Starting Dencity was about more than just skateboarding. It was about creating a space where women in Nigeria could feel welcome in a scene that wasn’t always designed with us in mind. In the early days, it was tough. We didn’t have boards, a proper location or any kind of infrastructure. There was no budget, no system to lean on, just an idea and a few people willing to try. But the vision kept us going, and we found ways to make it work.
I definitely had moments of doubt. It’s not easy to start a skate crew from scratch, let alone as a woman in a male-dominated environment with limited experience. There were times when it felt impossible, but I stayed focused on the goal: if I could inspire even a few others, that would be enough to start a ripple effect. Slowly, that’s what happened. People began to gather around the idea, and the more they showed up, the more strength it gave me to keep pushing.
Building an inclusive crew like Dencity takes patience and resilience. Misogyny still exists here, as it does in many places, but we stay grounded. Creating a safe environment is as important as landing a trick. We make sure everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their background or skill level. We keep things positive, encourage learning at your own pace and make sure new members feel genuinely supported. That sense of belonging is what keeps people coming back.
One of the biggest challenges has always been access to resources. Boards are expensive and often hard to come by. But beyond the equipment, the bigger challenge is shifting perceptions and breaking the stereotype that skateboarding is only for a certain type of person. We’ve had to push through a lot of cultural resistance, but every time someone sees us out skating together, it chips away at those old ideas.
The skate scene in Nigeria is still young, but there’s real energy. People are building ramps and spots with whatever they can find, turning empty spaces into something new. It’s very DIY, very community-driven. Dencity is part of that, bringing more women into the picture, creating something different and showing there’s room for all of us.
Compared to when I first started, things are shifting. There’s still a way to go, but inclusivity is growing. We see it at our sessions, in the way people respond at events and through small but meaningful changes in attitude. Training programmes, meetups and simply showing up with confidence all help. By being visible and consistent, we’re proving skateboarding can be for anyone, and that it’s possible to do it on our own terms.
My vision for Dencity is for it to grow into a hub that empowers people of all backgrounds, especially women, to skate, to express themselves and to feel part of something bigger. I want it to inspire young people to try something new and to believe they belong in skateboarding. And I want it to show the wider world that Nigeria is part of the global skate conversation.
If I could say one thing to any girl thinking about skating, it would be this: don’t be afraid to start. Skateboarding isn’t about perfection, it’s about learning, having fun and finding your strength along the way.
An essay by Blessing Ewona excerpted from True World Skate: The Culture of Indie Skateboarding by Suridh Hassan and Ryo Sanada. Reprinted with permission from The MIT Press. Copyright 2026.
