse.

Empowerment

Being born in Africa and spending all my life here has influenced my study subjects. This continent is so misunderstood and I want that to change.

The whole image could if we empowered people.

Ope says Nigeria's powerful finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an inspiration

They are what matter. They are human beings and vulnerable and their needs must be met. They have dire needs.

Everything starts with the people and women are the ones that hold the key to bring change.

My life is the way it is because my mother had such a progressive outlook - she moulded our personalities and had the most direct influence.

If women are empowered their dignity will be restored.

Women are the beginning of everything.

The new African woman has the luxury of choice - albeit one she has to contend for.

Our mothers and grandmothers had so-called choices thrust on them. That is the difference. As African women, we now have the opportunity to stand up and be who we can and want to be.

We are not tussling with the men. We are simply taking what is rightfully ours.