From Kayemo News
The Executive Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (EKIRS), Mr. Olaniran Olatona, has urged women in management to avoid what he described as the “Superwoman Trap,” warning against deriving their identity solely from their achievements.
Mr. Olatona gave the advice while delivering an address at a virtual learning session with the theme; “Present in the Boardroom, Depleted Behind the Door: Ekiti Women in Business”, organised by Ekiti Women in Management on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
He noted that the pressure to carry one’s career, marriage, children, family and ministry to perfection could lead women into the “Superwoman Trap.” According to him, women are not called to be superwomen but to be faithful, urging them to replace the pursuit of perfection with responsible stewardship.
Mr. Olatona explained that a woman’s value should not be determined by what she produces, advising women to avoid constantly trying to prove that they deserve their positions. He also cautioned against the unhealthy competition that could arise from a woman’s determination to prove that she can perform better than a man entrusted with a particular responsibility. Rather, he charged women to learn to delegate, prioritise, simplify and rest.
The EKIRS Chairman further encouraged women to recognise the season of life they are in and avoid comparing themselves with others. “Do not compare your private life with another woman’s public outcome,” he said, adding that; “different seasons require different priorities. Every opportunity is not necessarily an assignment for the season.”
He also urged women not to turn their homes into a second shift after the workplace, noting that returning home after several hours at work only to face heavy household responsibilities could be physically and emotionally draining. Mr. Olatona consequently appealed to men to support their wives, stressing that shared responsibilities and partnership are beneficial to the family. He said; “a home that runs on partnership builds a family that thrives together. Marriage is a partnership, not a competition between two careers”.
He concluded by stressing the importance of recognising personal limits and allowing room for rest and renewal. “The strongest woman is not the one who never gets tired; she is the one who recognises her limits, receives grace, makes wise adjustments and continues from renewed strength,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of rest and vacation, the spouse of the EKIRS Chairman, Prof. Folu Olatona, urged women to make effective use of their annual leave for relaxation and renewal.
She advised women to deliberately disengage from both their work environment and household responsibilities for periods during their leave, noting that doing so would enable them to achieve adequate rest.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Permanent Secretary in the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, appreciated Mr. Olatona for devoting his time and energy to the presentation.
Mrs. Gbenga-Igotun described Mr. Olatona as a blessing to her, saying the presentation had reinforced her belief that he has a ministry to people. She also appreciated Prof. Olatona for her message on the importance of vacation and rest.