But by 1992, her focus began to change with new romance with the Young Women Christian Organization. Thirteen years later, she emerged leader of one of the oldest women organizations in Nigeria.

"I am a business woman, a gospel preacher and a freelance worshipper. I am Anglican by communion and would die an Anglican," she tells you happily.

Luckily, the National President of YWCA was at the helm of affairs when the organization clocked 100 years recently. What does this mean to her, you ask?
"It's been wonderful. The activities for our 100 years anniversary in Nigeria started since the month of April. That was the month it was started in Abeokuta in 1906," says Ani.

The organization later moved to Lagos and 27 states including the Federal Capital Territory. "We decided to mark this anniversary in the three zones. We had the one for the West in Abeokuta in July. For the North, we went to Jos and then had the one in the East. Today, we are having the grand celebration," she informs

Over the years, the organization had served as a catalyst for change and empowerment for women. "We build capacities by empowerment, we have nursery and primary schools and we make education possible for the entire population."

In addition, YWCA has schools for people who are house helps and housewives who are not privileged to go to school but are intelligent. "Men are not left out of our programmes. We have opportunities for them in secretarial studies, catering and we have people from government establishments, embassies and multinational organization."

The organization also deals with advocacy over the abuse of the girl child, trafficking in women and very concerned about issues bordering on women's health.

"We have doctors who are members of our organization as well as some doctors who are on our payroll," Ani informs.

"In addition, we have the HIV pandemic and we have linked up with worldwide YWCA. We are in 120 countries and we network. For now, we don't have equipment but we send them to government hospitals."

Economical empowerment of women in the grassroots is another major project championed by YWCA. "We have farmlands which we acquired through the local, state and federal governments."
She takes you down memory lane, recalling how two ladies in Great Britian started the organization. "They cared so much and showed love by prayers. We pray a lot, we are shameless prayer warriors. We have house and church fellowship. We extend this to our Muslim sisters, who are associate members. But they cannot vote or be voted for."

Most of the challenges, according to Ani, have to do with funding. "We also want more space for our women in politics. We have gone ahead to do a proposal to UNDP over the forthcoming election. If empowered, our vision is to sensitize our women on the need to participate and be equipped for public office."

In May 2005, Ani became the organization's National President. How will she describe her victory? "It was memorable because I wasn't expecting it. The person that ran with me came with people in buses. But like little Joseph who was brought from pit to the palace, I emerged."

Ani believes that victory is not just about conquest. "My first port of call was to the constituency of the woman that ran with me. And they received me warmly. Interestingly, I am the youngest serving president by age and number of years I have served," says the woman, who joined the association in 1992.

She advises Nigerian women to wake up from slumber. Her words: "There is no bonding. They should learn to give their best and care for their home. Money, which is the root of all evil, should not be worshipped."

Government, she stressed, owes the duty of providing crèches for working mothers. "They should pass a bill where crèches are provided in government and corporate organizations."