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Chika Ibeabuschi: 6 Mistakes Brides Always Make

  1. YOU BUY YOUR WEDDING DRESS BEFORE CHOOSING THE VENUE.

Before booking your wedding dress and second dress appointments, make sure you know the type of wedding you’re planning and where.

Yes, you can wear whatever you want, but if you purchase a low-key gown and you end up booking a large and classy venue, you may wish you went bigger and bolder, with the venue in mind.

  1. YOU ANNOUNCE YOUR ENGAGEMENT TOO SOON.

Remember to share the big news with your inner circle before updating your status on social media.

Tell your family and closest friends first, preferably in person, or by phone or Skype  (so they see the ring!) if they’re long-distance. Then change your Facebook status.

And after the outpouring of congratulations, be sure to post a quick thank you to the well-wishers.

  1. YOU RULE OUT A WEDDING PLANNER ALTOGETHER.

The most stressful planning period? The week before the big day. That’s when handfuls of unforeseen details arise, leaving some brides sorting out spreadsheets instead of connecting with friends and family.

Avoid this by hiring a professional wedding planner or even an event coordinator especially if you’re on a tight budget.

They will handle last-minute vendor meetings and put out fires so you don’t have to. If budget is a concern, some planners even offer hourly services.

  1. YOU FALL VICTIM TO CRASH DIETING.

No bride should feel as if they have to change themselves ahead of their wedding. But if you do wish to adopt healthier habits, instead of drastically reducing calories or abstaining from whole food groups a month before your wedding date, ease into it.

Try adopting a healthier eating plan or fitness regimen six months before the big day.

Focus on gaining confidence, stress-relieving practices, and healthy habits that will follow you way past your walk down the aisle.

 

  1. YOU DON’T FEED YOUR VENDORS.

 

The last thing you want on your wedding day is a low-energy DJ or an exhausted photographer.

So plan on feeding any hired hands who will be working during the reception. This includes your wedding planner, photographer, videographer, and DJ or band, plus their assistants (but not your florist or the ceremony musicians). Work their meals into your budget and consider it part of their fee. (Many vendors stipulate in the contract that the couple is to provide a meal.)

 

  1. YOU FORGET TO HAVE FUN!

Don’t  forget the reason you’re doing all of this, and keep things in perspective. It’s all about starting your new life together, so make sure to set up the right foundation for a joyous future. Remember, it’s just one day in the journey.

CHIKA IBEABUCHI popularly known is the Founder/Creative Director of Gemini24 Events, @weddingsplash (An online  bridal/event store) @Cedamicuspicykilishi (A healthy snack brand popularly known as Kilishi)

She is also an event management coach and she has coached and mentored not less than 100 persons online and offline.

She is also an event management consultant, wedding planner, event manager: she has assisted numerous brides to be to make their wedding a reality.

She will be sharing some tips and nuggets that have helped her client make the best decision as regards their wedding and also saved them time, money and contributed to unforgettable memories.

So feel free to go ahead with your wedding plans, you should also aim to have a stress free planning process by hiring a professional to guide you so that you can sit back, relax and be taken care of.

Need more information? I am here to give you more tips on how to get it right, drop a message in the comment section.

CHIKA IBEABUCHI,

Your Cherished Wedding consultant.

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Tessy Ojo, a UK born, British-Nigerian Awarded Commander Of the Order Of The British Empire

Mrs Tessy Ojo, a British-Nigerian national, has bagged her biggest fish yet by being awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE), the biggest national honour in the United Kingdom. The award is in recognition of her immense contributions towards empowering and supporting children and young people in the UK.

Tessy Ojo, British

Ojo’s bio is heavy duty – a multi-award-winning social change advocate, philanthropist, civil society leader, brand ambassador, wife, mother and Chief Executive Officer of The Diana Award, a charity foundation instituted in honour of the Late Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales. At the heart of her work is the belief that, with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving real, sustainable change in their lives and communities.

Her nomination for the award followed the traditional process of selection – nomination to the special selection committee, who in turn recommends who to be honoured with which category of the awards to the Prime Minister and then, finally, to the Queen for ratification.

It was led by young people who are either recipients of the Diana Award or participants of its anti-bullying and mentoring programmes who have experienced Tessy’s dedication and skills and feel passionately that she should be recognised formally.

Callum Fairhurst, a 23-year old recipient of The Diana Award and one of the young people who led on the nomination, met Ojo as a newly bereaved young boy after the death of his brother, Liam. He wrote to the selection committee that Tessy Ojo encouraged him to continue his brother’s legacy.

“Tessy has had a significant impact on so many young people including me. She has always been a driving force in helping me make a difference. Her support and advice enabled me to create a charity for bereaved siblings like myself. Tessy is a role model, mentor and champion for young people globally – it’s about time she is recognised in such a distinguished way too,” he said.

Reacting to the nomination, Ojo remarked, “I am humbled by this honour and it feels momentous because it was driven by young people. It’s an immense privilege to work with children and young people. For the past twenty years at The Diana Award, I have seen time and time again the life-changing impact we can have on young people by investing in them and empowering them to be a voice to create change.”

With this award, Ojo, who is an inspirational speaker and regular consultant and commentator on issues around youth participation, charity growth, diversity, women in leadership and other social issues affecting young people, grows her kitty that already has other eminent awards including The Precious Award, Inspiring Leader 2015, Women in Business Rising Star 2015 (London Region), Excellence Award from Eva Longoria’s Global Gift Foundation and many more.

Ojo, who is expected to be decorated with the award by a senior royal at an event at a later date, has dedicated the award to her family for their encouragement and support.

To know more about Tessy’s work especially her new philanthropic initiative, follow her on Instagram @tessyojo, @dianaaward

 

 

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Meet The Black Woman Just Named Co-Chair To President-Elect Joe Biden’s Covid-19 Taskforce

On November 9th, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris announced their advisory council to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic with some of the nation’s leading doctors and scientists. At the helm is Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith with her co-chairs Dr. David Kessler and Dr. Vivek Murthy.

“Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts,” President-elect Biden said in a press release. “The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections; ensuring vaccines are safe, effective, and distributed efficiently, equitably, and free; and protecting at-risk populations.”

Dr. Nunez-Smith comes from Yale University, an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Public Health, and Management at the Yale School of Medicine. Her research focuses on marginalized communities’ health and creating an equitable and accessible healthcare system for all.

“Everyone is affected by this pandemic, yet the burden is disproportionate,” Nunez-Smith said in a statement. “We know communities of color are grieving at high rates and are facing substantial economic impact. The transition advisory board is setting a course for everyone in our country to experience recovery.”

According to the Yale press release announcing her appointment, “Munez-Smith is an internist and an expert in healthcare equity, is the founding director of Yale SOM’s Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership, which trains healthcare practitioners to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes that affect people of color and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founding director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center at the Yale School of Medicine.”

Her official Yale bio lists Dr. Nunez-Smith as the Deputy Director for Health Equity Research and Workforce Development for the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, Core Faculty in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, and Research Faculty at Yale’s Global Health Leadership Institute. She comes from the Virgin Islands, earned a BA from Swarthmore College, an MD from Jefferson Medical College, and an MHS from Yale University.

We’re glad to have you on our nation’s team on this road to recovery! Congratulations, Dr. Nunez-Smith

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Danai Gurira Set To Play Historic Presidential Candidate Shirley Chisholm In New Movie

Actress Danai Gurira is set to play iconic presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm in a new film, Variety reports.

“The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” is a new film about the pioneering political maven who made history in 1972 as the first Black woman to run for president on the democratic ticket. Chisholm, a former NYC educational consultant, got into politics solely for her Brooklyn community’s betterment, her first campaign proving successful and allowing her to make history as the first Black congresswoman. Years later, Chisholm would follow up her congressional run with a historic run for president. 

The new film focuses on Chisholm’s campaign and how it galvanized an entire generation of people. More importantly, how “the Chisholm Trail was populated by young people who sought social and political change during one of the most turbulent times in American history.” It was Chisholm’s time in Congress that gave her the confidence to run for president, realizing “that she could make real change by challenging the status quo through her efforts to gain enough delegates to speak for the people at the Democratic Convention.”

While Chisholm didn’t win the presidential election, her courage, political savvy and “unbought and unbossed” attitude awakened something in voters and changed the political landscape as we know it. The new film will be directed by Cherien Dabis and written by Emmy nominated screenwriter Adam Countee. Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures will produce with Gabrielle Ebron on board as executive producer. 

According to Deadline, actress Uzo Aduba recently won an Emmy for her role as Chisholm in the FX series “Mrs. America.”

No word yet on when “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” will be released, but we can’t wait!

Congratulations, Danai!

Photo Courtesy of LA Times/Associated Press

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5 Books Every Black Female Hustler Should Read

We’ve always heard that age-old adage that knowledge is power – these seven black female authors have the credentials to prove it! Check out these books written by successful Black women about entrepreneurship, securing the bag, and self-development.

Hustle Healthy

Hustling isn’t easy. Nurses can certainly attest to this, and Princess Lomax is no different. In her debut book, 6 Highly Effective Strategies of Making 6 Figures As A Nurse, the Family Nurse Practitioner and CEO of Diamonds CBD shares with readers her firsthand industry knowledge along with tidbits gained from her extensive experience and education. 6 Highly Effective Strategies of Making 6 Figures As A Nurse is a quick, inspiring and informative read that acts as a resource for those in the field of nursing who want to get ahead financially, from someone who’s done it (and done it well) themselves.

Success Story

Elaine Meryl Brown is a storyteller with a passion for writing that ranges from novels to screenwriting. The award winning writer (along with two colleagues) penned the Little Black Book of Success, and its accompanying workbook of the same name for “any woman who wants to build her career, or in transition, re-thinking, re-imagining, re-focusing and re-positioning herself for her next career move within a company or considering entrepreneurship. ”The Little Black Book of Success puts the focus on the foundations of being a successful entrepreneur – key elements like confidence and collaboration, and acts as a step by step pocket guide written by Black women for Black women.

Think Like A Winner

Mindset is everything. As the founder of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute and international speaker on resilience and happiness, Valorie Burton knows this to be true.

The power of the mind when it comes to one’s life path and career is what Burton’s book, Successful Women Think Differently: 9 Habits to Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient centers around. The book takes a brain-centered approach, providing women with the tools to get to know themselves from the inside out and cultivate mindful, solution-based thinking.

Insta-Triumph

Those thinking of getting their bag online should look no farther than Ronne Brown’s From Mopping Floors to Making Millions on Instagram: 5 Steps to Building an Online Brand. There are many books that claim to help you make money online, but not many are authored by someone who has built their business from the ground up on Instagram. Brown’s book pulls out all the stops and reveals secrets behind becoming a success on Instagram using strategies that have worked for her brand and clients and even provides examples of what and how to post.

Picking Up the Pieces

There’s a reason why many of us refer to Iyanla Vanzant as “Auntie Iyanla.” With her numerous books and programs, the author and life coach are wise, relatable, and no stranger to adversity. Peace From Broken Pieces takes an honest look at Vanzant’s personal life and the experiences that helped shape her mindset and life. Hardship is a part of many of our lives that can oftentimes hold us back, but this inspiring work sheds light on how to put the pieces back together in our own lives as well so that we can shine professionally.

Model Marketing

While having each other’s backs is important, a good bit of competition in the business world can be healthy and is often necessary. Thankfully, Ming Lee does both with her book, Best Marketer Wins. Lee is a lifestyle and beauty expert who has seen how powerful marketing is and learned to make it work in her own career. No matter what your field is, Best Marketer Wins is a short and sweet business guide full of questions, goals, affirmations, and more to help you be your marketing best.

Work Vibing

Being a creative attempting to navigate the professional world can be confusing, to say the least. Alex Wolf, founder of BossBabe and author of Resonate: For Anyone Who Wants to Build An Audience realizes this, less of a traditional guide and more of a conversational look at the business world and the humans who inhabit it, Resonate provides insight from a more casual angle, but still manages to be informative, witty and inspiring.

Whether you’re looking to revamp an old venture or moving onto a new career path, advice from those who have been there is always invaluable. Here’s to the ladies who inspire us to keep climbing the ladder of success and guiding us as we do the same.

Source; Baucemag.com

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#RubyGirl | The Cure For Ignorance Is Knowledge – Imiesor Ojo

Imiesor Ojo is a fifth year pharmacy student at the university of Benin. She’s a peer educator and a SRH(Sexual and Reproductive Health) advocate.

She volunteers at The Medvocacy Initiative (TMI), where she’s the programs director. She is also a volunteer with the Girls’ In Charge foundation(GIC).

She shares her story with the Ruby Girls team.

1. Let’s meet you. Who is Imiesor Ojo?

Imiesor Ojo is a young female entrepreneur with a passion for gender eqality and SRH advocacy. She is also a Pharmacy student at the prestigious University of Benin. In a bid to gain further knowledge and competency in sexual and reproductive health advocacy, she has participated in several certification programs. One of which is the prevention of campus sexual violence program courtesy the EU-UN spotlight initiative and WARIF (Women At Risk Foundation). She also volunteers with The Medvocacy Initiative and Girls In Charge Foundation, which serves as outlets to effecting positive changes around her immediate environment and beyond.

2. What inspired you to choose a career in pharmacy?

My love for chemistry at the time (back in secondary school) made me choose Pharmacy as my course of study despite the fact that my siblings wanted me to opt for Medicine.

*3. What is the greatest challenge for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria?*

The inability to properly manage finances. As much as people credit a lack of substantial capital as a major challenge, the fundamental problem lies with the management of funds. Poor financial management will most certainly lead to the ruin of any business.

4. Did your field of study motivate you to become a sexual reproductive health advocate?

Yes it did, although not entirely. I was also partly motivated by the negative impact that misinformation regarding sexual and reproductive health had on young people. Especially when a host of these consequences, which stems from uninformed choices, can be avoided by being privy to the right information.

5. Most people are still ignorant of the fundamentals of sexual and reproductive health, how can you address this?

The cure for ignorance is knowledge (education). Educating the masses, especially young adult, is my duty as a peer educator and a Sexual and Reproductive Health advocate. By using every platform available, I’ll be able to reach out to as many persons as possible and educate them on the subject matter.

6. Your greatest fear?

Not being able to harness all of my potentials.

7. What are some challenges you face as an advocate of sexual and reproductive health?

Lack of policy formation, review and implementation on the part of the government.

8. What was growing up in a Nigerian home like for you? Did it in anyway contribute to everything you do now?

Growing up in a family like mine hasn’t been the sweetest experience. Amidst all the disciplinary actions and strict upbringing I can gladly say it has contributed to who I am and what I do now.

9. If you were to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what would you change?

Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but if I were the president of Nigeria I would love to make changes to the educational sector of the country. The implications of poor/lack of education is devasting for self and the nation and it’s economy.

10. Mention 3 women who inspire you and why?

Mrs Florunsho Alakija inspires me a great deal. Albeit her status as a wealthy and prominent woman, she’s a symbol of sheer doggedness and hard work, and most importantly, she’s a woman of God. She’s a breathing evidence that women can achieve whatever they set their minds to, despite the odds.

Prof. Dora Akinyuli stands tall in that regard. she’s a symbol of intergrity, courage and passion in the Pharmacy profession.

Miss Chioma Uzoma, even though she’s a colleague of mine, has been a huge part of my success story so far. She’s purpose-driven, likes to carry everyone along and also she’s fearless (whatever she sets out to do, nothing stops her) and that motivates me.

11. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

As a well-established pharmacist, SRH and gender equality advocate. A woman that has come to the complete knowledge of herself, a woman of influence and power.

12. How do you juggle being a student, reproductive health advocate and running a hair business?

Time management cannot be over emphasized. Knowing how to share/manage my time has made my life a lot easier because quite honestly, school can be quite demanding.

13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of young females five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?

Whatever it is in life you want to do never relegate your education and the ministry of you to the background. Also, do not let people’s opinion of you validate/define who you are. And whatever it is you are called to do, do it, whether you’re scared, unsure, or inexperienced, do it anyway because there is no better time to do it than now.

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Shulamite Ezechi Proves You Can Fulfill Your Dreams With New Book “Unveiling Your True Potential”

Shulamite Ezechi is the author of the fast selling motivational book “Unveiling your potential”, she is an active and inspiring motivational speaker, and founder of ANYiSO, a registered Scottish Charity organisation.

Shulamite through personal experiences and passion for driving change, has served and still serves in multiple capacities in various human rights groups to make impacts through her voice. She is involved in reviewing several policies affecting black and ethnic minority women and young people in Scotland, UK. She is an author, a community leader and a mentor to many young people, men, and women.

Shulamite holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, two master’s degrees: one in Clinical Nutrition and Health and the other in Policy Analysis and Global Governance both from universities in Scotland, UK.

Shulamite has won many awards including ‘the Inspiration to the BME Community award’ that was conferred to her at the Glasgow City Chambers, United Kingdom. She has been privileged to be invited to Oxford University Women leadership Symposium to deliver a talk on ‘’girl child marriage’’ and lead a group of women to UNESCO Spring School to tell their integration stories through drama.

According to her; “The book focuses on one of those lows pertinent to me and my experiences. Going on a journey of self-discovery borne out of a very unsettled time in my life is a story that is worth sharing. This journey has taken me through to the other side, and whilst still growing, I have found myself, my calling, and my true potential.

My hope is that this book creates an energy and determination in you that will drive you into your own self-discovery journey pushing you to experience and live out your true potential.

You can get a copy of “Unveiling your true Potential” on https://shulamiteezechi.com/

Follow  Shulamite on LinkedIn here; https://uk.linkedin.com/in/shulamite-ezechi-55729812b

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15-Year-Old Chess Champion Wins $40,000 College Scholarship, Aims To Become The First Black Woman Chess Master

A 15-year-old Brooklyn chess champion was just awarded a $40,000 college scholarship as she aims to become the first Black woman chess master in the world, CBS New York reports.

Jessica Hyatt is one of the top 10 Black women chess players in the nation, dedicating five to seven hours a day playing the game. At just 15-years-old, she is very close to making history as the first Black woman chess master and was recently awarded the Daniel Feinberg Success in Chess Award, a $40,000 college scholarship. She joins other young Black chess champions like Nigerian refugee, Tanitoluwa “Tani” Adewumi and Cahree Myrick, in courting greatness before they were old enough to drive.

“I play whenever I get the chance, like in my free time, like during my classes, like sometimes during classes,” Jessica said. 

She’s currently a sophomore at Success Academy, a school known for its elite chess program. Just five years ago she met her coaches, Tyrell Harriott and David Mbonu, both National Masters, who took a liking to her immediately. 

“The first thing she did right around when class was over is she walked up to me, and she was like, ‘Can I play you?’ and I remember, I was like, ‘oh.’ There has never been a Black woman player to break the master ranking and that’s what Jessica is going for,” Mbonu said. 

To become a chess master, Jessica has to earn a ranking of at least 2,200; she’s already at 1,950.

“I learned the game when I was 15, so for Jessica to be at 1,950, that’s a huge edge,” Harriott said.

As a result of the pandemic, Jessica is spending most of her time playing online. Her mom, Loy Allen, said she hopes Jessica’s story will inspire other young children of color.

“If your kid’s passionate enough about it, have them go for it because the sky’s the limit, right?” Allen said.

Jessica plans to reach her goal of chess master first, followed by applying to college at MIT with the hopes of teaching chess to children in her community.

Congratulations, Jessica! We can’t wait to cheer you on to your rightful title!

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Don’t Stop Accepting Donations’ -Genevieve To Feminist Coalition

Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has pleaded with the Feminist Coalition to reconsider its decision to stop receiving donations aimed at supporting #EndSARS protesters.

The group, which has been offering administrative support to the #EndSARS protests, had earlier announced that it would no longer accept donations for the campaign against police brutality.

It had also urged other protesters to leave the streets following President Muhammadu Buhari’s address on Thursday to prevent further violence.

But in a post on Friday, the actress said sustaining such an initiative is imperative to meet the financial needs of several Nigerians amid the issues trailing the movement.

Nnaji also said that the reality in the country has shown that citizens can no longer depend on government for survival.

She commended the group for its heroics during the heat of the #EndSARS campaign, while also promising to keep donating to support Nigerians.

“God bless you for all your hardwork ladies. But please don’t stop. I’m tired of people dying because they can’t pay before service at hospitals,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Bail money will be crucial now more than ever. I want to keep donating for it is clear our lives and well-being are in our own hands.”

The group had on Friday revealed that it received N147,855,788 donations and spent N60,403,235 over the past 14 days while the protests lasted.

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Nigeria Lost Seven Movie Theatres To Hoodlum Attacks

Genesis Cinema has claimed that Nigeria lost about seven movie theatres to the hoodlum attacks and vandalism that trailed the #EndSARS protests.

In the past few days, there have been serial looting and vandalism of private businesses and government properties, and the burning of police stations across the state following the crisis that erupted as a result of the #EndSARS protests.

These attacks were triggered by the shooting of unarmed #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos on October 20.

In a chat with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ope Ajayi, executive director for Genesis Cinema, counted the losses incurred by the brand due to the vandalism and lootings that were recorded during the violent aftermath of the protest.

He said the firm’s Novare, Lekki and Sangotedo stores were affected while its restaurant at Circle Mall was also hit.

“In total, I think we’ve lost about seven cinemas in the country, generally from this EndSARS protest, not just Genesis now. Our store at Novare, Lekki; Sangotedo was affected,” Ajayi said.

“But we’re probably better than our colleagues in the industry. Our restaurant at Circle Mall was also affected.”

The damage to Nigerian theatres come after the financial losses incurred amid the COVID-19 lockdown, the delayed reopening of film houses thereafter, and the safety measures that forced the industry to operate below capacity.

Ajayi expressed concerns that the affected brands might have to stay out of business for a while before a comeback.

“Generally we all hope for a safer country. There are a lot of stalls along Admiralty Way that are standalones. And there were others that were not necessarily malls that were targeted,” the director added.

“I don’t think it’s a mall thing. I agree malls are a target but I think a better strategy is to ensure the malls are safe. And to see how to prevent general unrests going forward. We’re not moving to standalone. It’s also just as risky.

“Our premises are insured but there’s so much insurance can do. You’re going to stay out of business for a while.

“Even when you reopen, sometimes there’s a buildup. You’re not just going to reopen and business picks up. Yes we’re insured, which reduces the impact of the losses, but it’s still a huge hit on us.”

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