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Esther Ijewere

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MEET THE $100 MILLION WOMAN WHO CREATED THE “LOVE & HIP HOP” FRANCHISE

Mona Scott-Young is one of cable television’s most sought after executives. She is the CEO of multi-media entertainment company Monami Entertainment, which is best known for creating and producing VH1’s most popular docu-franchise Love & Hip Hop.

Mona herself created the original franchise of Love & Hip Hop: New York, which premiered in 2011. It’s remarkable success has resulted in several spin-offs based in Atlanta, Hollywood, and Miami. Averaging about 5.5 million viewers per episode, the franchise series is reportedly worth an estimated $100 million.

A rival of Real Housewives, the series follows the personal lives of former and current hip-hop stars. Artists that have appeared on the show with their families include Cardi B., Waka Flocka, Remy Ma, Papoose, Cam’ron, Soulja Boy, Ray J, Lil Scrappy, Joe Budden, and more.

How she did it

51-year old Mona says her secret is in the power of branding. According to USA Today, “Since the inception of her career, her drive has been to showcase the fullness of women in an entertainment industry that seldom shows them as multi-dimensional, powerful people.” She also never deviates from the purpose — the “why” — of her projects.

In addition, she emphasizes consistency. She feels that regularly putting good content out gives her higher credibility with her audience. After building credibility, the influence will come. And that is certainly true because nearly every hip-hop star wants to be on her show, especially those who are not as hot as they once were in their music careers.

Not just a TV exec

Mona does more than just produce hit television series. She also is in the music industry. In fact, USA Today reports that she has “an incredible track record in rap and hip-hop entertainment”. In the early 90’s and 2000’s, she co-founded Violater Entertainment and Violator Records, which successfully managed the careers of Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, and more.

Most recently, Mona has authored a book entitled Blurred Lines, which was co-authored by New York Times best-selling author Courtney Parker. In addition, she owns a line of jewelry called “MPower Rings”, a clothing collection, and a fruit-infused wine beverage.

Source: Black Business

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ARIJENILEOLA BOLANLE: FEMALE FRIENDSHIP: SUPPORT OR STRIFE?

As women we thrive on strong expressive emotions with our dolls as little girls then to girlfriends and our lives are intertwined with so much to share, cry and laugh about be it problems, thoughts, feelings, and triumphs.
I grew up with girls that helped me find a voice with my little notes, I was so unintelligent when mathematics and calculations comes to play and because my school gives priority to science whiz students I had to go down and be a dullard in everyone’s eyes but my then friends made it a point of duty to stick my scribblings on the school notice board to make me feel good and confident and till date mostof my emotional and mental strength comes from deep bonds with the strong females in my life.
Over time, we become our friends as we mirror their thoughts, beliefs, and ideas and so far friendship has rocked my boat and many boats too,be it female friendship or with the guys.
But as the female gender seeks to hold her place of safety, respect and relevance, we have seen and read about strife,envy and unhealthy competition as major ingredients of the female friendship.
Note: I believe in competition, a healthy dose of win and let’s win with everyone cheering and celebrating everyone’s win.

As much as I value human resource, I have come to learn and still learning how to fix some friends in their places,some are just for the party rider, some for the career ride while few makes it to the real life issues and solution section but we tend to want everyone together till death do us part and gets heart broken when they misbehave or can’t meet up with expectations. It isn’t anyone’s fault but no one can do and be beyond her strength. 

 
Also, knowing when to let go of some friendship is key. People will play their part and have to leave when their time is over but the mushiness of the female heart won’t let be till the signs are tired of blinking and everything goes sour and messy. 
 
I am not asking you to let go of all your friends because I thrive on good and Godly friendships but I hope we get over assuming and mere talks of friendship to real communication. Don’t assume anyone is spiting you or envious of you, put your assumption to words, in a peaceful and logical way please then let fate sort the rest.
 
If you have good friends, always take time out to celebrate them and water your friendship, reduce third or tenth party influence as some don’t want good friendships but are on a mission to ruin any good friendship. Be a better friend, don’t be about all round receiving without giving, you might be the problem of your friends by draining them and their frustration is what you see as a problem.
 
For good people with odd friends,my prayers are with you and I hope you won’t give up doing good but reduce the toxic people around you before you gets contaminated.
 
We will achieve more as women if we stand, celebrate, build, empower and love without bias.
 
Be a good friend, forgive daily and let’s build the world with amazing love for the girls yet unborn.
 
Cheers to friendships and achievements of the New year.
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QUEEN ESOHE IGBINOBA: WHY YOU NEED TO START JOURNALING

Whenever I ask clients if they write often or journal, most times I get a ”not really” or ”sometimes, but I’m not consistent”.

While I understand the not consistent bit, I’m a bit worried about the ”not really” people.

Do you know why?

I’ll tell you.

We, humans, have a short attention and memory span.

What that means is if you don’t document your life experiences often and as a habit, you will lose a lot of juicy stories that could help you further in your influential storytelling journey.

When you think of stories to share with your audience, you should be more concerned with curating what you’ve already written than creating a new story.

Well, except if that new story just happened recently.

Even if, you still need to document that story for future reference.

Influential storytelling isn’t magic.

Neither is it hard.

Great storytelling is a product of good documentation and great telling.

 

About Esohe

Esohe Igbinoba is the Founder, The Global Brand Network. GBN is a brand management organization with a focus on teaching entrepreneurs the art of influential storytelling for attracting visibility and building an engaged audience so they can build profitable businesses. She helps them to achieve this through her unique system: The Influential Storytelling Formula. She has helped over 150 people in 10 countries. She helps them through her online school, GBN Business School where she offers one on one coaching programs, online courses and training programs.

You can connect with her on

Social media @queenesohe

Or send an email to esohe@queenesohe.com

Or on her website queenesohe.com

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MILLIONS OF WOMEN CAME TOGETHER TO TAKE A BOLD STAND AGAINST GENDER INEQUALITY IN INDIA

Forming a 385-mile human chain, protestors joined together on Tuesday to build a “women’s wall” stretching across the Indian state of Kerala.

They were fighting for their right to enter the Sabarimala Temple, one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. Last September, the Supreme Court in India overturned a centuries-old rule that banned “menstruating women,” defined as any woman between ages 10 and 50, from entering the temple.

 

Despite the official ruling, when more than a dozen women tried to enter the sacred site this past fall, violent mobs blocked the trail to the temple. Even the official site for the Sabarimala Temple still reinforces: “Girls who have not yet attained puberty and elderly women who have reached menopause are allowed entry into the temple.”

Spurred by the lack of change, millions of women came together to stand up to those fighting against the updated policy. While organizers initially predicted a turnout of about three million people for the New Years Day event, BBC reports that more than 5 million women—along with men and transgender allies—banned together to stand up for women.

The massive gathering spanned an area nearly double the distance from New York to D.C. In comparison, the 2017 Women’s March — the largest single-day protest in U.S. history — drew about a million protestors.

Politician Jameela Prakasam said of attending the demonstration, “This is for showing the women folk that this is your right.” Trupti Desai, a women’s rights activist, shared a similar sentiment: “It is a victory of the movement of equality and it is a victory of women power.”

“This is a great way of saying how powerful women are, and how we can empower ourselves and help each other,” Kavita Das, a young demonstrator, told the BBC. “Of course, I support the move to allow women of all ages into the temple. I don’t think tradition or any kind of backwardness should stop women.”

https://twitter.com/autumnrainwish/status/1080045762678046720

 

And their voices were heard. On Wednesday, Bindu Ammini, 40, and Kanaka Durga, 39, made history, becoming the first women to worship at the shrine, according to the BBC.

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WOMAN GOES VIRAL FOR FINISHING HARVARD LAW SCHOOL EXAM WHILE GIVING BIRTH

 

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I went into labor in April- during final exam period. I immediately requested an epidural so that my contractions wouldn’t interfere with my Family Law grade. And, with tears in my eyes, I finished it. This “biting the bullet” experience is quite quintessential of my time at Harvard. To say that my last year of law school, with a newborn, and as a single mom was a challenge would be an understatement. Some days I was so mentally and emotionally fatigued that I did not leave my bed. I struggled with reliable childcare. It was not atypical to see me rushing through Wasserstein to the Dean of Students’ office with Evelyn in her carriage, asking DOS can they keep her for a few until class was over. If not, she’d just have to come with me to class. Evie attended classes often. So I’m going to be honest with you guys.. I didnt think I could do it. I did not think that, at 24 years old, as a single mom, I would be able to get through one of the most intellectually rigorous and challenging positions of my life. It was hard. It hurt. Instagram can make peoples’ lives seem seamless, but this journey has been heartwrenching. However, I am happy to say that I DID do it. Today, Evelyn in my arms, with tears streaming down my face, I accepted my Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. At first, I was the anomaly of my [marginalized] community. Then, as a single mother, I became a statistic. Next, I pray that- for the sake of my baby, I will be an example. Evelyn- they said that because of you I wouldn’t be able to do this. Just know that I did this BECAUSE OF YOU. Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to be invincible. Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.

A post shared by Briana D. Williams, Esq. (@lovexbriana) on

 

While most of us who’ve gone to college are familiar with pre-finals procrastination – and the ramen-fueled all-night study sessions that follow – one 24-year-old Harvard Law graduate puts us all to shame

Atlanta native Briana Williams actually went into labor during finals season last year and not only did the single mom finish an exam while actively in labor, but she also successfully graduated this year. Talk about a real-life superhero.

While in labor, Brianna requested an epidural on the spot so she could finish her Family Law exam. “And with tears in my eyes, I finished it,” she confessed on Instagram. In her own words, this “biting the bullet” moment was typical of her Harvard experience.

“A small-town girl from Atlanta,” Brianna Williams is one of six children and the only one in her family to attend college. In a series of heartfelt posts on Instagram, the fresh Harvard graduate opened up about her struggles coming from a low-income family and getting into one the most exclusive and privileged colleges in the world.

Some days I was so mentally and emotionally fatigues that I did not leave my bed… It was hard. It hurt.— Brianna Williams

Although she managed to overcome her “imposter syndrome,” becoming pregnant and then raising a newborn as a single mom during her final year at Harvard brought a new set of huge challenges. “To say that my last year of law school, with a newborn, and as a single mom was a challenge would be an understatement,” Williams confessed.

At first, I was the anomaly of my [marginalized] community. Then, as a single mother, I became a statistic. Next, I pray that for the sake of my baby, I will be an example. Brianna Williams

Detailing her struggles with reliable childcare, Williams spoke of how she’d often ask staff at the dean’s office to watch baby Evelyn while she attended classes, and when that wasn’t an option, she’d go to class with baby in tow.

Many told her she would not be able to do it because of her daughter, but Williams credits Evelyn Willow with her accomplishments.

Now, after working as a waitress and bartender to support herself and successfully graduating from the most rigorous law school in the world, Williams has joined a top law firm in Los Angeles.

Know that I did this BECAUSE OF YOU. Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to be invincible. Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.— Brianna Williams

 

 

 

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“OUR GIRLS NEED TO BE EXPOSED TO MODERN PROBLEM-SOLVING TOOLS LIKE CODING”- ABISOYE AJAYI

Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin is a Nigerian social entrepreneur passionate about quality education in technology and promoting the cause and advancement of vulnerable young girls and women in underserved and underprivileged communities in Nigeria. With her NGO, Pearls Africa, she has the vision of adding at least 20,000 young girls into the technology space by 2020.

A leader, mentor, ICT consultant, women’s right activist, businesswoman and change agent, the graduate of Business Administration from the University of Lagos is the first Nigerian to be featured as a CNN Hero for her passion in teaching young vulnerable girls coding. She has also made the Top 10 CNN Heroes List to be honoured as “CNN Hero of The Year” in December. This year, she joins nine other people the world over, who will receive $10,000 in support of their heroic endeavours. One of the 10 will be chosen as the “CNN Hero of the Year,” and will receive the sum of $100,000.

Speaking about her cause, CNN said: ‘Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin left her career to teach computer programming to girls in Lagos, Nigeria where Facebook and Google opened offices earlier this year. A 2013 survey found that less than eight per cent of Nigerian women are employed in professional, managerial or technology jobs. Ajayi-Akinfolarin hopes to change that statistic.’ The “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” will air live on Sunday, December 9, where Ajayi-Akinfolarin, along with the other nine heroes, will be celebrated.

In this interview, she speaks with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA on her humble beginnings and passion to teach girls coding.

Tell us about your growing up?

I learnt to survive and cater for myself from a very tender age, with the support of my siblings.

My mother passed on when I was four years and it caused us a lot of hardships financially, physically, and emotionally. We were all we had and we supported each other.

As a child, I knew I had to work really hard to succeed and this I did. My brother became my father even as he tried to survive in the university without support from anyone.

After fleeing home, I was adopted by a loving family, who took me in and ensured that I finished my secondary school.

It was a major struggle gaining admission into the university and when I eventually did, I combined it with work in an IT audit company and business in school.

What influenced your passion for teaching disadvantaged girls coding?

After my secondary school, my brother got me an internship at an I.T audit firm. This was where my interest in coding began. I was excited that I could actually develop a skill and earn with it, so I plunged myself into coding.

In a short while, I started earning with my skills and eventually it was with this skill that I paid for my studies at the University of Lagos.

From this experience, I realised that young girls from poor backgrounds and children, who grow up without their parents, go through a lot of challenges and hardships. I termed them “vulnerable.”

All they needed was economic empowerment at an early age like I did. And for me, digital technology was the key. This is why I have been using programming and other digital skills to thicken the economic veneer of their lives.

Coding is a very important and lucrative skill in today’s world and it can be used to solve a lot of problems in the society. Our girls are the future of the society and they need to be exposed to the modern problem-solving tools like coding.

At what point did you set up Pearls Africa?

Pearls Africa was established in April 2012, with mentoring and life skills to empower young girls to enable them to gain economic independence and have better opportunities in life.

Specifically, it started as a response to the inequality and injustice observed with the lives of girls and women in marginalised communities in Nigeria. Our biggest project, Girls Coding, started three years ago.

Why the choice of coding, how do you get these young girls and know their interests?

When I got into technology, females were really under-represented. You find very few girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related areas because they have been made to believe that it’s not a field or sector that they can go into based on their gender, which is a lie.

Even though some developed countries face similar challenges, the ratio of women in science and technology is still fair and not as bad as here in Nigeria.

Coding is an important skill for every young person in the world, especially as the world grows into a global city everyday. When we started, it was and still is community-based (correctional centres, transit homes, orphanages and IDPs), then public schools.

We started advertising for students to join our classes on our social media platforms, by speaking to those who knew of girls around them, who could not afford to pay for the programmes we offer. They go through our screening process, we meet their parents/guardians, then they are enrolled.

Some of our current students also tell their friends who are interested in learning to code about our classes. We know their interests by studying their performance and observing their passion and dexterity as regards learning all they are taught.

What has been the impact so far?

With Girls Coding, we have been able to boost our girls’ self-esteem. They now believe in themselves and know their rights.

By learning how to code, they have been able to develop their critical thinking ability, which is one very important skill people need to think reasonably and clearly.

Girls Coding gives them a stronger voice in society because they now have skills aside from their formal education, which is economically viable. They are able to build mobile and web applications, which are very relevant in this digital age.

Today, we also have a safe space called the Lady Labs Innovation Hub located in Yaba, Lagos.

It was launched last year. It’s a space, where we connect our girls with mentors and experienced professionals, who can give them talks and career advice as well as discussions on making the right choices in life.

The hub also serves as a space where young women in tech can come to hone their skills and learn more aspects of the tech field.

Also we’ve been able to get scholarships for some of our girls and given them international exposure.

The greater impact is bridging the divide between the poorest communities and the middle-class through the exposure that Girls Coding gives them.

Today, these professionals have little sisters in the slums and other marginalised communities to whom they have committed their love and support.

What other projects is Pearls Africa focused on?

At Pearls Africa, we run a number of projects to address the issue of gender inequality, especially as regards employment opportunities and they include; Girls Coding, Empowered Hands (vocational skills), GC Mentors (mentorship and career days) and Girls In STEM (Tech for 18-25 years in university).

At the moment, we’re taking Girls Coding to other states in Nigeria, especially the northern part. We run summer programmes for them for now, we are yet to start an afterschool/regular ones.

What is your take on Nigeria and the appreciation of technology?

We are still behind developed countries in the promotion of technology in Nigeria. The Information Technology (IT) space is fast becoming very important and indispensable in every sphere of society, ranging from business to health, agriculture, entertainment etc. Its importance makes it imperative for Nigeria to place much value on it. I see a lot of young people being innovative with technology and I’m very proud of how fast the young ones are catching up with global trends.

Tell us about the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) you attended, and how it has influenced your work?

It’s an exchange programme by the US Government and lasted for three weeks; it was in form of meetings and tours around four cities in the US.

It broadened my perspective on the work I do currently and made me realize that girl child education most especially in tech is a global issue. The theme was, ‘Education and activism for young women’.

You have made us proud being the first Nigerian to emerge a CNN Hero, how will it further impact your work with young girls?

I hope that every young girl will see herself as great even before the greatness comes. It serves as a form of validation for my work. I hope this honour will help young girls know that wherever their backgrounds are, they should never determine their future.

I hope that they can use my story and journey as an example that anything is possible and they can fulfill their destiny in life, regardless of where they are coming from.

I hope young girls can see that they are enough and there is no limit to what they can achieve in life. To be interviewed by CNN International for doing humanitarian work is a big honor in itself!

I believe it’s the biggest form of exposure anyone can get.

If you eventually win the ‘CNN Hero of the year’ award, what will you do with the money?

Winning this award will increase my ability to impact more girls and women with valuable technology skills by expanding our training facility, increase the size of our faculty and be able to equip more girls across Nigeria.

Above all, this will get us closer to our dream of having a girls’ village, which will be an incubation hub for these young girls and women.

Other African countries will also be able to benefit from this. And to get to be one of the top 10 CNN Heroes for 2018 brings about a feeling I cannot describe, really I did not see any of these coming.

It’s such a big honour and most especially for Nigeria and Africa. It’s the first time a CNN Hero is emerging from Nigeria in 12 years, I pray for more people to emerge from Nigeria and Africa

What is your advice to young people and how can they pursue their passion?

There is no limit to what you can do with your creative and innovative mind. No matter what challenges you may face, or whatever background or circumstances of life you might have gone through, never give up on your dreams.

Always do your best to see that your work can solve problems and add value to the society. You should endeavour to make a difference in whatever field or sector you find yourself. We can make the world a better place if we can give a helping hand to other persons in need.

QUOTE: I hope that young girls can use my story and journey as an example that anything is possible and they can fulfill their destiny in life, regardless of where they are coming from

Source: Guardian Woman

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4 PRODUCTS WILL MAKE YOU LOOK YOUNGER

Do you often realize that you look older than your age, when comparing yourself with other people? Do you believe that genetics is blame? Indeed, it is useless to declare war. But to compete for the youth and beauty of your skin is possible. For this purpose, first of all, you should reconsider your diet.
Remember you are what you eat. All problems of the body, the face shows like a mirror.

Take care of your health from the inside and the outer result will surprise in a few weeks. Discover 6 foods that should definitely be in your diet.

Eggs

Eggs enrich our diet with vitamins A and selenium. Selenium is a valuable trace mineral which is required for skin beauty. Eggs help to cope with acne, don’t allow show age spots, protects against age-related changes in fighting free radicals. Thanks to selenium, the skin becomes fresh and elastic.
To preserve the attractiveness and youthfulness of your skin, try egg dishes present in the diet at least a few times a week.

Beans

Serving of the beans must be in the daily menu, if you suffer from acne. The nutrients will help to get rid of age spots, reduce the risk of scarring. The main positive effect of bean spreads for the digestion — it stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and excretes excess cholesterol. Beans effectively stimulates many digestive processes, efficiently removes toxins and wastes. Be sure to clean your stomach and you will see the result on the skin.

Avocado

Oleic acid, and the avocado very much, improves skin regeneration, and is especially suitable in middle and old age. There are a lot of b vitamins and fiber. And most importantly — avocado helps to slow down the activity of the enzyme, which results in aging skin, collagen fibers begin to deform and wrinkle.

Carrots

It is known that carrots contain lots of beta-carotene, an antioxidant responsible for the renewal of skin cells. In fact, many cosmetologists recommend using a cream with the retinol, and it is nothing like a well-known vitamin A, which is formed in the body from carotene.
And beta-carotene is one of the most natural tanning activators, since it contributes to the production of melanin. So do you want a nice tan and healthy skin? Eat carrots with vegetable oil or sour cream (the assimilation of vitamin A needs fat).

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ONCE A BROKE COLLEGE DROPOUT, THIS BLACK ENTREPRENEUR NOW OWNS AN UPSCALE NAIL SALON AND COFFEE BAR!

Mpoomy Ledwaba was young and broke when she planned her own business after deciding to drop out of college. She has no money, no experience, and the people around her did not believe in her. Amidst all the challenges, she fought for her dreams and finally opened Aneno Nail & Coffee Bar which has always been jampacked with women since its launching.

At age 12, Mpoomy started working for her dad. At 16-years old, she worked at a restaurant while doing promotions throughout varsity. She was 21-years old when she landed her first corporate job as a banker at Investec. By then, she was also a second-year student of Accountancy at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.

Initially, Mpoomy thought she’d love accounting because she was good at it and it felt like a natural move. But as time goes by, she realized it was unfulfilling for her. So first, she quit her job. Second, she left the university in the middle of her finance exam and never went back.

“I didn’t diagnose it as depression but now because I understand what depression is, I know it could have been that,” she told Forbes Africa.

It was a brave move for a young woman who did not have any money nor experience. What makes it worse is that her parents were not impressed by her decision, too. Her father refused to send her money anymore and her mother also declined when she tried to borrow money to do a nail course.

“I spent my days crying and praying. It was a tough time. I knew I had made the right decision but everyone and everything around me tried to break me,” Mpoomy said.

Eventually, Mpoomy found a job at a modeling agency doing a billboard and TV advert where she was paid R22,000, or over $1,550 USD. She invested her earnings in a cleaning business, inspired by her father’s cleaning company. For a year, it boomed but she got swamped up by orders that it became overly demanding for her. She then learned that “you can’t start a business in something you don’t know or you are not passionate about.”

Brenden Praise Ledwaba, South African Idols finalist and recording artist, who is then her boyfriend and now husband, was the one who was there with her and supported her no matter what. After their marriage, which didn’t come cheap, Brenden gave her money to go to nail school. It wasn’t easy for them as newlyweds; they had financial problems along the way, but they still made it.

By the time Mpoomy finished her studies and was ready to get a working experience, no one hired her. But she found a way by herself and she created a mobile salon that turned out successfully. Finally, with the help of a mentor, she opened Aneno Nail & Coffee Bar a year ago.

Today, Mpoomy has a team of five people in her own nail salon based in Melville, Johannesburg. Some of her first customers were friends and family but now African celebrities such as Mapaseka Koetle-Nyokong, Mmatema Moremi, Jessica Nkosi, and Thickleeyonce are her frequent clients.

In the near future, the ever-enthusiastic businesswoman sees Aneno having franchises all over South Africa and being a household brand. After all, she believes that “God is the one who makes things happen.”

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“‘FOR THIS CHILD I HAVE PRAYED AND YOU HEARD MY CRY” – TOOLZ SHARES INSPIRING TESTIMONY FOLLOWING BIRTH OF HER SON

Beautiful OAP Toolz and her husband, Tunde Demuren welcomed their first child together recently, a baby boy.

The on-air personality has confirmed the news with a heartwarming testimony:

‘For this child I have prayed and You heard my cry.

For this baby I had faith and You gave new life’… This time last year, I posted my most vulnerable and honest post to date after my miscarriage.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!! This time last year, I would often cry myself to sleep thinking about the baby we lost, but now I can’t sleep because I can’t stop staring at the most precious gift God has given me this year….MY SON.❤❤❤

I look at my little prince and I am in complete awe! I still can’t believe I’m a mummy.

I can’t wait to teach him everything I know and learn so much from him too.

I can’t wait to show him how much every inch of me loves him.

I also can’t wait to “Patience Ozokwor” his future girlfriends 😁😁 The biggest lesson I learnt this year is to NEVER…EVER GIVE UP ON GOD.

Since last year, we prayed, fasted and prayed some more for God to bless us with a healthy baby in 2018. Towards the end of the first quarter, I started to think that our prayers wouldn’t be answered in 2018. I stupidly got impatient and frustrated with God.

One day in April, Captain came home and found me in bed crying my eyes out because I thought we wouldn’t have a baby in 2018. Little did I know that as I was crying and getting upset and frustrated with God, I was actually already pregnant.

While I was being weak and doubting Him, He had already answered our prayers!

For our family, friends and every single one of you that remembered us in prayer….Thank you so very much. May God overwhelm you with incredible blessings this coming year.

For women dealing with the loss of a child like I did last year, know that the story doesn’t end there. God has already completed your testimony, and I pray that you (just like me) will be celebrating sooner rather than later.

For anyone waiting on God to answer their prayers, please remember that God’s delay isn’t His denial.

Thank you Heavenly Father for always showing that you’ve got me!

Lots of love and Happy Amazing 2019 from Toolz, Captain and Chairman 👶🏾 #GodsGotMe #TreeOfUs #Testimony#We2019Ready

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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OBIAGELI ‘OBY’ EZEKWESILI IS KOKO MAGAZINE’S 2018 ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR’

Female presidential candidate Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili has been revealed as KOKO magazine’s 2018 ‘Woman of the Year’.

According to the magazine’

Change is the only constant thing in life and with the advent of social media, our world as we know it is changing so fast. With varying challenges that we might be facing be it economic, political, social or environmental, we thankfully still have individuals particularly women leading, inspiring and championing hope for our generation. With that in mind, we as an organisation annually choose a ‘Woman of the Year’.

We begin the process with a mid-year meeting among all stakeholders and a tentative nomination list is drawn, the nominations are varied and the debates vigorous, never more so than in an era of amazing talents, achievements, excellence in diverse fields and women who have made a whole lot of positive change on the African continent. Our 2018 ‘Woman of the Year’ represents not only her trailblazing efforts but more importantly, embodies the hopes and achievements of millions of extraordinary women who make a difference every day across our nations and continent. KOKO’S 2018 Woman Of The Year is Transparency International’s activist-founder, convener of the#BringBackOurGirls campaign and Nigeria’s Presidential aspirant, Obiageli Ezekwesili. And ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili is the cover star of The KOKO Magazine (International) Special Edition.

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