Lara Garuba is a 2001 graduate of Law from the University of Benin and an attorney with over 15 years combined experience in Law, banking, consulting and empowerment of young adults for capacity building. She is the Founder/CEO of the Global Mentoring Club, a foremost mentoring club for young lawyers across Sub-Saharan Africa. She speaks on her passion for mentoring young lawyers across the African Continent.
Can you tell us more about your background?
I was born and brought up in the city of Ibadan to the family of Chief and Mrs. S.L. Ayanniyi, both of blessed memory, and a grand-daughter of Chief S.A. Oloko. I went to Queen’s School Apata, Ibadan for my secondary education before I proceeded to the University of Benin, Edo State to study Law. I am the last born of the family.
How would you describe yourself?
I am a very creative, intuitive individual and a lover of art. I love to do things differently and love meeting people and learning about their background. I pride myself in making sure people have the right information because it drives better result and I deeply believe in mentorship. I guess I got this from my mum.
What is the Global Mentoring Club about?
The Global Mentoring Club (GMC) is the foremost mentoring club for young lawyers across Sub-Saharan Africa. We empower young lawyers in Africa by creating opportunities for them to learn, network and grow through mentorship, job placement, personal and career development.
I fully appreciate that having the guidance, encouragement and support of a trusted and experienced mentor can provide a mentee with a broad range of personal and professional benefits, which ultimately lead to improved performance in the workplace and in life generally and my mantra is “Only The Learned Can Mentor The Learned”.
What in your background prepared you for this?
My story will not be complete without reference to my late mum, Mrs. Abiodun Modupe Ayanniyi (nee Oloko). She was a mentor per excellence. She mentored everyone that came her way and she practically pushed me to study this honourable profession and I have no regret whatsoever.
When did you start and why?
My passion for mentoring young adults started many years ago and I started writing my thoughts down in my dairy until 2018, October 10 to be precise. It was like a calling from God to do this and help young lawyers excel and thrive in the legal profession.
Every year, Law School centres across Africa produce thousands of lawyers. In 2004, there were just three law school centres in Nigeria. Right now there are six law school centres. This has made it increasingly easy for young lawyers to be lost in the crowd without anyone noticing but God noticed… This gave me the calling to pursue my passion to do this.
GMC became officially registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in 2019.
Why lawyers only?
At the beginning of my legal career, immediately after the Law School, things were not so clear as to what the next step should be. I was in dilemma of what area of law practice I should focus on. I saw that this was not a ‘me problem’, as many young lawyers graduate from Law School with no idea of what next to do.
What effect does it have on the beneficiaries?
Beneficiaries get free mentorship services. They have access to learning and development programs, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
How many beneficiaries have gone through the system?
So far we have over 100 registered mentees
What feedback have you gotten so far?
Lots of amazing feedbacks from mentees and mentors alike. Some mentees have gotten job placement beyond their wildest imagination.
Will you say your vision has been achieved?
We have just begun and still far away from the vision to empower 60, 000 young lawyers (mentees) yearly.
Will you say you have been able to influence young lawyers?
When a mentee sends you an email and say, ‘your platform has changed my story and my family’, what more do I want? And when I see quantifiable growth and improvement in the life of my mentees, it gives me great joy.
Which aspect of what you do is most enjoyable to you?
The monthly mentoring session. Even I get mentored by our guest mentors from these sessions. You should join us one of these days.
How will you describe life as a mentor?
My life as a mentor to over 100 mentees is a life of fulfilment and joy. I see it as an opportunity to build a lasting legacy for posterity and the path to nation building.
Are there peculiar challenges faced by mentors?
I’m not so sure about this question though… Yes, there are several but I will mention just one: scheduling a convenient time for meetings can be very challenging.
Did you need to go for training before becoming a mentor?
Yes, I went through several training sessions.
How do manage not to get overwhelmed?
I take out time to relax and unwind and I don’t play with my beauty sleep.
What are your thoughts on women striving for financial independence?
I grew up in a home filled with beautiful women and there was never a conversation while growing up that there was limitation because we are girls. We went to the best school in the city and we had freedom of speech and expression. You can only speak of striving if there was a restriction. However, for women who need to strive so hard, I say the world is your stage, TAKE IT.
How easy is it for women to create strings of income and market themselves?
Nothing is easy for anyone who wants to succeed. This is not gender specific. Everyone needs clarity on what they need to do, keep their focus and work hard towards it.
What would you say is the problem facing professional women in Nigeria?
Lack of leadership involvement and financial empowerment.
Do you think it is possible for a woman to take on too much while creating strings of income?
No, I do not.
What inspires you?
Seeing young lawyers thrive in the legal profession.
What are the challenges you face?
Lack of funding and sponsorship is a major challenge we are facing right now. I started this platform with my personal savings and family donations.
What is your guiding principle?
Absolute reliance on God.
Advice to other young women with similar vision?
90 per cent of the time they will not give you a seat at the table. Prepare ahead and take your own seat with you. If your seat then becomes the extra one, give it to another woman.
What future plans do you have for your mentorship brand?
We currently have mentees in Kenya and Cameroon. We plan to open up to other African countries. I believe only Africans can build Africa
Leave a Reply