Favour Samuel: Dedicated to help women overcome Fibriod and living healthier

Favour Samuel(BoldStepps)

Did you know that only around 34% of women in Nigeria undergo regular health check-ups? As much as this is alarming, this goes to show why women continue to encounter different health challenges that become full-blown because of late detection. See ehn...ignorance is no excuse. Once you take your health seriously, everything else follows. Besides, the saying that Health is Wealth holds water.

There was no better person than Favour Samuel to do justice to this issue. Being a Fibroid survivor, she uses her expertise and experience to help women reach their full potential, live better and stay healthier. When life showed her pepper, she turned it into pepper soup. She is the global ambassador for fibroid awareness. 

Through her Project 25 Million Women campaign, she has saved women from the same Fibroid predicament. One would have thought that was all about her, but not at all. Favour is also the Founder of HerVoice.Africa, an initiative geared towards assisting 25 million women in overcoming fibroids with the right resources and support. In recent development, her NGO, Fibroid Awareness, Support & Youth Empowerment Initiative, got certified by CAC in Nigeria. Favour can be contacted for partnerships and collaborations via stopfibroid@gmail.com

You can get a copy of her book today here. You can also buy her Premium Wellness Consultation here.

Omote Ro Dhe loves chatting with women like Favour who are doing amazing things and not letting their situations get the better of them. Seat belts, please, as you go on a jolly ride in this inspiring and insightful chat with Favour. 

Read excerpts below:

Your journey with fibroids lasted 25 years. Can you share what that experience was like and how it shaped your passion for women's health?

Living with fibroids for 25 years was a long, painful journey—one filled with silent struggles, unanswered questions, and moments of deep & intense frustration.

It was like carrying an invisible weight—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The pain & uncertainty all left deep imprints.

But it also lit a fire in me.

Through that journey, I found purpose.

My pain turned into purpose.

Every setback became a lesson, and every challenge shaped my passion for helping other women.

It shaped not just my passion, but my conviction—I’m committed to making sure no woman feels alone on their fibroid journey or uninformed the way I once was.

If I can help someone shorten their journey and find relief faster, then it was all worth it."

NOW, I advocate for early education, holistic care, and empowering women to take control of their reproductive health.

Many women suffer in silence with fibroids. Why do you think this is the case, and how can we break the silence around it?

So many women suffer in silence with fibroids because of shame, stigma, normalisation of pain, and silence that has been passed down through generations.

We've been taught that heavy bleeding, crippling cramps, and bloated bellies are just part of being a woman—but they’re not.

There's a deep lack of awareness, especially in communities where reproductive health is rarely discussed.

But I believe silence is one of the biggest enemies to healing.

To break that silence, we must start having real, open conversations.

We need to educate girls from puberty, create safe spaces for women to share their stories, and push for better healthcare policies.

That’s why I founded the EmpowHER Wellness Support Community—to create a safe space for women to be seen, heard, and supported.

Through education, open dialogue, and grassroots awareness, we’re working to raise a fibroid-free generation.

When we speak up, we give others permission to do the same—and that’s how change begins.”

It starts by telling the truth, breaking the silence, and empowering women to take charge of their reproductive health with confidence and clarity.”

You emphasise lifestyle and dietary modifications for peak performance. What are some key changes that women can make to improve their health and productivity?

Lifestyle and dietary modifications aren't suggestions; they’re the blueprint for a woman to thrive.

When done intentionally, these changes can transform your energy levels, mental clarity, balance hormones, and boost productivity.

Here are a few high-impact changes women can adopt to boost their health and productivity:

1. Sync with Your Cycle:

Work with your body, not against it. Align nutrition, workouts, and tasks with your cycle phases to harness your natural strengths.

2. Eat to Balance Hormones:

Choose foods that support your body: cruciferous veggies, omega-3s, and iron-rich meals. Dump sugar spikes for hormonal harmony.

3. Hydration = Hormone Transportation

Dehydration slows down everything—your brain function, digestion, and even hormonal communication.

Drink more than just water; add lemon, cucumber, or mint for added minerals. Herbal teas can also nourish your reproductive system.

4. Prioritise Sleep Like a Non-Negotiable Business Meeting.

Sleep is where your body recalibrates, hormones reset, and your brain files information.

Quality sleep leads to sharper decisions, a better mood, and improved metabolism.

Aim for 7–9 hours of deep, undisturbed sleep. Create a bedtime wind-down ritual.

It’s your nightly power-up.

5. Move Your Body Daily—But Match It to Your Energy.

Honour your energy levels.

Switch to yoga or gentle walks during PMS or menstruation. The key is consistency and alignment—not exhaustion.

Final Thought:

Your body is not a machine to be pushed; it's a garden to be cultivated. Every lifestyle choice you make is either nourishing you or depleting you.

A nourished woman is an unstoppable force of creativity, clarity, and contribution.

Start today with just one shift.

Maybe it’s swapping your morning coffee for a hormone-balancing smoothie. Or journaling to sync with your cycle. Whatever it is, start now. Your future self will thank you.

Your initiative, Project 25 Million Women, is an ambitious one. How do you plan to reach and impact such a large number of women?

Thank you for this opportunity to speak about something very close to my heart—Project 25 Million Women.”

Yes, it’s bold. Yes, it’s ambitious. But it’s deeply necessary.

Because 1 in 3 women are silently suffering from fibroids. Many don’t even have a name for what’s happening in their bodies.

Our mission—Raising a Fibroid-Free Generation of Women in the 21st Century—isn't a dream. It’s a call to action.

So, how do we plan to reach 25 million women?

First, we’re harnessing the power of digital platforms—social media, email campaigns, webinars—to deliver fibroid education and self-care tools that are not just informative but empowering. We speak in a voice that resonates: warm, relatable, and culturally relevant.

Second, we’re going grassroots. Through partnerships with community health workers, schools, and women-led organisations, we’re reaching women right in their communities with workshops, awareness drives, and healing circles.

Third, we will launch our Wisdom Ambassadors program. This is a train-the-trainer model—when you empower one woman with knowledge, she transforms her circle. This ripple effect is how we multiply our reach, sustainably.

We also recognise the power of storytelling and local media—radio shows, community podcasts, native-language videos—tools that break stigma and ignite dialogue.

And we’re measuring every step—because this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about stories of transformation, of relief, of healing.

Project 25 Million Women is a movement, rewriting the reproductive health story of millions of women.

What myths or misconceptions about fibroids do you wish more people understood?

One of the biggest myths about fibroids is that they only affect older women or those who’ve never been pregnant. The truth is, fibroids can develop as early as the teenage years—even in women who’ve had children.

Another major misconception is that fibroids always need surgery. While some cases do, many can be managed or even prevented through early lifestyle changes, diet, and proper menstrual care.

Lastly, a lot of women believe painful periods are “normal”—but chronic pain, heavy bleeding, or bloating shouldn’t be ignored. These can be early signs of fibroids and deserve attention.

Awareness is the first step to prevention—and every woman deserves to know what’s happening in her body.

If you could interview any historical or fictional character, who would it be and why?

If I could interview any historical or fictional character, it would be Maya Angelou.

A woman of immense grace, power, and wisdom—her words didn’t just tell stories, they healed generations.

I’d ask her how she found the strength to rise from trauma and turn pain into poetry, purpose, and global impact.

She understood the soul of womanhood, the resilience of Black women, and the sacredness of voice.

Her words have always resonated deeply with me.

Angelou’s ability to transform pain into power, to speak truths that touched the soul, and to empower others through her vulnerability is something I admire deeply.

In my work with fibroid education and women’s wellness, I often think about her quotes:

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

– This speaks directly to the healing power of speaking our own truth.

"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”

– A perfect reflection of her resilience and the message of rising from pain to purpose.

So many women are silently carrying pain in their bodies—physical, emotional, and generational.

To speak with Maya Angelou would be to tap into the deep well of truth-telling, healing, and radical self-love that every woman needs to reclaim her power.

You recently authored a book on fibroids and women’s health. What inspired you to write it?

What inspired me to write this book on fibroids and women’s health wasn’t just information—it was pain, silence, and the urgent need for transformation.

For years, I watched women—brilliant, vibrant women—silently endure the weight of fibroids.

The impact goes beyond the physical; it’s the dreams delayed by chronic fatigue, the shame tied to our cycles, the isolation that comes with not having answers.

I’ve met young girls who believe excruciating periods are “just part of being a woman,” and women who feel betrayed by their bodies after multiple surgeries with no lasting relief.

This book is my love letter to every woman who has ever been told to "just deal with it." And most of all, it’s my contribution to raising a fibroid-free generation—because I believe that prevention is possible, healing is real, and education is power.

I wrote it to restore dignity, to ignite awareness, and to champion healing. So that every girl grows up empowered, every woman feels seen, and together, we raise a fibroid-free generation.

I wrote it to give women back their voice, their power, and hope. So that no girl grows up in the dark about her body, and no woman walks her healing journey alone.

This book is not just pages—it’s a movement. It’s a voice for the unheard, a lifeline for the misinformed, and a declaration that we will no longer normalise suffering. It’s my stand against the silence that has kept too many women in the dark for too long.

Success is relative. What does it mean to you? Who are some women who are your yardstick of being successful?

To me, success is legacy.

It's living a life that aligns with my purpose, making a real difference in the lives of others.

It’s waking up every day and choosing purpose. It’s being a voice for women who have been silenced by pain.

Success is seeing a generation of women, especially young girls, rise with confidence, clarity, and knowledge about their reproductive health.

Breaking cycles of misinformation, empowering women to advocate for their own healing, and raising a fibroid-free generation. That, to me, is success.

It’s not about noise or numbers; it’s about impact. If even one woman reclaims her body, her story, and her health because of the work I do, then I’ve succeeded.

Some women who define success for me are:

My mother – for her quiet strength, her sacrifices, and the wisdom she passed down. Her resilience is etched in my soul

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – for her brilliance, poise, and trailblazing spirit in spaces where African women were once invisible.

Ijeoma Umebinyuo – for reminding us through her words that softness is strength, and healing is revolutionary.

Success, to me, is building something that outlives you—and doing it with heart.

What message do you want women to take away from your journey and mission?

I want women to understand that fibroids and any other health challenge don’t define you.

You are not defined by your struggles, but by your resilience and the strength to rise above them.

Healing isn’t just about treating the physical; it’s about nourishing your mind, body, and spirit.

Every step you take toward awareness, self-care, and understanding brings you closer to healing—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

My mission is to help every woman understand that your health is your most precious gift, and it’s never too late to take control.

Together, we can rewrite the narrative and create a world where women don’t just survive but thrive.

You are worthy of living a life full of vitality, love, and purpose. Let that be the message that stays with you long after you read this.