Women of Rubies
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BELLANAIJA’S UCHE PEDRO, AMINA MOHAMMED, CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE, LUPITA NYONG’O NOMINATED FOR THE 2017 NEW AFRICAN WOMAN AWARDS


The New African Woman magazine has released the nominees’ list for the second edition of its New African Woman Awards.

We are so excited with this list because it’s another opportunity to celebrate women who are making a positive impact in their various fields of endeavour… and because our Founder/CEO Uche Pedro was nominated in the New African Woman in Media category. YAY!

Uche and CNN‘s Zain Ejiofor Asher were among the nominees in that category.

Chosen in 12 categories, 68 groundbreaking women made the final list which will now be adjudicated by a special panel of judges, and the winners in each category will be announced on April 12, 2017 at a Gala Dinner in Dakar, Senegal.

The second edition of the New African Woman Forum (NAW Forum) is scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal, on the 12th and 13th of April 2017.

The new UN Deputy Secretary-General, Nigeria’s Amina J. Mohammed, nominated in two categories – Politics and Woman of the Year, Executive Director of UN Women, South Africa’s Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Somalia’s first female presidential candidate Fadumo Dayib, Gambia’s doyen of democratic change, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, South African former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, first female FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura (Senegal) are some of the names that made the final list from the thousands of nominations received.

Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o, South African Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya, Nigerian comedy prodigy Emmanuella Samuel also made the nominees’ list.

Organised by the pan-African bi-monthly, New African Woman magazine, the Awards – which celebrate and honour exceptional African women who have made a positive impact and contributions in their communities and the continent at large, in the past 12 months – will take place on the eve of the New African Woman Forum, which takes place at Dakar’s Terrou-Bi Hotel on April 13 2017.

The New African Woman Awards and Forum, first held in London in March last year, under the theme “Changing The Game”, were born from the ethos that launched New African Woman magazine nine years ago: to boldly and positively highlight, share and represent African women’s issues, on the premise that women are an indispensable element in Africa’s growth story, and to celebrate the women contributing to that change.

See the full list of nominees below:

New Africa Woman in Business

Jennifer Riria – Kenya

Madjiguene Sock – Senegal

Dr Nathalie Beatrice Chinje – Cameroon

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch – Morocco

Tabitha Karanja – Kenya

Phuti Mahanyele – South Africa

New African Woman in Politics

Fadumo Q. Dayib – Somalia

Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang – Gambia

Nayé Anna Bathily – Senegal

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – South Africa

Monique Mukuna – DR Congo

Amina J. Mohammed

Nigeria New African Woman in Education

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka – DR Congo

Oley Dibba-Wadda – Côte d’Ivoire

Graça Machel – Mozambique

Tsitsi Masiyiwa – Zimbabwe

Prof Unoma Ndili Okorafor – Nigeria

Rapelang Rabana – South Africa

New African Woman in Science

Anne Wanjohi – Kenya

Prof Aminata Sall Diallo – Senegal

Dr Helena Ndume – Namibia

Jessica O. Mathews – Nigeria

Dr Ola Orekunrin – Nigeria

Dr Tebello Nyokong – South Africa

New African Woman in Finance

Binta Touré Ndoye – Togo

Bola Adesola – Nigeria

Lamyaa Gadelhak – Egypt

Stella Kilonzo – Kenya

Viola Llewellyn – Cameroon

Evelyne Tall-Daouda – Senegal

New African Woman in Agriculture

Mame Khary Diene – Senegal

Maria Andrade – Mozambique

Kambou Lydie Rachel – Côte d’Ivoire

Rahab Kariuki – Kenya

Rose Funja – Tanzania

Tumusiime Rhoda Peace – Uganda

New African Woman in Media

Amira Yahyaoui – Tunisia

Eloïne Barry – Guinea

Gina Din-Kariuki – Kenya

Uche Pedro – Nigeria (YAY!)

Zain Ejiofor Asher – Nigeria

Rokhaya Diallo – Senegal

New African Woman in Sports

Caster Semenya – South Africa

Diknesh Tamiru – Ethiopia

Fatma Samoura – Senegal

Isha Tejan-Cole Johansen – Sierra Leone

Tegla Loroupe – Kenya

Vivian Cheruiyot – Kenya

New African Woman in Arts & Culture

Aïssa Dione – Senegal

Esther Mahlangu – South Africa

Lupita Nyong’o – Kenya

Olfa Terras Rambourg – Tunisia

Sophie Zinga – Senegal

Joan Okorodudu – Nigeria

New African Woman in Civil Society

Theresa Kachindamoto – Malawi

Francine Furaha Muyumba – DR Congo

Hadiza Bala Usman – Nigeria

Salimata Lam – Mauritania

Theo Sowa – Ghana

Zainab Hawa Bangura – Sierra Leone

New African Woman on the Rise

Botlhale Boikanyo – South Africa

Emmanuella Samuel – Nigeria

Rebeca Gyumi – Tanzania

Ndeye Fatou Njie – Gambia

Vivian Onano – Kenya

Sonia Mezzour – Morocco

Warsan Shire – Somalia

Jaha Dukureh – The Gambia

New African Woman of the Year

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Nigeria

Fadumo Dayib – Somalia

Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang  – Gambia

Madjiguene Sock – Senegal

Thuli Madonsela – South Africa

Amina J. Mohammed – Nigeria

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#PROFILE| MEET ACHENYO IDACHABA, THE ENTREPRENEUR CREATING BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF WATER HYACINTH

Achenyo Idachaba is an entrepreneur, computer scientist, and business analyst born in United State. She moved down to Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2009 to set up an environmental consultancy, and discovered a specie of weeds called ‘Water Hyacinth’ (Eichornia crassipes). This aquatic weeds pose a major challenge to local communities and have been a target of government initiatives to stem the damage they cause for some years. Their extensive, knotted root systems tangle together and and clog waterways, which are a key transportation network to inland populations. They also deplete nutritional resources in their surroundings, leading to a drop in the fish population, which impacts food supplies and livelihoods for riparian communities, who are reliant on fishing.

Having read a book about how communities in southeast Asia afflicted by the water hyacinth had harvested the weed and transformed it through weaving into marketable products, she determined to make this method work in Nigeria also. She visited a community in the city of Ibadan and moved close to a couple of artisans who had experience in weaving doum palm and rattan. She worked with them to develop the company’s first products – a table tidy and a wastebasket: two fitting products to make from a tangled weed! She collaborated with local craftspeople to set up a range of products that were woven from the dried plants. The company was called Mitimeth. She developed products such as a waste basket and a table tidy which were made from plants that are usually only known for being invasive. In 2013, she won a grant from the government and employed seven staff. The weeds are harvested, dried and then made into rope which can then be made into products.

In 2014, her creative initiative was recognised when she was given the Cartier award. This was the women’s initiative award for sub-Saharan Africa. She has been featured on CNN and her TED talk in 2015 achieved over a million hits.

Water Hyacinth

According to Wikipedia, ‘She has taken an environmental problem and turned it into a win-win solution for her business, local communities and the country’. Each hand-crafted piece is created from the weeds which are harvested from the local waterways and dried out in the sun before they can be used for weaving into highly intricate and beautiful finished products such as baskets, tableware and even jewellery

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AGBANI DAREGO WEDS ISHAYA DANJUMA SECRETLY

Miss World 2001 and fashion entrepreneur Agbani Darego  married her longtime love Ishaya Danjuma in Marrakesh, Morocco yesterday.

Ishaya is the son of General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma and is actively involved in his family business while Agbani helms her eponymous ready-to-wear denim and leisurewear fashion company.

The couple’s wedding was intimate and beautiful…just how they wanted it. Agbani wore a classic sheath wedding dress with a stunning low back while Ishaya wore a classic grey suit.

Congrats to the lovely couple.

Source: Bellanaija

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WOMEN OF RUBIES PARTNERS YABA LCDA  TO SENSITISE GRASSROOTS WOMEN

 

The third edition of the Women of Rubies sensitization tagged “Sensitizing Grassroots women on domestic abuse and lifestyle issues “ was held on Friday 7th of April in partnership with the Yaba Lcda  at the Oluremi Tinubu Hall within the council.

Women came out enmasse from different spheres of the community to be part of the workshop. The women were not only sensitized on the need to be empowered  but also encouraged to “Do Something”  by Chinyere Anokwuru of Self-worth Organisation, the  hostand Sole Administrator of the Local Government  ; Hon. Bayo Adefuye  encouraged them to attend more of such programmes to be enlightened and have a voice in the society, while Nollywood Actress Doris Simeon encouraged them to speak up when they are being abused, she also made them realise  Help is near an shared some helpline numbers of different Helpcentres with them, The founder of Morna International Foundation ; Bukola Ogunyeyealso buttressed on the issue of Domestic abuse , while sharing stories of women who have died in abusive relationships because they refused to speak up, Sandra Orgah from Access Bank W Community spoke on “Why women should save” the women were educated on financial independence .

Participants listening attentively as Chinyere Anokwuru speaks n “Do Something” at our grassroots sensitisation workshop ongoing at the Oluremi Tinubu hall, Yaba Lcda
#Womenofrubies

 

Four women were given empowerment opportunity by Chinyere Anokwuru to learn Tailoring, Catering and Computer at the Selfworth Organisation skills acquisition centre for free.

According to the Founder of Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children and Editor-In-Chief of Women of Rubies ; Esther Ijewere; the workshop once again was an  impactful learning experience for the  women in Yaba Lca and we thank the Sole Administrator for hosting and collaborating with us to add value to the lives of women in his Local council.

The next edition will be held at the Igando-Ikotun Lcda on the 13thof April, while Kosofe Lcda and Ikeja Lga  is slated for 19th and 24threspectively.

The workshop is supported by Access Woman, Power Oil, Bellanaija, Wfm917, Guardian Newspaper, Nta and Goldmyne Tv and powered  by Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children.

 

Speaker and CEO of Selfworth Organization Chinyere Anokwuru encouraging the women to do something .
#Womenorubies
Grassroots women sensitisation workshop
One of our speakers and Ceo of Selfworth Organization; Chinyere Anokwuru at the event.
#Womenofrubies

Our Founder and editor in chief @estherijewere with Sandra Orgah (Access Woman) and Bukola Ogunyeye flanked by some of the participants at our grassroots women workshop earlier today.
#Womenofrubies

Sandra Orgah from Access Woman @thewcommunity sensitising the women on “Why you should Save”,at our grassroots sensitisation workshop today.
#Womenofrubies
Women Sensitisation Workshop The Power oil health camp team at the event #Womenofrubies
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HIV POSITIVE HORCELIE SINDA WA MBONGO CROWNED MISS CONGO UK 2017

Twenty-two year old Horcelie Sinda Wa Mbongo discovered at 11, she was HIV positive from birth.

She won the 2017 Edition of Miss Congo UK and plans to return to Congo to carry on campaigning on HIV and AIDS.

“I’m happy I’ve won at least something in my life. My story has warmed people’s hearts and that’s the most important thing,” she says.

Horcelie, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is studying for a fine arts degree in London.

 

Source: Bellanaija

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THE WAIT IS SEXY – NIGERIAN-AMERICAN ACTRESS YVONNE ORJI ON DATING & VIRGINITY

“You cannot date until you get married.”

Born to strict Nigerian parents, Yvonne Orji was determined to get married and intimate at 18 but her enthusiasm was diminished by her friends’ low expectations of sex. After getting “bamboozled by Jesus” in college, today Yvonne is a 33-year-old virgin. Suddenly her parents want her to meet someone.

Yvonne gives 5 suggestions for finding love – regardless of your beliefs, values and choices because when you find the right person, the wait is worth it.

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian-American actress, comedienne and writer who continues to display her versatility and passion with each project she takes on. On television, she stars in HBO’s new comedy series “Insecure”. The show follows the friendship of two modern-day black women and all of their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations.

Orji stars as one of these women opposite Issa Rae, who is executive producing the show along with Prentice Penny and Melina Matsoukas. She is also currently developing a half-hour sitcom, based on her life entitled “First Gen”, that Oprah and David Oyelowo are executive producing. The show is a comedy about a Nigerian girl who trades medical school for a career in stand-up comedy and the adventures that ensue after her strict African mother discovers her plans.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

source: Bellanaija

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17 YR OLD IFEOMA WHITE-THORPE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED TO ALL 8 AMERICAN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS

Ifeoma, star student, winner of the national Selma speech and essay competition, athlete, volunteer and student government president of Morris Hills High School, New Jersey, who also aces her advanced classes like they’re nothing, said, about applying to all 8 schools:

“I want to go into global health and study biology and so many of them have great research facilities, so I was like, I might as well just shoot my shot and apply.”

She says, of when she got the eighth acceptance letter:

“I was like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, like this might be eight out of eight and I clicked it and it said ‘Congratulations’ and I was like oh my goodness!”

“I got into Harvard early action so I figured I’ll just go there, so then I got into all the others and I was like, wait now I don’t know where I want to go.”

Andre and Patricia White-Thorpe, Ifeoma’s father and mother, are leaving the decision of which school to pick up to their really, really smart daughter.

(Photo: TAPinto)

(Photo: TAPinto)

The decision might just be easier than she thinks, as she may likely be attending the school which grants her a scholarship:

“At this point none of the schools I’ve applied to said they give merit scholarships, so I’m praying that they give me some more financial aid or some money, shout out to all of those schools, please give me something.”

This is a phenomenal achievement that has only happened to only four other people in recent history: Kwasi Enin in 2014, Harold Ekeh in 2015 and Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna and Kelly Hyles last year.

Of the five students to achieve this feat, three of them are Nigerian and we couldn’t be more proud

(Photo: TAPinto)

Source: bin

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PEOPLE’S SUCCESS STORIES ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ME- OLUBUKOLA ADIO

Olubukola Adio is wife, mother and a business owner. A graduate of business administration from Yaba college of Technology. Bukky worked in the banking sector before relocating to south Africa to pursue a career in nursing, On her return she started a clothing store out of her passion for humanity, after encountering several kids who were clothe less, she started donating to these kids and some orphanage homes, this informed her decision to start her clothing store “Clothezoo”. Bukky shares her inspiring journey in this interview.
Childhood Influence
I will say a yes to that because I practically grew up not knowing my mother. I lost her early in life and I have a polygamous background, even though I have a caring father the absence of a mother growing up meant I had to do a lot for myself . I have always looked inwards rather than look in the wrong places to fill the void. So growing up I had a little poultry in the house and I sold eggs, made and sold clothes, I sold cold drinks, marketed computers and a host of other little businesses that bred the entrepreneurial spirit in me. So I would say yes my childhood had a major part to play.

Meet Bukky!
My name is Olubukola Adio nee Okoya. A wife, mother to 3 wonderful kids and a business owner. I attended Yaba college of Technology. Studied business administration and I’m also a chartered administrator. Prior to now in terms of work experience I had my industrial attachment at First Bank then my Service year at Tantalizers. I worked at This Present House as an admin staff before temporarily relocating to South Africa to pursue a career in nursing .

Starting “ClothesZoo”
I have always had a thing for clothes; it has always been in my head that I will do this one day as I was compelled to go into this business when I saw a lot of clotheless kids when I returned to Nigeria and So there was no looking back once I started . I started by giving free clothes to some street kids before delving into this business full time. I hope to come out with our own branded clothing soon that will match quality with affordability and also support people who can’t afford to clothe themselves. With my clothing store “Clotheszoo” I hope to be able to make an impact not just as a clothier but one who also gave hope to those who can’t afford to clothe themselves.

 

Women Who Inspire me to do more
People’s success stories are a great source of inspiration to me .It works like a rush of adrenaline in my system. People like Oprah Winfrey who I think is a standard of success for women inspire me, also Iyanla Vazant, Nkoyo Rapu, Grace Aiyedogbon and every striving and thriving woman out there.

Reward
It gladdens my heart when people walk into my store but also make reference to hearing about me by or two people I clothed for free. This make me realize there is something I am getting right and that’s my reward.

Challenges
Finance is always a major issue and it’s further compounded by the seeming uncertainty in the financial market. Funds for expansion is readily not available, interest rates are most unfriendly and the lack of support for growing businesses from regulators

Giving to the less privileged
I run a socially responsible business that gives back at every given opportunity .We’ve and are still supporting orphanages with clothes for the children. We do a regular give away during festive seasons and clothe street kids

Never felt like giving up
It has never crossed my mind to want to give up. Primarily because I’m living my dream, to be successful one has to be happy on the inside and that’s what propels me in addition to having a wonderful and supporting husband. Not forgetting an amazing family and friends.

I am a woman of Rubies
A woman of rubies exemplifies moving from adversity to a position of strength. I started from nothing then from a suitcase, to a shop to where we are right now and we still aspire to be bigger than this. Just like an airplane that takes off against the wind I keep breaking through adversities and a shining example to other women. The fact that I also give freely to the less privileged makes me a woman of rubies.

Women are not weak!
I want women to understand that we have a role to play in the scheme of things. God created Man then Woman as support .What we must understand is this; what must support another object should also be stronger or of equal strength as the object. God did not create women weak; we are not the weaker vessel.

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BEYONCE NAMED MOST VALUABLE CELEBRITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

American music superstar, Beyonce has been the most influential celebrity as her Instagram posts have been estimated to worth One Million Dollars each by photo-sharing website, D’Marie Analytics.

Using an algorithm that measures 56 metrics across Facebook, Twitter amd Instagram, Time.com determined the music star’s value. Those metrics include the followers count as well as reach, engagement, click through and action conversations.

Chief Executive of D’Marie, Frank Spadafora said Beyonce’s “limited” use of social media had boosted her earning power:

Her limited release of exclusive curated content causes such frenzy from her audience

A ready example of Beyonce’s popularity is when she announced earlier this year on Instagram that she is expecting twins. That post attracted 6,335,571 likes within eight hours, subsequently breaking the record for the most-like picture on the website.

The picture which held the previous record was Selena Gomez‘ post where she was sipping from a Coca-Cola bottle which gathered 6.6 million likes.

Photo Credit: Instagram – @beyonce

Source: Bellanaija

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WOMEN OF RUBIES SET TO SENSITISE GRASSROOTS WOMEN

Women of Rubies (WOR) is a reputable capacity building and inspirational online magazine for the celebration of women of substance in the society, with a weekly publication in the Guardian Newspaper.   It is believed that women are nurturers by nature and when these women nurture their God-given abilities, the world is better for it. It is on this basis that Women of Rubies and  Rubies Ink Initiative for women and children is planning an empowerment forum for women in the grassroots that are often neglected and forgotten. This workshop will kick off on the 7th of April at the Yaba Lcda and will take place in several Local Government Areas across Lagos. The theme for the workshop is “Sensitising Grassroots Women on Domestic Abuse and Lifestyle Issues”.

According to the Founder / Editor-in-chief of women of Rubies, Esther Ijewere; the workshop is in its second phase as we kicked off in August 2016, it will be an impactful learning experience for women at the grassroots, as we are collaborating with different Local Government to address the following issues:

Knowledge acquisition on domestic abuse – In addition, they will also learn to speak up when faced with domestic abuse. Women have the capacity to solve problems and influence decisions.  They will be equipped on how to utilize these decisions at crucial times as the girl child is dependent on this knowledge as a guide when she becomes a lady, mother and even a grandmother.

Lifestyle issues – We present to you a platform aimed at providing an avenue for women at the grass root level to exchange ideas and equip them on how to grow their businesses, support their families and create a better future for their children.

Savings Culture – The workshop would teach them on how to access business loans and proper saving culture in order to empower them financially.  When the woman is empowered the society becomes empowered.

Timeline of Event:

Date: 7th of April

1st Workshop : Yaba Lcda , Panti Busstop, Yaba​

Date: 13th of April

2nd Workshop :

​Igando- ​

Ikotun Lcda

​ , Ikotun ​.

Date: 19th o April

3rd Workshop & Venue:  Kosofe Lcda

​, Ogudu​

Date: 24th of April

4th Workshop: ​Ikeja Local Government Area

Time for all workshop: 10a.m

The event is endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Supported by: Power Oil, Guardian Newspaper, Wfm91.7, Bellanaija, Channels, Goldmyne T​V​ and TVC

Log on to www.womenofrubies.com for more information.

See pictures from previous edition here : http://womenofrubies.com/2017/01/13/photos-women-of-rubies-grassroots-women-sensitization-workshop/

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