Afise Mercy

📑 My Published Research Paper

I’m pleased to share my published research paper titled:

“Early Childhood Education and Long-Term Labour Market Outcomes in Nigeria.”

This study examines the relationship between early childhood education and later labour-market outcomes in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of investing in early education as part of long-term human capital development.

I encourage researchers, policymakers, educators, students, and everyone interested in education, economics, human capital development, and Nigeria’s labour market to take a look at the paper.

📖 I would love to hear your thoughts and perspectives.

Thank you for supporting my research journey. 🙏

Thank you, Google! 🙏 This is who I am!

I am gradually moving forward, growing, and making an impact—one step at a time. The journey may be gradual, but the progress is real. 🌱✨

I’m grateful for how far I’ve come and excited about where I’m going.

Thank you, God. 🙏❤️

A 4-Year-Old Child Cannot Protect Herself—We Must Do Better

Last Friday, I was at a police station and witnessed something that I am still struggling to comprehend.

A man in his 20s was accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old child. What shocked me even more was hearing the suspect confirm what he had done.

I saw the little girl and her mother, and I kept asking myself: How does a mother process something this devastating?

I am not here to judge the mother’s emotions. People react to trauma differently, and poverty, shock, fear, or helplessness can affect how someone responds to such a situation.

But one thing is clear: children need adults who will protect them.

Parents—especially mothers and fathers—must take the safety of their children seriously. We must know who has access to our children, where they go, who they spend time with, and what happens around them.

A 4-year-old cannot protect herself. She depends entirely on the adults around her.

And when an adult sexually abuses a child, the response must be firm: protect the child, provide medical and psychological support, investigate properly, and ensure the perpetrator faces justice under the law.

We also need stronger awareness and support systems for parents, particularly vulnerable families, so poverty does not leave children exposed to abuse.

Our children deserve protection, not silence.
Our girls deserve safety, not excuses.
And perpetrators deserve justice, not protection.

Let us do better for the children who depend on us. 🧒🏽💔

Nigeria: Federalism or Dependency? 🇳🇬

Let’s have an honest conversation about fiscal federalism in Nigeria.

If Nigeria is truly practicing fiscal federalism, why do many states and local governments depend so heavily on monthly federal allocations to function?

Why should a government that is constitutionally responsible for delivering services to its people be unable to finance those responsibilities without waiting for allocations from Abuja?

And then we have the local government question.

Local governments are closest to the people, yet their financial and administrative autonomy remains one of the biggest governance debates in Nigeria.

How can we expect meaningful grassroots development when the government closest to the people has limited control over its resources?

Perhaps the bigger question is:

Are we practicing federalism in principle, but centralisation in practice?

A stronger federation should encourage states and local governments to:

• Develop sustainable internally generated revenue
• Build competitive local economies
• Control resources necessary for their responsibilities
• Be accountable directly to their citizens
• Compete through better policies, infrastructure and service delivery

Federal allocations should support development—not become the primary survival mechanism of subnational governments.

And this conversation should not stop at “more autonomy for the states.”

We should equally ask:

What about autonomy and financial accountability for local governments?

Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable grassroots development if the level of government closest to the people remains financially and administratively constrained.

So, what are we really operating—fiscal federalism, or a highly centralised federation?

I would genuinely like to hear different perspectives, especially from economists, public finance experts, policymakers and students of governance.

What should Nigeria change? 🇳🇬

Strangers can sometimes support your dreams more easily than people within your immediate circle. That’s why you must learn to network beyond your community, state, and even your country. 🌍

More importantly, build relationships with people who are ahead of you. Learn from their experiences, study the strategies they used to succeed, and position yourself to grow.

Your network can expose you to opportunities your environment may never provide.

Don’t limit your dreams to the people you already know. Expand your network, expand your knowledge, and expand your possibilities.
✨

My Sincere Apologies to His Excellency, Peter Obi

Sir, I sincerely apologize to you for the embarrassment you experienced in Benue State today.

What happened today is deeply painful and embarrassing for many of us who call Benue home.

Our youths, who should be the strength and future of our state, have unfortunately become vulnerable to manipulation because of poverty, unemployment, hunger, and hopelessness. Sadly, this appears to be one of the few times their value is recognized—when they are needed for political activities.

Our people are being killed in their homes and communities every day. The true number of casualties is far beyond the figures circulating on social media. At the same time, many of our young people are unemployed and struggling to survive.

Benue, once proudly known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” is today facing a devastating security and humanitarian crisis. Yet, instead of mobilizing our young people to protect their communities, create opportunities, and fight poverty and insecurity, we witnessed youths being mobilized to prevent you from visiting internally displaced persons (IDPs).

It is unfortunate that some young people willingly participated in such an embarrassing act. But beyond condemnation, we must ask ourselves: what has pushed our youths to this point?

Poverty makes people vulnerable. Unemployment creates desperation. Lack of education and opportunities can make young people susceptible to manipulation.

Sir, please pardon our youths. Many are poor, hungry, frustrated, and unfortunately vulnerable to political manipulation. What happened today does not represent the aspirations of every Benue youth.

Benue deserves better.

We deserve a government that prioritizes security, education, employment, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and human dignity. Our young people should be empowered to build the state—not used as instruments against one another.

The backwardness we see today is a painful reflection of years of misplaced priorities and poor leadership. Our state and its people deserve far more than what we are experiencing.

To His Excellency Peter Obi, please accept my sincere apology on behalf of those of us who believe Benue can and should do better.

May peace return to Benue.
May our people be safe in their homes.
May our youths find meaningful opportunities.
And may Benue rise again. 🙏🏽

Afise Mercy,
Women & Girl child empowerment Advocate.

Mr. Peter Obi

“A Woman Can Build Her Career, Raise Her Children, and Still Chase Her Dreams.”

Here’s a quick one.

About a year ago, I was seriously contemplating whether to take up a new job and put my education on hold.

It was a new job, and naturally, I felt I couldn’t afford to give excuses or appear unserious at the early stage. At the same time, I was pursuing my PhD, and I knew balancing both would be extremely demanding.

Yes, I doubted myself.

I reached out to a few mentors and people I trusted for advice. One of them advised me to put school on hold and focus on the new job, especially because the job was what I would depend on to provide for myself and my children.

I listened to different opinions, weighed the pros and cons, and then I said to myself:

“I can do this.”

After all, those who have successfully done it before me don’t have two heads! 😂

So, I took up the job and, at the same time, kicked-started my PhD journey.

And yes, it involved money. 💰

I am not on a scholarship. I have been fully self-funding my education while also taking care of my children and their needs.

It hasn’t been easy. There have been difficult days, moments of doubt, financial pressure, and times when I wondered how I would keep everything going.

But somehow, I have navigated through it.

I have done it, and I am still doing it!

Being a single mother has not stopped me from pursuing my dreams. It has not stopped me from working, studying, providing for my children, and building the life I want.

Whether it is a car 🚗, a house 🏠, a degree 🎓, a career, or financial independence—your circumstances may make the journey harder, but they do not have to determine your destination.

Single mothers have no limits. We only have challenges to overcome.

Do not build your hopes or financial success entirely around another person.

Build yourself. Build your skills. Build your career. Build your network. Build your financial capacity.

And if people choose to support you along the way, consider it a bonus—not the foundation of your life.

I am a work in progress, but I am proud of how far I have come.

Your mindset is your limit. Believe in yourself. Start. Keep going. You may surprise yourself. ❤️

Finally, I am done with my PhD coursework! 🎓🎉

Combining work and school has never been easy, but I did it! 💪🏽

It has been a tough and demanding journey, filled with challenges, long days, sacrifices, and moments of doubt. But through it all, God’s grace sustained me.

Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings, strength, favour, and abundant grace that saw me through this challenging journey. 🙏🏽

One milestone achieved. One step closer to the finish line. PhD journey continues! 🎓📚✨