Women of Rubies
Author

Women of Rubies

Browsing
In Interviews&profile By

MEET VIRGINIA ETIABA, FIRST WOMAN TO BECOME A GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA

Virginia Ngozi Etiaba made history as the first female Governor of Anambra State.

She was sworn-in after the then-governor, Peter Obi, was impeached by the state legislature for alleged gross misconduct.

Virginia was governor from November 2006 to February 2007, after which she handed over power back to Peter Obi when an appeal court nullified the impeachment.

Born on the 11th of November 1942, Virginia had her primary school education in Kano, before proceeding to Gombe State, for her Teachers Training programme.

She holds qualifications that include the National Certificate of Education, Bachelor of Education (Hon.) and a Certificate in Information Technology.

For 35 years, she worked as a teacher and headed several schools in Kafanchan, Aba, Port Harcourt, and Nnewi.

She retired from the services of the Anambra State Government in 1991 and founded the Bennet Etiaba Memorial Schools, Nnewi. In March 2006, she resigned to assume the position of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State.

Etiaba is the only person who served as deputy governor, governor and then deputy governor again, in the same administration.

She was a member of many associations and a mother of six children.

Source: woman.ng

by
Keep Reading
In Interviews&profile By

YOUNG PEOPLE ACTUALLY BRING LOTS OF VALUE TO ACTIVISM – SANDRA OKELEKE

The developed countries integrate and engage their youth in the mainstream development and governance processes. They believe that these young people, in particular, have the power and responsibility to stand up and take action to achieve unity and sustainable development in their countries.

While resisting the temptation to start rolling out names of many young people, who have changed the world today, there is no doubt that the passion and commitment to creating scientific breakthrough and social change, demonstrated by these young individuals, remind us how much the youth achieve when given the right opportunity.

But it is a twist in the tale in Nigeria where the youth are never given the chance to exhibit their innovative and leadership skills. For instance, we see many university graduates (even with First Class Degrees) being churned out but end up wasting away or gallivanting on the streets while others do dubious ventures.

The plight of the youth, in Nigeria, is very disturbing!

As part of Women of Rubies’ collaborative work with NGOs, we are delighted to introduce Sandra Okeleke, the President of ‘Passion for Self Discovery Initiative’. We interviewed this ‘young activist’ to discuss some of her NGO’s most iconic campaigns and her quest for a better Nigerian Youth.

 

Meet her and her kind of ACTIVISM:

Okeleke Ifeanyi Sandra is my name – born to be ‘MAD (Making A Difference)’. I’m a graduate of Mass Communication from the prestigious Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (Abeokuta, Ogun State) and also, a BSc student of Crescent University where I’m studying Mass Communication.

I’m the Founder of ‘Passion for Self Discovery Initiative’ – it is a Non-Governmental Organisation. Our aim is to create an atmosphere where youths can thrive in every facet of life while contributing positively to nation building.  We also help our youth to discover their talents, nurture it and put it into use. There is this gap we help to bridge in the literacy level between the rich and the poor. So far so good, we have seen our impact as we continue to help the youth develop patriotic, entrepreneurial and self-reliant spirit.

A Gender-Based ACTIVISM?

No! Our organisation is not gender based – it is for both male and female.

Getting involved and her MOTIVATION:

The alarming increase of unemployment in our society was what motivated me and I strongly believe that when we teach these young ones how to be self-reliant, this problem would be reduced to a minimal level.

On facing the ‘youth stigma’ as the President of an NGO since young people are often dismissed in the ‘running of things’ simply by virtue of their age:

Youth stigma is inevitable and I am one of its victims but I have learnt to go for what I want and never accept “No” for an answer. My passion, to make a difference, drives me on – always!

The value young people bring to ACTIVISM:

Young people actually bring lots of value to activism for reason being that the entire society looks up to us to be ‘MAD’ and so, as a youth, when you ‘Make A Difference (MAD)’, the society appreciate you and want to reckon with you.

On funding her NGO:

Funding? That’s a major challenge for a young lady wanting to make a difference – I must say it hasn’t been easy at all. I am a student (a corps-member) and running a Non-Governmental Organisation without a good paying-job – you know what that means! Well, in spite of all these commitment, some people share my vision and would always support financially when the need arises; more so, my family and friends are not left out, especially my fiancé, who has been of tremendous support in all ways.

Her NGO’s campaign she is most proud of:

I can’t readily pick one or call to mind but generally, I am proud of all our campaign as we have identified the hidden potentials in young ones and helped them to grow in those areas, and the results have been wonderful.

 

On issues limiting the chances of the Nigerian youth and her advice:

My advice to the younger generation, any time and any day, is for them to discover who they are, discover their passion and work on it and I tell them, they would never regret doing so.

 

On thoughts to give up on her project:

Many times, I have felt like giving up, especially due to lack of funding. There are times we have had projects (already prepared and everything is set) but there was no money to carry those projects out and we had to cancel them. Such experience breaks the heart and I’ve often felt like quitting but each time that feeling arises, something in me reminds me that so many lives would suffer if I take such a decision. That reminder has always been my driving-force.

 

The MONEY or the MESSAGE?

We are more concerned about the message – our work is like that of a teacher, who does the highest job and gets the least payment. We want a society, free of unemployment and as such, there would be absence of crime and other

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

8 NIGERIAN FEMALE WRESTLERS WIN SIX GOLD, TWO SILVER MEDALS AT AFRICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Nigerian female wrestlers at the ongoing 2017 Senior African Wrestling championships in Marrakech, Morocco, have won eight medals.

The gold medallists are Mercy Genesis, 48 kg; Odunayo Adekuoroye, 55kg; Aminat Adeniyi, 58kg; Blessing Oborududu, 63kg; Kemeasuodei Dressman, 69kg; and Gofit Winnie, 75kg.

The silver medallists are Bose Samuel, 53kg; and Bisola Makanjuola, 60kg.

 

Source: Woman.ng

by
Keep Reading
In lifestyle By

TOBY GREY RELEASES NEW PHOTOS TO CELEBRATE HER 23RD BIRTHDAY

Grey Nation First Lady, Toby Grey turned 23 today and has taken the opportunity to release some new stunning photos. The sexy singer and song writer recently released 2 amazing singles; ‘Na u‘ featuring Ex Big Brother Naija house mate Soma and French inspired song ‘Applaudissez‘.
See Photos below:
Happy Birthday to Her!
Photography: Amazing Klef
Styled by: Jane Michael
Source: Bellanaija
by
Keep Reading
In Interviews&profile By

10-YEAR-OLD KHERI CREATES A CLOTHING LINE AFTER BEING BULLIED FOR HER SKIN COLOUR

 

Nobody is going to tell 10-year-old Kheris Rogers (@Kherispoppin) that her black isn’t beautiful. After being bullied for her flawlessly radiant and deeply hued skin tone, the 10-year-old mini mogul clapped back by creating a t-shirt line boasting the ingenious phrase, Flexing In My Complexion.

Kheris first made headlines back in March after photos posted to Twitter by her older sister Taylor went viral. The photos showed Kheris absolutely seeerving up a fierce, melanin popping pose alongside a casual aloof stance– both inherently flawless.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

After amassing tens of thousands of likes and retweets, Taylor showed her baby sister the hugely positive comments referring to her as “beautiful” and calling her skin “gorgeous.”

The comments embedded a new confidence in young Kheris, who not too long ago, had transferred schools because of the immense bullying.

“She started to notice she was different,” Taylor told BuzzFeed News. “She would cry a lot, and talk about how she doesn’t like her skin tone.”

After social media support helped her see her innate loveliness, Kheris and big sister Taylor decided to flaunt the Flexing In My Complexion phrase on t-shirts for all of us worldwide to enjoy.

“She was obsessed with the comments,” Taylor said. “So many people’s comments gave her a positive outlook on her skin. It gave her reassurance.”

Reassurance can often be necessary for those within ethnic communities who  know all-too-well the complexities that lie within colorism.  In basically all communities of colour, lighter complexions have been historically deemed “better,” wrongfully downplaying the radiance of dark skin.

With ambitious and optimistic youth acting as the face of positive change for not only tolerance, but praise of individualism, we can all feel one stop closer to rectifying sad, sad views that falsely claim black is not beautiful.

You can support Kheris and her family’s work in promoting diversity in beauty by copping your Flexing In My Complexion t-shirt here. You can also follow Kheris on Twitter and Instagram, as she is sure to be a stand out character in the years to come.

Source: Konbini

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

234 FINANCE: STEPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS

It is a rule of thumb that most African start-ups fail within five years of operation. Not all businesses around the world thrive for up to two years, and the recorded 80% start-up demise has been as a result of failed or inadequately structured expansion. In other words, most businesses within the sphere of ‘failed start-ups’ (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises – SMEs) missed it at the point of expansion, folding up after only a few months into a seemingly good business venture.

Clearly, it appears that almost every start-up is gearing towards expanding their business. It is a venture that most entrepreneurs look forward to. However, there are underlined rules to this game and essential considerations to be made.

Certain realization should accompany management’s decisions when considering moving a business to the next level, or when it comes to expansion –  either by the introduction of a new line of product and service, or an extension of an existing one.

Essentially, adequate research, planning and proper implementation are the backbones of any successful expansion consideration for small businesses.

The first reality that entrepreneurs must come to terms with, before embarking on any form of expansion, is that it is not automatic, neither is it a free meal ticket to financial boom and freedom. The notion of making quick money or more profit, must be suspended for a while.

It is also important to undertake a thorough investigation of the new course, the clime, the target market, cost implications in all ramifications: financial capability and readiness, production, location and equipment, if need be.

It is usually advisable to undertake the expansion in stages, because over-enthusiasm and unfounded theories by entrepreneurs in small and medium scale enterprises have led them to liquidation.

Expansion involves increased overheads, and if your business cannot cushion the effect internally, it can lead to an untimely fold-up. A thorough analysis and understanding of all factors involved in the process is important, in order to withstand unforeseen or anticipated challenges from competition, target market, market trends etc.

Finally, a good internal management culture and sustainability structures must be in place… in case the project becomes more successful than the company can handle.

Furthermore, a concrete internal system for checks and evaluation must be in place to measure progress and correct errors.

Are you ready to proceed with this?

Photo Credit: Gstockstudio1 | Dreamstime.com

About 234Finance

234Finance.com is an online hub that promotes African Entrepreneurship. We provide free resources, share opportunities and events that entrepreneurs can benefit from and thrive in Africa’s tough business landscape.

Follow 234Finance:
instagram.com/234finance
facebook.com/234finance
twitter.com/234finance

Source: Bellanaija

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

“THE VEIL HAS FALLEN OFF” – OLORI WURAOLA OGUNWUSI TAKES A STAND AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, has taken a public stand against domestic violence. According to her;

“Domestic abuse/emotional abuse are fast becoming a norm in our society. Decades ago it was okay for women to bear the burden and remain mute about the pains and effects of being victims. Not today.
The veil has fallen off and the shame of what the world will think has been replaced with solidarity, empathy, and unity. Together we can all lend a helping hand and support our sisters, mothers, aunts, friends in saying No to domestic violence and abuse. By remaining silent, we are doing a great disservice to victims and their families. #Saynotodomesticviolence #NoMore #SilenceisDeadly”

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

#JUSTICEFORKHADIJABASHIR:AISHA BUHARI, DOLAPO OSINBAJO VISITS 8-MONTH-OLD BABY RAPED IN KANO

Wives of the President/VP, Aisha Buhari and Dolapo Osinbajo today visited Khadija Bashir, the 8-months-old baby who was raped when she was 6 months old, at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

Khadija Bashir was reportedly raped by the husband of her mother’s childless friend/neighbour.
The couple planned and raped the child because they were allegedly told it as the way they would get their own kids. She has now had surgeries because of the injuries she sustained during the rape.

The case is presently in court and the rapist has hired a number of lawyers to defend him.

More photos below…

 

 

by
Keep Reading
In Interviews&profile By

“TO BE GREAT IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE MOCKED, HATED AND MISUNDERSTOOD” – TOYIN ABRAHAM

Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has said that one has to be willing to be mocked, hated and misunderstood, if he or she wants to be great in life.

She made this known in a recent  interview with PUNCH’s Saturday Beats. She also disclosed the kind of man she wants to be with.

“I want a man who is tall, hardworking, and loves his job. I would want to be with a man who does not chase women and would not constantly request for money from me. If he needs my help, I can do it. I don’t want to be with a short man. My man has to be taller than I am,” she said.

On her weightloss and whether she did that to find a partner:

“Why would I change my look because of any man when I have my job, my career, and people who look up to me? I love my new look because it has helped my career a lot. Now I get more roles even in the English speaking industry and most of the movies are in the cinemas. Also my clothes fit me well. My stylist does not have to go extra mile to make my clothes,” she said.

On why she changed her name from Toyin Aimakhu to Toyin Abraham:

Abraham is my father’s name and it was a family decision. I cannot be talking about my family online, it is my life. My brother who is also a famous dancer bears the name, David Abraham. That shows that it is my father’s name. At first I thought about my brand before changing the name but eventually, I had to change it. I did not want to change it but my business manager asked me to do so. I know the decision confused some of my fans but with time, they would get used to it. I am Toyin Abraham now and I am building a new brand.

On several controversies she’s been faced with in the course of her career:

I feel it is normal and comes with the territory of being an actress. Based on the fact that I am an actress, people will always tag me with something. It hurts when they say I was in a relationship with someone I never dated or when they write about things that I did not do and just put it out there. Sometimes I read such write-ups and begin to wonder if I ever did those things but what will I do?

To be great in life, you have to be willing to be mocked, hated and misunderstood. I don’t see criticism as anything and I am not bothered whenever I am being criticised by the public. I know that some people would love me and others would hate me, so I do not let that disturb me. Trust me, the criticism only makes me a better person, so when people say negative things about me, it makes me understand that I cannot be right every time. I thank God that I am now getting some things right.

Source: Bellanaija

by
Keep Reading
In Career Gems By

FAILED MARRIAGES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: JOKE SILVA SHARES HER ADVICE

Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has shared her advice on how entertainers and celebrities can keep their marriages particularly as a result of several incidents of failed marriages in recent times.

She made this known in an interview with New Telegraph where she talked to Tony Okuyeme about her career, marriage and more.

Joke Silva, who has been married to another veteran actor Olu Jacobs since 1985, said that there are as many divorce and separation in other professions as there are in entertainment, adding that the challenge of the entertainer is knowing how to manage social media.

“There are a lot of challenges that are being faced by artistes of this particular generation; and one of those challenges is the social media, which almost doesn’t allow you your life. People of my age, when we were getting all the attention, and we were feeling like we were the best thing, things were different. You need all the attention anyway. For your work to sell, you need that popularity. It goes with the job, so you need that popularity. But after a while, you also get to learn that it can be a double-edged sword.

So, it is about managing it, appreciating the audience for appreciating your work, but also giving yourself that limit to what aspect of you they can experience.

In this age of reality shows where nothing seems to be off limit, the new skill that the entertainer has to learn is how much do you give your audience? More so, because you don’t want to be false; like used to happen in the early years of Hollywood where they would create this incredible image, and then it was almost impossible for the performer to live under that image; and a lot of them used to use all kinds of medications just to fit a particular image that was being built around them. Now, we are in the age of social media, so it is learning how to cope with social media, to do the work that social media does, which is to get your work out there, to get your face out there. But then limit that too so that you do have a life; so that you can have some modicum of emotional privacy.

Those are the challenges that I know that the younger generation face. Another thing that I do say, though, is that it is because the younger generation are very popular because of social media, and so, whatever happens to them becomes news; forgetting that there are as many divorces, there as many separations in other professions such as medical, financial, legal among others. Name any profession; there are so many separations in those as well.

When two people come from, sometimes different backgrounds – and it is most times from different backgrounds – and whether you come from the same social strata or not, you are brought up by two totally different people with values that are slightly different from the way you were brought up. So, smoothening out the relationship takes a while. I think, if one has patience, it will go a long way to help.

But at the same time, it will also help if one has older people, mentors, whose examples you can follow, who are your willing ears, and good friends. I never believed in all this rubbish where they say that because you are married now you should stop having friends.

I don’t believe in that. Your friends are a part of who you are. Why do you have to let go of all your friends simply because you are getting married. If the friend is not good or is toxic, then get rid of that friendship. But if it is a good friendship, then please, just because you are married doesn’t mean that that friendship should end. On both sides, let their friends now bring in this new person and expand your friends circle. I think that is important too,” Joke Silva said.

Source: Bellanaija

by
Keep Reading

©2025. WomenofRubies. All Rights Reserved.