20year old, Hannah Olateju at the tender age of 2, had four of her limbs amputated to save her life, after contracting meningitis.
Despite all, she has a lucrative career as a fashion and beauty influencer. Currently, on her platform, she intends focusing on motivating and inspiring others.
She documents her life experiences on her social media, with about 105,000 followers on Instagram, using her platform to boost self-esteem in others
“My childhood was extremely happy, I always remember laughing and playing around like a headless chicken, everything was pretty normal, and that transpired to me been a confident person.”
She is a body positive amputee, and wants people to treat others right, despite their disabilities.
“The only difference between me and you is that I have less limbs”, Hannah explains.
“I would say to people who do have a negative view of amputees and disabled people – get a life’
Daniella Ekwueme, founded the Nigerian palm wine company Pamii, in 2016 after a casual thought when looking out at her mother’s land in Abuja. “She just had this farmland and she wasn’t doing anything with it,” she recalls. “So I was like ‘Oh, have you ever thought of planting palm trees and getting palm oil or palm wine and boxing it up?”
Though, her mother’s answer was no, the the idea was already fixed on her entrepreneurial mind. She’d had palm wine—an alcoholic drink made from the sap of various species of palm trees and endeared to many Nigerians—at weddings and gatherings in the past, but it never quite “hit the spot” so to speak. “I realized that every time I’ve had palm wine in Lagos or Abuja, it’s always off or sour. Because palm wine ferments, so the longer you leave it, it gets bitter and [undrinkable]. So anytime I’ve had it at weddings it just doesn’t taste right to me.”
This presented an opportunity for the young student who was just 18-years-old at the time and moving between Lagos, London and Abuja: she could improve upon an age-old product, still very much in demand, by revamping the production process and packaging it. After extensive research and visits to local palm wine farms in Abuja, Ekwueme decided she was ready to experiment. Along with a small team, she bottled her first batches of palm wine in December 2017, calling the product Pamii—a naturally-brewed, premium palm wine. Ekwueme’s product is different—it fills a void in the Nigerian spirits market because it’s actually Nigerian-made. She reminds me that while her company isn’t the first to try bottling the beverage, others fell short due to “poor execution, poor branding,” and failure to “cultivate a brand and lifestyle around it.”
“I had never tried palm wine myself before my uncle served my mom and I a chilled bottle of Pamii during my recent trip to Lagos. “Back then it was considered the drink of choice for the big men in town,” he told me of the slightly sweet, but mostly tangy cream-colored beverage. Likening it to a typical image of old men opening a bottle of aged scotch and gathering around to share war stories. It was traditionally served and preserved in a large “calabash,” a jug made from the fruit of a gourd plant, and bowls made of the same material. “You can just drink it and go to sleep,” he added, clearly speaking from personal experience.
In reality, palm wine is less of a hardy liquor and more like a wine cooler, with an average of only 4% alcohol content by volume (it becomes more alcoholic the longer it ferments) the drink, especially when served chilled, is a light refresher in thick Lagos heat. It’s considered casual and inexpensive.
“Part of what makes Pamii apart is it’s “premium” brand identity and the drinking experience that it promotes, which is a far cry from the old-timey one my uncle described. Instead, Ekwueme wanted to make it more accessible for people in her age group. “Because I’m young, I [thought] let’s get young people drinking palm wine and package it as premium wine,” she says. “So you’re actually telling people this is a drink, it’s really nice. And you can take it to the beach and you can mix it with other things.”
Most importantly though, it tastes good. After tasting Pamii at my uncle’s home in Lagos, my mom and I became curious to try it at the various restaurants we visited. After trying it at the first restaurant, my mom remarked: “No. I like the one we had at your uncle’s house much better.” I agreed and we resorted to drinking from the stash of Pamii stored in my uncle’s “special fridge” for the remainder of our trip. I brought two bottles back with me to the U.S.
As someone with a unique vision and a quality product to offer, 21-year-old Ekwunema—who is preparing to graduate with a degree in Development Economics from London’s SOAS University—represents a very specific kind of Nigeiran “do it yourself” mentality. She’s also an image for what the future of Nigerian entrepreneurship could and should look like: young, forward-thinking, willing to preserve tradition while also improving upon it, and emphatically culture-driven. “I’ve always had an interest in everything African. I’m an African optimist,” she explains, adding that she’s proud of Pamii’s status as a “for Nigerians, by Nigerians” product. “There’s this culture brewing,” she says. “[It’s about] appreciating things from home and reclaiming them and doing them better. Because there’s no reason, honestly and truly, why there’s Guinness beer and no Nigerian homemade beer. There’s just no reason why.”
While her business model is young and progressive, Ekwunema asserts that she’s really just following in the tradition of women-led entrepreneurship that has always existed in Nigeria—even though women haven’t always received the recognition they deserve.”Young women and old women from everywhere in Nigeria, drive the entrepreneurial spirit of the country,” she states firmly. She’s had several examples of this kind of leadership in her own life from her mother, to a friend who owns a wig business, another who runs a honey business and the scores of Nigerian women who fill markets and sell everyday items by the roadside. “If you look on the road, they’re frying puff puff at 4:00 in the morning, they’re making soup, they’re selling corn—I heard of a woman who built a house in her village out of her corn proceeds,” she adds.
Drawing inspiration from these highly-capable women is why she won’t let things like the “mansplaining” she faces from men, who assume she’s too young or too inexperienced to actually know what she’s doing, phase her. “Having a strong mom, I’ve never felt like I could do less. There’s no way someone would tell you no and you listen to the no when you know it’s a yes,” she says quoting words of wisdom from her mother.
Once she graduates, she plans to head back to Lagos to work and continue running Pamii. She expressed slight nervousness, but full-blown excitement about plans to expand and start bottling other popular Nigerian beverages. Though she won’t tell me which one, only stating that it will likely be an accompaniment to Pamii.
Pamii is already being delivered across the country to loyal customers like my uncle, and being sold in select stores. But there’s still so much the young business-owner wants to do, including possibly exporting to the U.K. and the U.S. in the future.
As a young, first-time business owner in Lagos, Ekwueme knows she faces potential challenges, and while she expressed that there may be a “learning curve” ahead, it hasn’t stopped her from getting this far—or from wanting to go even further. “I definitely think we’ve barely reached the surface, like I’ve barely scratched it, and I’m very excited. In the next two to three years, I think Nigeria women will definitely take over for sure.”
Charles County, MD — When EmauniJ Manley, a 7-year old girl, noticed that some of her classmates couldn’t afford school lunch, she immediately thought of a way to help them. She then created an online fundraiser, and hundreds of people helped her surpass her goal.
“I saw some kids just eating a cheese sandwich,” EmauniJ told NBC.
When she learned from her mother that other kids don’t have money to put on their lunch account, she decided that “I need to do a fundraiser so I can get more money for kids,” she added.
EmauniJ and her mother, who also works at her school, started the fundraiser on Facebook to raise money to pay the unpaid lunch accounts of as many students as possible.
The initial goal of the fundraiser was $800, but a week after it was started, it has already reached more than $4,300.
Principal Ben Harrington praised EmauniJ for her efforts. He said, “It’s really cool to see a student who’s 7 taking the initiative to impact other students at the school.”
According to Harrington, out of 500 students, about 100 receive alternative lunches, even though the school system is doing its best to avoid it.
“Elementary school students have a $25 deficit,” Harrington said. “They can go $25 before they get the alternative meal. Once you get into that deficit, sometimes it’s difficult to come back.”
Moreover, EmauniJ, who also became a published author of a book about having a positive self-image at the age of 5, is hoping she could raise more money to help her classmates in need.
She will be receiving the President’s Award — which recognizes special achievement and distinguished public service — at the 51st National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22 in Pasadena, California.
She is a high achieving, nine-time Grammy award winner, executive producer, fashion designer, actress; and a global advocate. In 2012, she founded The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 11: Singer Rihanna attends the launch of her first visual autobiography,
In a statement released by the organization, Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, commented on what sets Rihanna apart for the award.
“Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant. From her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist, Rihanna epitomizes the type of character, grace, and devotion to justice that we seek to highlight in our President’s Award.”
Johnson will present the award to Rihanna during the LIVE TV special on BET on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Pasadena, California.
Previous recipients includes last year’s recipient Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Jesse Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Soledad O’Brien, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Muhammad Ali among others.
Winners for the 51st NAACP Image Awards will be revealed during the LIVE TV special airing on BET on Saturday.
Kim Kardashian West makes an amazing step for a woman we met years ago on reality TV. She changed her focus to prison reforms so dramatically?
On her kids, she said they see so much of how she studies, go to school like them and how she opens up to them about what she does. They’re so young now, but seeing their mom make a difference means everything.
As Kim matures, its obvious she’s realizing how her A-list status can make a real impact on the lives of others.
On UsMagazine, Kim explained, “They (her children) just see so much, you know, they see that I have to study, they see that I go to school, just like they go to school and we talk about little things like that. I have always been really open and honest with my kids about what I’m doing and what’s going on, and I think they’ll appreciate it, definitely when they get older.”
She said her kids have met people she has helped, thanks to her work.
Perhaps Kim wants her children to grow up in a world where they know it’s up to all of us to demand action when things seem unjust.
This is a good lesson that it’s never too late to embark on a new path.
Her father was an attorney, and as The Things reported, that was influential in sparking her interest in the area of law. She may not have followed this passion earlier, but she has now taken action and has followed in his footsteps.
Will any of Kim’s kids follow her lead? Which is a good example been laid out for them.
We gathered advice from some of the most renowned voices when it comes to love and romance to find out what the signs of a truly healthy relationship are. We also discovered what to look out for to know that a relationship isn’t built to last and could be heading for a breakup.
Their Life Goals Are The Same
According to the experts at Psychology Today, a clear sign of a healthy relationship is two people sharing the same life goals: “You both know what you want out of life, what your common goals are… and are firmly committed to achieving these together.”
There is room for difference in a relationship, but not on the important matters like these.
They Respect Each Other’s Family And Friends
Being good to a person means nothing if you treat their family and friends poorly. Another sign of a healthy relationship is being on good terms with each other’s family and friends.
This shows that you’re willing to make an effort with the people in your partner’s life for the sake of your partner, even if you wouldn’t otherwise get along with them.
They Look Forward To Seeing Each Other
Los Angeles-based relationship expert Dr. Gary Brown told Elite Daily that looking forward to seeing each other is a sign that a relationship is happy and healthy.
Things like finding yourself “excited to make plans” with your partner and disappointed when you have to cancel show that the relationship is in a good place.
They’re Able To Spend Time Apart
A healthy relationship isn’t about spending every moment together. Dating experts agree that a couple should also be able to spend time apart doing things that are important to you as an individual.
If you’re able to spend time apart without getting jealous or possessive, it suggests that your relationship is going along smoothly.
They Bounce Back From Arguing
Arguing in a relationship doesn’t mean it’s not healthy. All couples argue, whether they admit it or not. What’s important, according to Mind Body Green, is the ability to bounce back from fights.
“If you can resolve issues and move forward in your relationship, then you’re on the right track!” explains the wellness site.
They Accept Each Other The Way They Are
A big part of any healthy relationship is accepting the other person the way they are. While couples can support each other and help each other to grow, they ultimately need to be able to love each other unconditionally and embrace each other’s imperfections.
This isn’t always easy, but if you can do it, your relationship is probably in a better state than you thought.
They Maintain Their Own Identities
Too often, people lose all sense of self when they begin a relationship with someone else. According to Psychology Today, it’s a sign that your relationship is healthy if you can both keep your own identities while still putting time and effort into the relationship.
A relationship might be part of who you are, but it’s not the complete story.
They Contribute Equally To The Relationship
A healthy relationship requires both people to contribute equally. One-sided relationships tend to result in a lot of resentment, as well as feelings of entitlement.
Instead, each partner should be contributing what they can and putting an equal amount of time and effort in so that the relationship works.
They See Each Other In Their Futures
Black couple having a conversation at a cafe outdoors in the spring
According to Mind Body Green, your relationship is in a good place if you currently envision each other in your future. It’s even better if you can’t imagine your future without your partner.
For a long-term relationship, it’s obviously important to see yourself with that person in the long term, even past marriage and kids if that’s what’s in store for you.
They Encourage Each Other To Improve
Relationships are about accepting people for who they are and loving them anyway, but that doesn’t mean a couple can’t encourage each other to improve in various ways.
Psychology Today explains that when a relationship is healthy, two people “inspire each other” to be better people and encourage each other to grow and change.
They Connect On A Number Of Levels
There are more levels to a relationship than just physical or just emotional. A healthy relationship takes into account the various elements of a relationship at which two people should be able to connect.
A sign of a healthy relationship, according to Mind Body Green, is being able to bond with your partner spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
Their Communication Game Is Strong
Any relationship expert will tell you that a couple needs to be able to communicate efficiently to make things last.
You know that your relationship is in a good place when you can talk to each other about anything and know how to communicate your needs and wants without the fear of being judged or shut down.
They’re Able To Disagree Respectfully
A couple will always have arguments, so they need to know how to disagree with each other in a respectful way.
If they can disagree with each other without hurting each other’s feelings, and accept that sometimes they’re going to feel differently about things, it’s a sign that they’re in a good place.
There’s A Sense Of Peace Between Them
Mind Body Green explains that there should be a sense of peace between two people in a relationship. Your partner should bring you comfort and happiness, not stress and anxiety.
If you are overrun by negative emotions when you’re with them, it’s a sign that the relationship isn’t healthy.
They Trust Each Other, No Matter What
Trust is a non-negotiable part of being in a relationship. When your relationship is in a good state, you should trust each other to be there and support one another.
You can also trust your partner to stay loyal to you, keep your secrets, and follow through with their promises.
The Women Elite Sports Empowerment Initiative (WESIE) was founded in 2012 by Miss Funke E. Adeniji who began playing basketball in her teens and was able to overcome a series of athletic and personal challenges to work her way up from collegiate level basketball in the UK to division 1, the UK’s premiere league for women. Her hunger to learn and improve as a player led to a brief stint in Australia, after which she returned to the UK to play for the Sheffield Hatters whom she helped win back to back championships.
Whilst experiencing some success, the series of challenges she faced on her journey led her to conclude that many women have limited options and opportunities to achieve their full potential as players; this realization would change her life forever. She decided to set up WESIE and qualify as a basketball coach with the aim of creating opportunities on and off the court for female athletes to achieve their full potential.
Her experience as a clinical pharmacist with an interest in Global Health Policies has also made her especially sensitive to current health challenges being faced by millions across the globe within the context of struggling health care systems, especially across Africa. While attending an international health conference she realized that she could easily combine her efforts to help women excel in sport whilst creating a platform upon which to improve the health and wellbeing of participants and their wider communities, starting with Nigeria. There is an immense passion for WESIE events in Nigeria and they have become an effective health intervention tool there. Nigerian women, and African women as a whole, face the same challenges that women in sports all over the world face but the problems are magnified due to weaker infrastructure and a lack of government support. By creating local opportunities for these women to excel and reap the full benefits of sports within their own communities WESIE is empowering these women in their communities.
Many of the young women who participate are considered a high risk group for diseases such as HIV so WESIE events have served as an effective mobilising and interactive tool to deliver health & well-being messages.
WESIE was founded with the motto ‘To Inspire, Empower, and Enable’ to encourage communities to live healthy and productive lives, the WESIE founder recently published ‘Truth About Health Exposed’ a holistic health guide to support people in their quest to live healthy. Alongside it she hosts a podcast called ‘The Ma Titia Podcast’ under the name of “Ma Titia” (which means teacher in the Efik tribe of Nigeria), in which she addresses trending topics in health as well as the issues outlined in her book. Proceeds of the book and related activities will go towards furthering the WESIE vision and outreach capacity.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has received a “Woman of the Decade” award from the Nigerian newspaper THISDAY on the paper’s 25th anniversary. She was selected as the editors’ choice, while the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and former Federal Minister of Environment Amina J. Mohammed was named the people’s choice.
The award was presented to her by Nigerian Legendary poet and playwright, John Pepper Clark.
The writer wrote:
“JP Clark’s poetry means a lot to me — (and to my character Obinze in AMERICANAH!)
Thank you to @thisdaynewspaper for naming me ‘Woman of the Decade.’ I was delighted to have the award presented by JP Clark.” She said as she shared photos on Instagram.
“The thing about being recognised is that it is not the reason one does what one does, but it is always wonderful to get that validation,” Adichie said. “It means that somebody is saying to you, ‘what you do matters,’ and it is a wonderful feeling. As a Nigerian, it is an even more wonderful feeling to be recognised by my own people. Thanks to the editors at THISDAY and everyone involved in the voting process for the honour of being named ‘Woman of the Decade’ alongside UN Deputy Secretary General, Ms Amina J Mohammed who I admire very much. Congratulations to the entire THISDAY team on your silver jubilee.”
The writer, was earlier named to THISDAY‘s list of “20 Women Who Will Shape Events in Nigeria in 2020,” alongside Amina J Mohammed, former Minster of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, First Lady Aisha Buhari, and pop singer Tiwa Savage.
Women of Rubies congratulates Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Nigerian Rinsola Babajide has won the Liverpool FC Women’s Team Player of the Month for January.
The latter saw Babajide’s standout performance as she scored two goals in each half and took her season’s total to seven, coring four goals all of which came against Blackburn Rovers Ladies in an 8-1 win. She played all the three matches played by Liverpool last month,
Babajide, can represent Nigeria as well as England due to her dual citizenship,
The 21-year-old, a natural winger who can also play as a central striker, said: “I’m really honoured to be Player of the Month and thanks to all the fans that voted.
“I feel like our performances have been getting better all the time and two back-to-back wins show that. Now we need another three points and that would be massive for us.”
“It was the volley [past Blackburn] for me, though I’m not sure which one the fans enjoyed most,” she said about her favorite career goal.
“We just needed to hit the back of the net because we’ve been playing well without scoring so it’s a confidence boost for all of us.”
