Women of Rubies, Author at Women of Rubies

In self development April 4, 2019 By Women of Rubies

RONKE BAMISEDUN WINS THE SABRE AWARD FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

Award-winning strategic communication company, BWL Agency, founded by Ronke Bamisedun, has emerged SABRE Award winner for the second consecutive year. BWL Agency was recently announced as the winner for the Media, arts and entertainment category and was also awarded a certificate of excellence for the Gold Sabre, Western African for their work on The Homecoming, a four-day cultural exchange founded by Grace Ladoja MBE, Skepta and BBK Africa.

Ranked one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing SME’s in Nigeria by Nigeria’s leading finance and market intelligence news report, Business Day in 2018, BWL Agency is made up of a team of unconventional communication consultants who have become industry disruptors through their audacious and compelling campaigns. The industry under-dogs are at the helm of some of the country’s most successful cultural platforms – shaping dialogues and correcting cultural narratives with one campaign at a time.

The SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation & Engagement)Awards is the world’s biggest Public Relations Awards Program, dedicated to benchmarking the best PR work from across the globe. The award ceremony will be taking place on Thursday, May 16thin Kigali, Rwanda.

Ronke Bamisedun Founder of BWL, member of the elite 2018 Forbes 30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs in Africa List and CNBC (AABLA) Young Business Leader finalist says

“Last Year we won The SABRE’s for our work on Jameson connects and certificates of excellence for our work on the Martell follow the swift campaign. This year we are elated to win our second SABRE Award and Excellence Certificate for our work on yet another phenomenal brand, Homecoming. Being considered alongside some great agencies and campaigns and then winning in the category is an incredible accomplishment and honor I am extremely humbled by this win.”

She continues,

“I am inspired by the Homecoming team for constantly challenging the status quo, shaping cultural narratives and spotlighting the entertainment industry. We are excited to be working with them again this year for Homecoming 2019”

BWL will be working on the four-day festival this year from Friday 19th April to Monday 21st April 2019.

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems April 4, 2019 By Women of Rubies

LORI LIGHTFOOT BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN MAYOR OF CHICAGO

Lori Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor vowing to take down Chicago’s political machine, won the race to become the first black woman mayor of Chicago.

With 94% of precincts reporting, Ms. Lightfoot led Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, 74% to 26%, on Tuesday night, according to data from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Ms. Lightfoot will also be the first gay person to lead the nation’s third-largest city.

“We were up against powerful interests, a powerful machine, a powerful mayor,” Ms. Lightfoot, who will take office in May, said in her victory speech. “We can and we will break this city’s endless cycle of corruption.”

Ms. Preckwinkle said she called Ms. Lightfoot to congratulate her just before 9 p.m. local time and though she was disappointed, she acknowledged the historic nature of the race. “Not long ago, two African-American women vying for this position would have been unthinkable,” she said. “Tonight is about the path forward.”

The women, both Democrats, were the two top vote-getters in the early round of voting on Feb. 26 that whittled the field of 14 candidates.

Ms. Lighfoot will take over a city grappling with problems including violence and trust in police, a falling population and massive pension liabilities.

Both candidates said addressing Chicago’s pervasive violence is a priority and would affect how they deal with the city’s struggling schools, communities and finances.

During the campaign, Ms. Lightfoot sought to link Ms. Preckwinkle with the city’s corrupt political machine, while Ms. Preckwinkle questioned Ms. Lightfoot’s previous leadership of a police-accountability task force.

Despite the vitriol of the campaign, Ms. Lighfoot struck a note of unity with Ms. Preckwinkle on Tuesday night. “Our differences are nothing compared to what we can achieve together,” she told supporters. “Now that it’s over I know that we will work together for the city that we both love.”

Ms. Lightfoot, who supports more-progressive tax policies, said one thing the city can do to improve its finances is rein in the millions it spends each year on settlements, judgments and attorney fees. She said the city must also do a better job about communicating its financial woes and needs to residents.

“We really have to demonstrate to the taxpayers that we’re not going to continue to treat them like an ATM machine with no limit,” she said.

Jaime Dominguez, a professor of political science at Northwestern University, said he was stunned by how few Chicago voters turned out on Tuesday. Officials with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said 32% of registered voters had cast a ballot in the runoff, with turnout largely mirroring that in February. Officials said mail-in and provisional ballots yet to be counted likely would bump that number up slightly in the coming days.

Mr. Dominguez said Ms. Preckwinkle seemed to struggle in her efforts to persuade voters that she could bring reforms related to criminal justice, housing opportunities and aldermanic privilege.

“This wave or undercurrent of antiestablishment politics was definitely prevalent,” Mr. Dominguez said. “Preckwinkle was just not able to detach herself from the establishment, from the ongoing corruption.”

Ms. Lightfoot led in the polls by a substantial margin ahead of election day, putting Ms. Preckwinkle and her supporters on the attack.

Michael Jackson, a 61-year-old teacher from the South Shore on the city’s majority-black South Side, said he voted for Ms. Lightfoot because she symbolizes change and is a “fresh voice” for the city.

Credit: wsj.com

In self development April 3, 2019 By Women of Rubies

77-YEAR-OLD WOMAN BAGS DEGREE FROM UNILAG

A 77-year-old female retiree was among the 1,008 students of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, that bagged a degree at the institution’s 2017/2018 Convocation Ceremonies which held today April 2nd.

The retiree, who refused to mention her name to journalists, said that the achievement was her dream come true. According to her, she did not want to sit at home after her retirement, hence her choice to pursue a first degree.

“I studied guidance and counselling and I am most grateful to God Almighty who made me to see this day. I will not like my name to be mentioned because I know where I am coming from and what I am protecting. I am a retired officer. I have worked in a lot of countries around the world and also in Nigeria, where I finally retired,’’ she told journalists.

The retiree who was visibly elated, said

“You know when you retire like that, you will not want to stay at home and be dying slowly. Education has no limit. It is from cradle to death in order for one to add value to the society”.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems April 3, 2019 By Women of Rubies

JENNIFER LOPEZ SUED FOR $6.5M FOR ‘STEALING’ THE IDEA OF ‘WORLD OF DANCE’ TV SHOW

American singer, Jennifer Lopez, who is the judge and executive producer on NBC’s “World of Dance,” is being sued by a man who claims he came up with the idea for the TV show.

The man named Alvin Gray-El reportedly filed a federal lawsuit this week against J.Lo, NBC and famed choreographer Debbie Allen.

Alvin Gray-El ?is suing J Lo claiming ‘WoD’ is a total rip from an idea he first pitched to renowned choreographer Debbie Allen.

According to another court documents obtained by The Blast, Gray-El claims he came up with the idea for a show called “Let’s Start the Dance” back in 2009. He claims to have faxed a letter to Debbie Allen and her production company in an effort to see if she was interested in producing the show.

Gray-El claims he never heard back from her. In 2010, Gray-El claims he had the show registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Years later Gray-El claims he discovered “World of Dance” was in the works at NBC in 2017. He says he tried to contact NBC to notify them of the copyright infringement but says he didn’t get a reply.

Gray-El is asking for $5 million in actual damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages.

But a source told Page Six on Tuesday that Jennifer Lopez didn’t come up with the idea herself. He went on to explain that“ World of Dance” began as an organization that existed prior to the show’s creation and that NBC brought the idea to Lopez.

In Career Gems April 3, 2019 By Women of Rubies

FEDERAL COURT RULES AGAINST A NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL’S DRESS CODE REQUIRING GIRLS TO WEAR SKIRTS

Based on a new ruling issued by a federal court in North Carolina, female students attending Charter Day, a school in Leland, North Carolina, will no longer be forced to wear skirts as part of their required school uniforms.

The ruling comes after guardians of three students who attend the school, comprised of 900 students in grades kindergarten through eighth, sued the district in 2016 on behalf of the students, CBS News reports.

In their suit, the guardians alleged that in forcing female students to wear skirts, the students have “to pay constant attention to the positioning of their legs during class, distracting them from learning, and has led them to avoid certain activities altogether, such as climbing or playing sports during recess, all for fear of exposing their undergarments and being reprimanded by teachers or teased by boys.”

As the school’s dress code previously read, the required uniform policy was enacted to “serve the School’s mission of providing a classical education by creating a traditional learning environment.” Under the previous dress code, girls were required to wear jumpers, skirts, or skorts that were knee-length or longer. Boys were permitted to wear pants and shorts.

Per a ruling by Judge Malcolm J. Howard, female students will no longer be required to wear skirts. As his ruling states, “Women (and girls) have, for at least several decades, routinely worn both pants and skirts in various settings, including professional settings and school settings. Females have been allowed to wear trousers or pants in all but the most formal or conservative settings since the 1970s.” The judge went on to say that “the skirts requirement causes the girls to suffer a burden the boys do not, simply because they are female.”

According to The New York Times, Baker Mitchell, founder of the Roger Bacon Academy, a company which operates four charter schools in North Carolina, said that following the ruling, the Charter Day School Board was “analyzing the opinion and will be meeting with counsel in the very near future to discuss their options moving forward.”

Credit: Teen Vogue

In self development April 3, 2019 By Women of Rubies

LUPITA NYONG’O WRITES BOOK TO INSPIRE CHILDREN TO LOVE THE SKIN THEY ARE IN

Here’s the plot for the book titled “Sulwe”.

Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.

In this book, actress Lupita Nyong’o creates a whimsical and heartwarming story to inspire children to see their own unique beauty.

She shared a post about the book on Twitter:

I wrote a book called #Sulwe! This is the cover, illustrated by @VashtiHarrison! Available for pre-order now & out Oct 1 ➡️https://t.co/O04OLMf5XX
I wrote Sulwe to inspire children (and everyone really!) to love the skin they are in & to see the beauty that radiates from within. pic.twitter.com/z0gpC2neOX

— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) April 1, 2019

In self development April 2, 2019 By Women of Rubies

AYOMIDE BELLO BECOMES THE FIRST NIGERIAN TO WIN GOLD AT AN INTERNATIONAL WATER SPORTS EVENT

Since the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation (NRCSF) was formed, the country has never finished tops in an international outdoor water sports competition.

That was until Sunday when Ayomide Bello won a gold medal at the Open International Canoe Sprint Competition. Making her the first Nigerian to win the top prize at an international water sports competition. The athlete took home gold at the Open International Canoe Sprint Competition in India, coming in first place in the final of the 200 meters event.

According to Nigerian Sports publication Brila, The athlete also won bronze in the “individual event (C1 500m), and two more in the C2 500m and C2 200m team events, with her partner Blessing Amusar.” Their success means that Team Nigeria left the competition with a total of four medals.

Both athletes competed in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina, as highlighted in this BBC Pidgin report.

“The federation is proud of the achievement of the athletes in India and we hope they will do more in other international engagement,” Secretary of the NRCSF, Bunmi Oluode told the News Agency of Nigeria according to The Sun.

Next, the athlete will head to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where we hope to see her shine once again

Credit : fabwoman.ng

In Career Gems April 1, 2019 By Women of Rubies

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, VOGUE ARABIA PUTS THREE BLACK HIJABI MODELS ON THE COVER

For the first time in history, three black Hijabi models were featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia, the April issue. Models Halima Aden, Ikram Abdi Omar, and Amina Adan were photographed by Txema Yeste and styled by Vogue Arabia fashion director, Katie Trotter, with a focus on shattering stereotypes associated with modest fashion and Muslim women.

This is the first cover for Abdi Omar and Amina Adan, and Halima Aden’s second since she was featured on the cover of the magazine’s June 2017 issue. In the Vogue Arabia article that accompanies the cover story, Aden said, “I think it’s important to remember that wearing a hijab is a woman’s personal choice. It doesn’t make her any better or worse than another Muslim woman. To me, it symbolizes modesty and gives me a sense of power.”

They spoke about their experiences as young Muslim women and the discrimination that comes with that identity. Adan, who is the first Hijabi model signed to a Danish agency, said, “Most people are afraid to ask questions and have a conversation about it, even if they are genuinely curious. All they know about Muslim people stems from the news or videos on the Internet about women not having the same rights as men.”

The effort to better represent Muslim women is not lost on fashion fans around the world, and many had a lot to say about the cover and its significance. Gigi Hadid praised the cover on Twitter, saying, “Vogue Arabia is really out there showing people how it’s done.” Another Twitter user said, “Somali girls singlehandedly putting Vogue Arabia on the map the power and international implications!!!” On Instagram people were posting and praising the cover, too. One user posted “Happy #MuslimWomen’s Day! Today We celebrate with the historic all-hijabi/Somali women Vogue Arabia Cover!” Another user posted the photo of the cover with the caption, “Use the power of fashion and magazines to make society more inclusive.”

This year it seems fashion’s attempts at more representation and inclusion are picking up pace.

Credit: Teen Vogue

In Career Gems April 1, 2019 By Women of Rubies

TAYLOR SWIFT OWNS ATLEAST $84 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE ACROSS FOUR STATES

28-year-old singer, Taylor Swift has a reported net worth of $280 million and huge chunk of that is parked in real estate. Swift owns more than $84 million worth of real estate across the US eight properties in four different states, to be exact according to estimates provided to Business Insider by Trulia .

Taylor Swift real estate map list

Nashville

Let’s begin in Nashville, Tennessee, where Swift launched her country music career. It’s only fitting for her to have at least one property there, but she has two.

There’s the 3,240-square-foot condo in Nashville’s Music Row, which she bought at age 20. Swift said in an interview with Vulture , who described the condo’s aesthetic as “whimsically girlie,” that she did the interior design herself.

Worth an estimated $3 million, the condo boasts industrial-style features and skyline views of midtown Nashville thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows.

In June 2011, she purchased a 1934 Greek Revival estate in Nashville that features a 5,600-square-foot main house with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. Out back there’s a pool and a 2,000-square-foot guesthouse. Trulia estimates it to be worth nearly $2.5 million and that’s the cheapest property she owns.

Taylor Swift house Nashville

Los Angeles

Ever the superstar, Swift also spends time in Los Angeles. She sold her Beverly Hills Cape Cod-style cottage of 2,826 square feet for $4 million earlier this year, but she still owns two more residences in the area at least, for now.

Her 2,950-square-foot Beverly Hills home iscurrently on the market ; Trulia estimates its value at $2.85 million.

Beverly Hills Taylor Swift Home

Surrounded by lush greenery, mountains, a pool, and a sprawling patio area, the mod-style single-story home is light and airy with floor-to-ceiling glass, skylights, a private courtyard, and a 1,000-bottle climate-controlled wine cellar .

And then there’s the iconic 1934 Beverly Hills mansion she purchased in September 2015. It was previously home to Hollywood film producer, Samuel Goldwyn.

Taylor Swift Beverly Hills mansion

Swift plans to turn the 10,982-square-foot Georgian Revival estate into a historic landmark and restore it to its former status now that the Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission has voted in favor of her request.

Worth nearly $30 million, it’s the most expensive piece of property in her real estate portfolio, according to Trulia’s estimates.

Rhode Island

But Nashville and Beverly Hills aren’t the only places she calls home. Across the coast, Swift owns an estate with seaside views in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, valued at $6.65 million.

The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion of 12,000 square feet overlooks 700 feet of shoreline with views of Block Island Sound and Montauk Point.

The grapevine whispers that Swift bought the home in April 2013 after breaking up with Conor Kennedy the famous Kennedy Family Compound is not far. A dream vacation home, it’s the perfect place for parties with her squad.

But that’s only one of four properties Swift has in the Northeast. The rest are all in New York City, specifically in Tribeca. As if that’s not close quarters, they’re all on the same block.

New York City

In 2014, Swift put her savvy real estate skills to work, purchasing two adjacent penthouses in a Tribeca building and renovating them into one large duplex penthouse of 8,309 square feet with 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.

It features an expansive kitchen where Swift has baked with her squad, a billiards table, and a sweeping staircase, all at an estimated value of $20.5 million.

In 2017, she became her own neighbor when she purchased a 100-year-old, four-story townhouse next door. At 27 square-feet wideand 5,148 total square feet, it’s filled with a ton of natural light on the first floor (a rarity and a luxury in Manhattan). It also has a home theater, gym, steam bath, and bar, as well as a guest suite, and is estimated to be worth $12.5 million.

Taylor Swift’s townhouse at 153 Franklin St. in Tribeca.

Most recently in February 2018, she purchased another condo on the second floor of the same building as her penthouse from financier Jeremey Phillips for $9.75 million in an off-market deal, reported the New York Post . Trulia estimates its value at $6.9 million.

It’s no wonder Swifties are dubbing Swift’s Tribeca block “Taybeca,” considering she owns roughly $40 million worth of property there.

Credit: pulse.ng

In Editor's Choice April 1, 2019 By Women of Rubies

ZUZANA CAPUTOVA BECOMES SLOVAKIA’S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT

Caputova defeated Maros Sefcovic, a high profile diplomat and and Slovakia’s EU commissioner who was also nominated by the governing party, 58% – 42%.

Caputova said the death of a journalist Jan Kuciak in February of 2018, was one of the reasons she decided to go into politics.

Kuciak was investigating links between politicians and organised crime when him and his fiancee Martina Kusnirovawere fatally shot.

Caputova is a member of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, which has no seats in parliament.

She’ll be sworn in June 15th.

Women of Rubies