Using cosmetic endeavours aimed at achieving lighter skin is a longstanding tradition among a staggering number of Nigerians. To this group of people—who are conditioned by factors like Eurocentric beauty standards and colourism, melanin is a stain whose trace they strive to eliminate. This has, over the years, led to the development of different skin-lightening beauty methods that focus on faster and relatively thorough results but gape the skin and leave the body open to grave health repercussions.

Present-day Yoruba traditional leadership holds that men are superior to women, and as such men dominate governance at most levels while women are generally considered unfit to lead. For women to assume the position of regents, tradition demands they discard their female identities and present as men. This needs to change.