Meet Abimbola Kusimo of The Arewa Pageant Foundation and Voices Unlocked

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abimbola Kusimo.

Abimbola, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t start in one lane — I started in survival mode, leadership mode, and faith mode all at the same time.

Professionally, I’m a Technical Senior Business Analyst with two master’s degrees — an MBA in Project Management and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. My career has centered around strategy, risk management, and data-driven decision-making within the financial services industry. I specialize in translating complex technical and business requirements into clear, actionable solutions that help organizations operate efficiently and responsibly.

But titles only tell part of the story.

I’m also a mother of four — including a child with autism — and much of my journey has required resilience behind the scenes. There were seasons where I felt like I was carrying everything, navigating motherhood, marriage, career, and purpose all at once. Those experiences shaped my strength, deepened my empathy, and ultimately pushed me to find and own my voice.

At the same time, I’ve always had a creative and expressive side. Modeling became more than just photos — it became a rediscovery of confidence, visibility, and reclaiming my narrative. It reminded me that women are allowed to evolve, take up space, and redefine themselves at any stage of life.

Voices Unlocked was born during my journey competing in a pageant. What started as personal growth and self-discovery quickly evolved into something much bigger than me. As I navigated the pageant space, I realized that the stage was more than presentation — it was a platform for purpose.

Through that experience, I launched my nonprofit, The Arewa Pageant Foundation, which has truly been a blessing. The foundation represents leadership, cultural pride, service, and intentional impact. It reflects what pageantry genuinely means to me — not just elegance and competition, but empowerment, advocacy, and community.

Voices Unlocked is centered around empowering individuals — particularly young adults who have faced adversity — to find their voice, reclaim their narrative, and step confidently into leadership in their own lives. The mission focuses on mentorship, confidence-building, and advocacy for those navigating adulthood without strong support systems.

For me, pageantry isn’t about the crown — it’s about the microphone. It’s about representation. It’s about using visibility to amplify conversations that matter. When someone’s voice is unlocked, their confidence shifts, their direction becomes clearer, and their future expands.

Competing transformed me — but building these platforms transformed my purpose.

Today, I stand at the intersection of corporate leadership, motherhood, advocacy, cultural representation, and creative expression. My journey hasn’t been linear — it’s been layered. Every season — the boardrooms, the late nights as a mom, the reinvention, the cultural pride, and the faith walk — has shaped who I am.

And I truly believe I’m walking in purpose now more than ever.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would be lying if I said it has been a smooth road.

This journey has been beautiful, but it has also been rough. One of the most life-shaping challenges has been parenting a child with autism. It stretches you in ways you don’t anticipate — emotionally, mentally, and physically. You’re constantly learning, adjusting, advocating, and figuring things out in real time. I’m still navigating that journey every single day. There’s no manual — just grace, patience, and perseverance.

At the same time, I’ve been juggling multiple roles. Mother. Wife. Technical Senior Business Analyst. Pageant contestant. Founder. Visionary. Building two companies from the ground up requires strategy, late nights, sacrifice, and discipline. Wearing so many hats wasn’t optional — it was necessary for survival and growth.

Even carving out intentional time alone with my children is work in itself. Motherhood isn’t passive — it’s leadership. And doing it well requires presence.

There have absolutely been moments where I felt overwhelmed. Moments where I questioned if I could keep going. But I’m fortunate to have a strong community that pours back into me when I’m running low. Faith, support, and purpose have anchored me through every storm.

Life will lift you — unexpectedly and sometimes unapologetically. I’ve learned to take it one day at a time. Not perfectly. Just faithfully.

And every challenge has strengthened the very voice I now help others unlock.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Arewa Pageant Foundation and Voices Unlocked. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At the heart of everything I do is impact through voice, visibility, and empowerment.

Voices Unlocked is my core mission-driven brand. It was created to help individuals — especially young adults and women who have faced adversity — find their voice, reclaim their narrative, and step into confidence and leadership. Voices Unlocked focuses on mentorship, advocacy, confidence-building, and personal development. It’s about reminding people that their experiences don’t disqualify them — they refine them.

What sets Voices Unlocked apart is that it’s not performative. It’s rooted in lived experience. I understand what it means to juggle responsibilities, navigate uncertainty, rebuild confidence, and advocate for yourself when no one else is speaking up. This mission is about real conversations, real growth, and tangible empowerment — not just inspiration, but action.

My work with The Arewa Pageant Foundation aligns seamlessly with that mission. The foundation represents more than pageantry — it stands for cultural pride, leadership development, service, and global representation. Through The Arewa Pageant Foundation, pageantry becomes a tool for advocacy, visibility, and purpose. It creates space for women to be seen not just for beauty, but for intellect, leadership, and community impact.

What truly sets me apart is how I merge all of these worlds — corporate leadership, motherhood, advocacy, culture, and creativity — into one cohesive brand. I don’t separate who I am from what I do. My brand is built on authenticity, resilience, and representation. I show up fully, and I encourage others to do the same.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the fact that everything I build has intention behind it. Nothing is surface-level. Whether it’s Voices Unlocked or my work within The Arewa Pageant Foundation, the goal is always the same: to amplify voices, create confidence, and open doors for people who may not always feel seen or supported.

What I want readers to know is this — my brand is about transformation. It’s about reminding people that your voice matters, your story has value, and your purpose doesn’t have an expiration date. When voices are unlocked, lives change.

And I’m just getting started.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
If I had to name one quality that has been most important to my success, it would be resilience.

Not the loud, dramatic kind — but the quiet, daily decision to keep going.

Resilience is what carries me through parenting a child with autism, through balancing motherhood and career, through building platforms from scratch, and through stepping into rooms where I had to learn in real time. It’s choosing discipline when I’m tired. It’s choosing faith when I don’t have all the answers. It’s choosing purpose over pressure.

I’ve learned that success isn’t built in perfect conditions — it’s built in persistence. There were moments I felt stretched thin, moments I questioned myself, moments where quitting would have been easier. But resilience teaches you how to bend without breaking.

Another close second would be authenticity. I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. I lead from experience, not performance. Whether through Voices Unlocked or The Arewa Pageant Foundation, I show up as my full self — corporate professional, mother, advocate, woman of faith. That alignment gives me strength.

Resilience keeps me grounded. Authenticity keeps me impactful.

And together, they’ve shaped every success I’ve had so far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thearewapageant.com
• Instagram: @mzarewa, @_voicesunlocked, @thearewapageant_foundation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbykofficial