My Vision Is to Inspire and Support Single Mothers – Ekanem

Kusin Ekanem, a seasoned author and women’s empowerment advocate, is deepening efforts to inspire, support, and equip single mothers and divorcees, particularly through access to education and practical financial knowledge.

According to a media statement, Ekanem said her work is shaped by lived experience, loss, and a deliberate commitment to social change.

Her journey into advocacy was born from hardship. While studying at the university, she dropped out at the 400 level due to mounting marital pressures, financial strain, and the demands of raising children.

For several years, she navigated those challenges alone. Determined to build a different future, Ekanem returned to school as a single mother of two. With no formal support system, she persevered and eventually graduated with distinction.

“Education gave me a second chance,” she said. “I want every woman, especially single mothers, to know that they can rise again, no matter how many times life knocks them down.”

Beyond sharing her story, Ekanem said her mission is to challenge and rewrite prevailing narratives around single motherhood, particularly those that frame it as a deficit rather than a reality that requires structure and support.

“Society often treats single mothers as broken or less capable,” she observed. “I’m here to challenge that stigma. Single mothers are strong, resourceful, and capable of building stable lives and lasting legacies when given the right tools.”

As part of this vision, Ekanem recently launched EMPOWER 1000, an initiative designed to equip one thousand single mothers and divorcees with foundational financial and investment knowledge. The project focuses on helping women understand money, build financial order, and make informed decisions that support long-term stability.

According to her, the initiative is not about quick wealth, but about restoring clarity and confidence in financial decision-making.

“Many women are not irresponsible with money,” she said. “They are simply navigating complex responsibilities without guidance. Financial knowledge is not a luxury for single mothers, it is a survival skill.”

Turning personal pain into purpose, Ekanem has authored a book and built a growing platform that coaches and empowers women to shed shame and reclaim agency over their lives.

“My pain became my platform,” she noted. “I want women to stop hiding in shame and start living in strength.”

She also established the Kusin Ekanem Education Fund, a scholarship initiative supporting children from single-parent homes in Nigeria. The fund was inspired by her own experience after her marriage ended.

“When my marriage collapsed, my children stayed out of school for two semesters because I could not afford the fees,” she said. “I promised myself that no child should be denied education simply because of their parents’ situation.”

Ekanem emphasized that the scholarship initiative is not charity, but a structured intervention aimed at long-term impact. The fund seeks to support school fees, provide essential learning materials, and empower single mothers to keep their children in school.

“It is not charity,” she added. “It is part of my mission to demonstrate that single motherhood is not a disability, but a platform for resilience, rebuilding, and legacy.”

Through her education, financial empowerment, and advocacy initiatives, Ekanem continues to address key challenges faced by single-parent households, including financial vulnerability, interrupted education, and social stigma.

She said her long-term goal is to promote systemic solutions and create an environment where single mothers and their children are supported to thrive, not merely survive.