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In self development July 30, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

3 DATE RAPE DRUGS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

With the issue of rape and sexual molestation currently a trending issue, everybody especially women need to be conversant about different ways to avoid getting raped or sexually assaulted.

The use of drugs is one of the ways rapists employ to assist them in their nefarious activity and these drugs are quite powerful and dangerous. Known as date rape drugs, they can be slipped into your drink when you are not looking and because the drugs often have no colour, smell, or taste, it is hard for you to tell you are being drugged until the deed has been done.

Before you go on your next date or take that drink from that ‘perfect gentleman’, here are some date rape drugs, their street names as well as effects on your body that you should know about.

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate Acid (GHB)

Gamma Hydroxybutyrate Acid | Photo – Twitter

Usually made by people in a home or street lab, and a small amount of GHB can have a major effect as it is a very potent drug. It is quite easy to overdose on GHB and the street names for GHB are Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid G, Easy Lay, Liquid Ecstasy, Georgia Home Boy and Great Hormones at Bedtime. It takes effect in about 15 minutes and can last between three to four hours.

GHB can cause these problems:

Drowsiness
Nausea
Loss of consciousness (blackout)
Problems breathing
Sweating
Vomiting
Slow heart rate
Coma
Death

Ketamine

Ketamine | Photo – Pinterest

This is a very fast-acting drug and boasts of the street names Special K, Vitamin K, KitKat and Purple Bump.

Under the effect of this drug, you might be aware of what is going on around you but usually, you are unable to move and it more often than not causes memory problems as you might not be able to remember what happened while you were drugged.

Ketamine can cause these problems:

Distorted perceptions of sight and sound
Lost sense of time and identity
Dream-like feeling
Feeling out of control
Vomiting
Memory problems
Numbness
Depression

Rohypnol

Rohypnol | Photo – Twitter

Known on the street as Roofies, R-2s, Roches, the Forget-Me pill, Whiteys, and Mind-Eraser, the effects of this potent drug can be felt within 30 minutes of being taken in and usually last for several hours. Under the influence of the drug, there is a tendency for you to act like a drunk and have trouble standing. Other effects include slurred speech or unconsciousness. Rohypnol can cause these problems:

Muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control
Drunk feeling
Problem with talking
Nausea
Loss of consciousness (blackout)
Confusion
Dizziness
Lower blood pressure
Stomach problems
Death

In self development July 30, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

KATE HALIM: WHY WOMEN ARE CRUMBLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF ABUSIVE MARRIAGES

It is sad that many women are crumbling under the weight of abusive and dysfunctional marriages

It is sad that these women believe this is normal. They see themselves as Messiahs that have the magic wand to make their relationships and marriages successful.

What a pity! It is a suicide mission trying to keep a relationship all by myself. You will crumble under that weight. It is not meant for you alone as a woman.

One of the lies that was sold to women many years ago was that the success and failure of their relationships or marriages was their sole duty.

Why many women are crumbling under the weight of abusive marriages

This is why we see many women crumbling under the weight of abusive and terrible marriages. They are being maltreated, yet everywhere they turn to for help, they are told to put in more effort for their marriages not to fail.

They go back home to continue enduring emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse and verbal abuse. But they also wonder why their marriages are hell on earth.

Woman, you cannot do it alone. You cannot build a happy home alone. You can’t be building when your man is tearing it down with his actions. Don’t kill yourself for nothing.

It is not your job to keep a man interested in you or your relationship. He’s either making efforts to be the man you need or he’s not. You can’t force him to be who he’s not.

You don’t need to sacrifice your sanity or life for a bad relationship. You don’t even need to change yourself or stop living because of any man.

Respect yourself and demand to be respected too. All the people telling you to keep enduring a bad relationship won’t be in it with you nor suffer the consequences with you.

Live your life. You are lovable and perfect just the way you are. It’s not your fault if that man can’t see the wonderful woman that you are. Just don’t die on his behalf.

Relationships are not magic. It involves conscious efforts from both parties to make it work. Women, stop crumbling under the weight of abusive marriages. It’s not worth it.

You are just harming yourselves emotionally, psychologically and mentally. This is why many women are battling different ailments in their later life because of the effects of staying in abusive and loveless marriages.

Stop.

Source: Feminine.com.ng

In Interviews&profile July 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

“I WANT WOMEN TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER WOMEN”- IFU ENNADA

Born in the 90s, beauty entrepreneur, media personality and actress, Iheme Faith Uloma, a.k.a Ifu Ennada, is no stranger to the limelight. Bursting into our consciousness as a Big Brother contestant last year, she is also an event host and speaker and has moderated several panel discussions in various fields. Shortly after leaving the #BBNaija show, Ifu launched her beauty brand, beautIFU Ennada which debuted as a haircare line for natural hair girls. BeautIFU Ennada turns one today and, in celebration, she is launching a wig line, a line of pre-stretched braiding hair extensions called E’Zee braids, a state of the art salon, a beauty academy and store. She has also announced a reward program for everyone on her beautIFU Ennada train, 5millionaday, a platform for teaching entrepreneurs how to grow their business. In 2017, her self-produced and written short film, “Tears of A Broken Virgin”, which premiered at the In Short Film Festival won her Award for Best Actress. In 2016, she was nominated for AMAA Awards best young and promising actress for her role in O Town by CJ Obasi and has since featured in top TV Series like Tinsel, Ebony Life’s HM Travel and Tours, MTV Base Shuga and movies like Obsession by Judith Audu, The Quest by Dabby Chimere and Hire A Woman by Chinney Love. Passionate about women and a strong advocate for women who have gone through abuse, she sits down with GuardianWoman to talk about being in the eye of the storm, how poverty pushed her to do well, her soft spot for women and her plans to take over the beauty industry.

Your stage name is very interesting. Tell us how you came about it? Did you always have it or you coined it for BBN?
Ifu Ennada is actually also my official name, just not what I have on my passport, but it is recognised legally as my name and I have also trademarked it. Ifu Ennada is simply my name creatively rearranged, it’s the initials of Iheme Faith Uloma and Ennada is Adanne spelt backwards. I created Ifu when I was 17 years old and added Ennada when I was 19. I was a newbie TV presenter and needed a name for TV. I wanted something catchy but original, so that was how Ifu Ennada came to life.

Since leaving the BB Show last year, you have been in the eye of the storm severally. Is this deliberate?
Everything I say or do is deliberate, but how people react to it is not my responsibility. I’m very expressive and bold. I am also kind and respectful, so I’d never do or say anything to hurt anyone, but the media has a way of twisting one’s words and action to make great headlines that’ll bring them more traffic.

Tell us about your beauty brand in detail?
My beauty brand, Beautiful Ennada turns one today. It debuted with a line of haircare products inspired by the hair loss I suffered about two years ago. My hair wasn’t growing and I had lost my edges and every product I tried had failed. So, I started doing research and taking mini courses online and finally came up with some of my recipes. At the time of this discovery, I didn’t have the resources I needed to launch the business, but going into Big Brother changed that. We have helped a lot of women get back their hair including popular celebrities like Mercy Aigbe, who endorsed us publicly after our super hair growth oil restored her hair. We’ve also been publicly endorsed by American-Nigerian celebrity hair blogger, Naturally Temi. Since we launched, we have gradually expanded and are now set to introduce more products into the line while launching a new look. Also these products will cater to people with different hair types, natural and relaxed, textured and so on. We’re also set to launch a state-of-the-art salon, beauty store and a beauty academy.

You launched a product this week, tell us about it; what impact do you think it would have?
This week, I launched a first-of-its kind fashion accessory called the Wig Hat. It solves the problem of bad hair days by providing a fashionable Wig Hat covering. Wig Hat is basically a wig sewn to classy Fedora hats and baseball caps. We introduced it with six different styles. Everyone can preorder till August 7, when the Wig Hats will become physically available.

The beauty industry as we know is well saturated. How are you managing to break through and be seen?
In my corner in the beauty industry, it is saturated with mostly products that are hardly effective and give no value for money, but that can’t be said for my products. A lot of my sales are based on referrals and testimonials. This is what has made me successful in a short period of time. In everything, I always strive to give value even if it means making little or no profit. I’ve spent almost a year working on two major projects I want to launch. The new and improved recipes for my products and a hair extension line called beautiful Ennada E’Zee braids. Any other person could have launched quickly and made it available to the general public, but not me. It has to be 100 per cent and my conscience must be at peace with me before I can put it out for sale.

Tell us, what does 5millionaday mean and what does it do?
5millionaday is an online platform where I teach entrepreneurs how to grow and make money with their businesses. The name was inspired by a statement I made on TV. I was talking about the power of sales and how I made up to N5 million during a sales period, but people twisted my words and said I claimed I make N5million everyday. The small mindedness of these set of people led me to start 5millionaday. I wanted to teach young entrepreneurs everything I know in business and also motivate and inspire them with my work. I’ve been doing that since we started. I’m currently teaching my first online course on the platform titled, “How To Secure The Bag In Your Business.”

As someone firmly entrenched in both the beauty and entertainment industry, how are you marrying both worlds and making it work?
I am very passionate about beauty and entertainment. When I have a very demanding project in my business, I don’t take on any demanding acting jobs, but I do a lot of MC work because that is easier to execute.

You revealed that you suffered abuse in the past, how are you using your experience to help other women?
I counsel and speak to women when I can. I try to be there for them and help them get through it all. Also I connect them to some of my influential friends who take up the case and try to bring the abuser to book.

If you hadn’t gone down this line, what do you think you would have been doing now?
If I wasn’t in my line of businesses, I would have still been a creator in another capacity. I’m a creator and I love to bring things to life.

What do you think of mentoring for women, is it important especially for women-owned businesses?
Over the years, the society we live in has constantly dragged women to the back of the line and made her feel she’s not enough when she’s the very giver of life here on earth. Women are so powerful, but we live in a world that has been made to feel like it belongs to men. A lot of ladies have been brainwashed into thinking that only men have the capacity to make wealth. This is why it’s important to continuously mentor women in business, especially the young ones just starting out and to make them understand the limitless power in them. I truly wish more women would be supportive of women. It’s truly sad that when you look around, you find out that there isn’t much unity amongst women, but I’m here to change all that in my own capacity as a public figure and celebrity entrepreneur.

Both industries you are presently in are billion dollar industries all over the world. In your opinion, what can Nigeria do to become a major player?
Reduce the taxes paid by businesses in these industries and invest in these industries. Make very low interest loans available and generally just give us a survivable environment to operate in.

Doing what you are presently doing cannot be easy; what are some of the challenges you have faced and how did you pull through?
Getting the right staff, people who share your energy and goals is a challenge. Also, not being able to control certain factors, which are just beyond control, is another challenge. Business can be very frustrating, but the joy of fulfilling someone’s need by giving them good value makes it worth it.

Tell us something that has influenced your life and career positively today?
My past, growing up in extreme poverty, watching my sibling die in front of me due to lack of money to get good healthcare, reading other people’s stories and so on; all these have influenced me positively and made me the woman I am today.

How are you using your voice to help and encourage other women?
Everyone who knows me personally and follows me online knows I have a soft spot for women. A good number of my following online are women who are inspired by me. I try to be there for them when I can and if there’s a cause that needs my voice, I lend my voice to it, by all means.

If you could influence change, what change would you effect for Nigerian women?
I would change the way the average Nigerian woman thinks; how she sees her fellow woman as competition. I would make them know that wealth is not exclusive to men. We women are so powerful but we don’t even know how much power we have and possess.

What does your typical day look like?
My typical day starts with me not wanting to wake up from sleep because I barely sleep for three hours and have a lot of work to do. After I get ready for the day, if I’m working from home, I dive right into work and also monitor my staff. Sometimes I forget to eat till late into the night. I always end my day with prayers and thanksgiving to God Almighty who made and makes everything possible. I usually go to bed by 2:00am or 3:00am, sometimes even 4:00 am.

Wow! So how then do you relax and de-stress? What is your guilty pleasure?
I haven’t had time to do anything for pleasure or leisure in a long while. For now, I just sleep when I can because I’m always working, so I spend time resting my body and mind when I can.

In self development July 29, 2019 By Women of Rubies

MEET LESLIE IRBY, THE FIRST KNOWN BLACK WOMAN WITH A DISABILITY TO EARN A PILOT’S LICENSE

Leslie Irby has made history as the first known Black woman with a disability to earn a pilot’s license.

The East Point, Georgia, resident didn’t let a wheelchair hinder her from achieving her goals. At age 16, she began flying at a local airport in Atlanta as part of the ACE (Aviation Career Enrichment) program. According to Because of Them We Can, she always looked up to famed Black aviator Bessie Coleman.

The ACE program was hosted by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals. Because of other Black pilots and professionals, Irby got the chance to manifest her dreams.

However, a devastating accident changed everything for the young fly girl. Seven years after her first flight, she was involved in a car crash that left her with a lifelong disability in 2013. Two people walked away from the collision, two were paralyzed and two died. Irby was one of the two who were paralyzed.

She told the outlet that doctors gave her the news she suffered a spinal cord injury. The news was life-changing but also inspired her to push forward.

“I started rehab at Shepard Center, in Atlanta,” Irby recalled. “The first day I was told I would be in a wheelchair, the therapist came in my room and I asked, ‘Do you all have a pink one I can borrow?’ They all laughed, but I knew this wasn’t going to be bad, this was going to be a new start, so why not be myself through it!”

Sometime after the routine doctor’s appointments, she wanted to return to the cockpit. Irby came across a program called Able Flight that aimed at getting people with disabilities back into the pilot’s chair.

She applied for a scholarship this year, was accepted and then started flight training at Purdue University on May 18. The work was hard and worth every minute. Within a month, she completed her first solo flight.

On June 28, she passed her check ride, which is the final test needed to become a pilot, and received her official sport pilots license. She received her pilot’s wings at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday.

“My wheelchair is my blessing, I have so much more rockin n’ rollin to do!” she said.

Credit: blavity.com

In self development July 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

5 SELF LIMITING BELIEFS THAT ARE HOLDING YOU BACK FROM SUCCESS

Why do we often blame situations or other people when you don’t reach our targets?

Perhaps you are are the one holding yourself back from achieving success or, if you possibly limit your results because of what you believe?

Limiting beliefs have a way of creeping up on us; they reveal themselves in different ways. Even if we think our beliefs all support us, a limiting belief can often rear its ugly head just when we least expect it and completely stop us in our tracks or make things feel harder than they actually could be.

What is a Belief in this context you may ask?

It is simply a feeling of certainty about what something means. The reason it can feel so certain is because it’s a story we have been telling ourselves throughout our lives unconsciously looking for proof of its truth. We find plenty of proof because that’s what we are looking for and, the more proof we find, the more certain we feel. This means we can either create more potential, or more limitation depending on what the belief actually is

Here are 5 of the most common self-limiting beliefs you need to be aware of and some practical tips to assist you to move through them

1. I Can’t

This is one of the most limiting beliefs you can imagine, because it gives no opportunity of you being able to do what you are telling yourself you can’t. The more you repeat this statement, the more you begin to believe it. Your unconscious mind is always listening and it responds to what you are telling it. Some people have even described this response as physically feeling blocked.

Even if you are just using this phrase to excuse yourself from doing something for someone else, then find another way of saying it, for example “I am unable to do that for you right now”.

There is no such thing as, “I can’t” and this is because you always have a choice. You can do anything you set your mind to and even if you don’t have the skills yet, then you have the ability to learn those skills. If you truly believe you can’t at the moment, then add the word “yet” to the end of your statement to create more potential.

I Don’t Have Time

When you repeatedly say the same thing, you start to believe it and this means you will never find the time to do what you want. Holding on to this belief can keep you stuck for years.

When you start to see time as it really is which is just a social construct, you empower yourself to create a belief that works for you instead of against you. There is a simple and practical way you can do this:

Making a few simple tweaks in your own behavior, you will notice that you “always have enough time”, it’s just your choice as to how you use it, and you can begin to nurture that new belief.

3. I Am Not Good Enough

This is probably the most fundamentally limiting belief and it’s one that most of us can attest to having been at the mercy of at some point in our life.

We are always good enough and that’s the reason why we are here. We are good enough for each person, situation and opportunity that presents itself. Yet at some point in our life when our safety and certainty was threatened, we chose to believe that wasn’t true.

Because of this experience and what we decided to believe, we run patterns of behavior that are designed to protect us. When we are about to do something that will stretch our capabilities, we have a little voice that warns us of danger and tells us we can’t do it or we shouldn’t do it. This means we can often get in our own way and miss out on those opportunities, relationships and situations that can help us achieve what we want.

4. I Will Be Judged

We can often hold ourselves back from doing new things because we are afraid other people will judge us and see us as lacking in some way. Remember, we often focus on our fear; and the more we focus on this, we will see more examples of people judging us.

You have no control over what others think or feel and most of the time, they don’t think anything about you at all. They are more concerned with what they think or feel about themselves, just like you are.

If you feel judged by other people, it’s more often than not just a reflection you see of your own thoughts and judgments about yourself

When fear of judgment comes up for you, ask yourself “Where am I judging myself right now?” Remind yourself that no matter what outcome you get, just the fact that you are showing up and giving things a go means you are always more than good enough, and that deserves acknowledgment.

I Am Not as Good as Them

This is a self-limiting belief based on comparison. When we compare ourselves with others, it can really freeze us in our tracks.

This very limiting belief has become more prevalent since the upward surge of social media. It can cause us to waste precious energy, feeling we don’t have what it takes.

If you find yourself comparing and feeling emotions like jealousy, loss of confidence, annoyance or self-consciousness, then you can bet your bottom dollar this belief is playing out unconsciously.

Remind yourself that we are all different. This means we all have unique personalities, a range of different strengths and natural talents. It also means we all have different traits that require development. No one does everything perfectly and this is why we can all easily compliment each other in different ways.

There is no less than or more than, there is just difference. Just because they do it differently to you, doesn’t mean you are not as good as them; it just means you are unique and that is a good thing.

The Bottom Line

Identifying and acknowledging your self-limiting beliefs is the first step in taking back your own power. Blame can keep you stuck for years and over time erodes your self-esteem and can even cause you to go backwards.

True sustainable success is achieved from the inside out, by making the choice to work on your own belief system. It’s vital you weed out any beliefs that are limiting you in any way. This is the way to true empowerment and success, where you will open up your full potential and over time you will notice your life will become limitless.

Source: Lifehacks

In self development July 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

AYO AL: 5 COMMON SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ERRORS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

Business seems to be the real deal these days. Almost every one you come in contact with owns a business – from clothes to food, to agriculture, to cosmetics. Everyone wants to get their hands into something. Social media, has in recent times, become a tool for sales; but, while some people use it to its fullest advantage, others haven’t gotten the hang of it yet.

As an entrepreneur/business owner, you have to realise that you aren’t the only marketer in town. There are a billion others out there, so how you make your brand different and drive clients your way should be considered. Asides sellers on social media, there are business owners who have shops, easily accessible ones that one can walk into and buy stuff, so the question is: why should I trust my money into the hands of a stranger? Especially when I do not know the quality of goods I’ll be getting, or if the individual is a fraud.

Today, I’ll be discussing some errors which really dents businesses. You wonder why you aren’t making as much sales as you like? Then maybe your answer might be here.

Error #1: Your Instagram page is PRIVATE!
A while ago, a friend of mine posted a picture and gave credit to an online store for making her dress. I liked the dress and was interested in making one too, so I clicked on the tagged name only for me to see that the page was private. This doesn’t in anyway show seriousness as a business owner. Your page should only be private when everything on your page is about your personal life and not business. But telling a potential client that they have to follow your page before they can do business with you just doesn’t cut it. Let them follow you if they find your services faultless. Dear business owner, leave your page accessible to potential customers.

Error #2: You have the “No DMS, No messages, just calls!” on your bio
This is another error business owners on social media make. If you really love sales, I think you would open up every avenue for your clients to reach you and your services. What makes your business so special that you can’t be “DMd?” Why can’t you receive WhatsApp messages regarding details of your business? Please always put your customers first.

Error #3: Replying messages/inquires late
Business requires time and commitment and if you aren’t ready to put that into yours, then maybe business isn’t for you. I remember when I started my business, I needed carrier bags which would have my logo on it to be used in delivering my goods. I searched the ‘gram and found a few Instagram pages which were into that. I called, messaged almost ten people, but I either did not get a feedback or I was told my call would be returned. One person actually returned my call two days later and called me so many times over the next week, I was forced to block the line. If you cannot reply messages or answer calls immediately, please do as soon as possible and apologise for any inconveniences first. This shows you are a person of integrity and your business can be trusted.

Error #4: Posting poorly taken photos
This one can be an instant turn off. Most people who buy things on social media do so because they fell in love with the images posted. As a business owner who wants more sale, pay particular attention to the quality of your pictures. I do not think that I will purchase anything from a store whose pictures are taken in poorly lit places and on dirty platforms. Excellent picture quality says a lot about you and your business. They help to catch the attention of potential buyers. It is now left to you to retain this interest and ensure they close the deal.

Error #5: Not replying comments under the post
Several times, I see comments like “how do I get this? How do I order? Where are you based?” under posts and the strange thing is that these comments get no replies. Yes, I’m the first to admit that some customers can be exasperating. They want the same thing said over and over again, but that’s why as a business owner, you cannot excel without great patience skills. Ensure you reply comments underneath your posts. This shows that you have your customers in mind and that you are passionate about your business.

If you liked reading this, then look out for the next part. Till then, keep at it and sooner than you think, the world will tell your success story!

About Ayo Al

An avid reader and writer, Ayo Al hopes particularly to refract the ills in the society through her writings. A professional blogger, she is available for content writing, freelance writing and book reviews. Her works of fiction can be purchased on Okadabooks. Ayo Al is also a business woman, fashion enthusiast and a dealer of watches.
Need to get in her good books? Correct Ijebu Garri, dry groundnut and very cold water could do the trick.

Check out her instagram: @Ibiyesimama_al and twitter @ibiyesimamaAl.

I blog @chachushub..com
see link below!
https://chachushub..com/blog/

In Interviews&profile July 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

WHEN YOU HAVE TRY TO GIVE, WHEN YOU LEARN PLEASE TRY TO TEACH” – SONNIA AGU

Sonnia Agu is the founder of G-1st International Foundation, an acronym for God First, an NGO designed to propose solutions to social problems that affect the well-being of Nigerians. She is a devout believer in the Nigerian dream with over seven years of strategic and diversified professional experience in Social Work, Media, Aviation, Oil and Gas as well as Business Development. Agu is a certified Harvard Business School entrepreneur, self-motivated millennial and social entrepreneur. She is also a member of the Pan African Youth Commission and an executive board of director for the Nigerian chapter and has won numerous awards for her selfless service. In her bid to make Nigeria a better place, her foundation has partnered and volunteered internationally with organisations including Growth Foundation, London; SOS Foundation, Gambia; Lawrence Hope Foundation, South Africa and Food for Life, Hungary. The Civic Engagement arm of G1st Foundation is The Sapiosexual Club which is Nigeria’s first social will association, open to both local and international membership, driven by intellectual capacity and social enterprise. The Club employs a novel approach to empower young Nigerians so they are stirred and inspired to take social development seriously and apply their creative minds to contribute tremendously to the all-round progress of Nigeria and the advancement of the entire human race. The Sapiosexual Club now has a membership strength of over 10,000 young professionals and birthed a vibrant community of high achieving entrepreneurs, civil society leaders and public servants. In this interview with IJEOMA-THOMAS-ODIA, she shares her passion for driving social change.

Tell us about your growing up
I was born and bred in Lagos. I attended Christland Primary School, then Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Oyo State. I got into University of Lagos where I studied Creative Arts, until my third year and then moved to Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus where I graduated with a first- class in Public Relations and Advertising. I then started my masters in critical aspects of Media and Communications. To further deepen my knowledge, I recently got certified in Entrepreneurship in Emerging Societies from Harvard Business School.

What informed your decision to start the Sapiosexual Club?
I have always had an innate desire to change the narrative and do good. I come from a very charitable family as well; I remember growing up with people always in front of the house with one issue or the other. The ice cream truck pulls up and the whole street lines up because my dad is buying for us all. We had over 30 cousins and extended family in the house every holiday as my dad was the one they looked up to, the list is endless. My Mum would take all our clothes and have us give to charity always. So, moving back to Nigeria and the things I saw broke my heart. I had to struggle too. Even with my First Class, I was working at the airport where I had to push wheel chairs and earn not up to N70,000. Men and women with children earned way less. I was transferred to Cargo at some point and it was crazy as the men I saw had families and they earned lesser salaries and were expected to live right, not steal, come to work Mondays to Saturdays for peanuts. I need not tell you my NYSC experience. The truth is, people are suffering.

Tell us about some of your activities
We have monthly gatherings, debates and a platform that allows us continue our intellectual conversations which are centered around entrepreneurship, work- life balance, human personal developments and relationships. We try to also change people’s opinions and narratives especially when the issues of Nigeria come to play. We also have a mandate to carry out monthly charity works and good neighbourliness projects; during the past election, we managed to register over 5000 Nigerian youths in
Lagos and encouraged young people to carry out their civic duties.

What has been the impact of G1st International Foundation as an arm of the community?
With our foundation, we have impacted, empowered and partnered with other charity foundations across Africa and the western part of the world. Our flagship initiatives-Essence of Nigeria, Girls in Nigeria and the Hub Project- respond to issues in the areas of civic engagement, education, girls/women empowerment and community development respectively. We recognise that people, norms and the way we interact in groups and communities are the processes that shape our development. Our projects and programmes are therefore geared towards educating, empowering, engaging and giving Nigerian youths a platform to nurture and realise their potential so that they are well-placed to contribute selflessly to Nigeria’s sustainable development.

What has kept you going in your social development drive? Aren’t there challenges?
I will say God’s grace. Not trying to sound sanctimonious but take His grace out and I will stop. The last intervention I had in Makoko scared the life out of me. I was held hostage at knife point, robbed etc. The hoodlums held me and my team and asked for money. I was first all robbed off my money in my purse, they helped us carry some cartons of food stuff, which they stole and didn’t bring it to the other end of the boat. It really hurt and scared me so bad. I don’t want to think about the feelings that incident brought me, as I almost threw in the towel.

How can more young people especially women be empowered to take on their dreams and make impact?
Women need to be intentional, especially women who are already successful. Women should learn to support and encourage one another. The fight isn’t against us, it’s against poverty.

From your experiences, what in your opinion is the challenge hindering young people from breaking grounds?
Fear! Most if not all of us are very skilled and industrious but the fear of failure and the unknown. A friend once said to me that he won’t marry even with N10 million in his account until he is sure he can be earning N1million a month. My point is, do it while you are scared, married, working, have a job, whatever it is, just start.

When you are not chasing your dream in social development, what is Sonnia doing?
To be honest, this is all I do day in, day out. I’m getting scared and worried myself. I have had to sacrifice all for this dream. I quit managing my dad’s company and my printing press. My dad owns a real estate and building factory which I was managing alongside the club. For some reason, the club demands my undivided attention.

What advise do you have for young people?
When you get please try to give, when you learn please try to teach. That way, the world becomes a somewhat better place. For instance, in your journey and life if you find an investor that’s willing to give you N10 million, I am pretty sure in the nearest future someone may need N100, 000 from you, please give them. If also you learn a skill or an idea, please share, mentor and teach others genuinely so they can be encouraged by your story.

What is your philosophy of life?
God first, stay happy, serve humanity.

Interview by Ijeoma Thomas-Odia for Guardian

In self development July 28, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

YETTY WILLIAMS: HOW PARENTS KILL THEIR CHILDREN’S CONFIDENCE

As parents or caregivers, we want our children to grow strong and healthy. We also want them to have healthy confidence and self-esteem. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we may do things that actually hurt our children’s confidence and self-esteem instead of helping it.
Here are five ways parents can kill children’s confidence:

. Comparing them to others:
Instead of motivating your child to improve, comparisons will most likely make your child have low self-esteem. It is never a good idea to draw comparisons between siblings or those within their peer group. Children need to know that they are accepted and loved for who they are, not because they are better or not as “good” as another. You do not want them to feel like they have to act like someone else to get your approval.

. Always solving their problems for them:
Constantly solving a child’s problems or correcting their mistakes deprives them of a chance to learn, mature and develop self-confidence. This will ruin their chances of developing the skills and confidence required to navigate through life. When children solve their problems, even if they do not get it right, it is a great way to learn problem-solving skills.
Also, are you in the habit of speaking up for your child even when they are old enough to speak for themselves? This can make your child become withdrawn and lose confidence in their ability to speak for themselves. Allow your child to express themselves both in private and in public.

. Always shouting and nagging about their mistakes
Shouting at your children when helping them out with homework, or teaching them a skill can kill their confidence. As a parent, you have to be patient with your child. Making mistakes is an integral part of a child’s learning and growth process. At some point when you ask a question, they will be too scared to answer because of your shouting habit. Always correct them with care and make them feel that they can do it. But don’t over-pamper them. Teaching your child to accept mistakes and failures positively is a good way to go about things. There is a great deal of value in recognizing when you make a mistake and then correcting it.

. Making fun of their physical differences:
Many parents want their kids to be physically and emotionally flawless. They often view their children’s physical and emotional differences as imperfections to be corrected and/or changed. However, this has the opposite effect and gives the child a permanently poor body and self-image. Some young children have become anorexic just to escape being called “fat” while others become obese to avoid being called “skinny winky.” Most often than not, namecalling affects children’s self-esteem. These days, teenage girls cannot wait to turn 18, so that they can go in for surgery.

Focus on building your child up and preaching positivity. Instead of pointing out their flaws, help them develop their positive characteristics. Teach your child that no one is flawless and that everyone makes mistakes.

. Living your life through them and planning their careers:
There are parents who plan their children’s lives from birth to marriage to career and beyond based on what they want for themselves. They believe that they are making their kids’ lives easier and less stressful. However, they are doing irreparable damage and making their kids quite dependent and indecisive regarding the simplest life choices. Many people are living their parents’ lives, not their own authentic lives, much to their regret.

It is okay to set some boundaries and steer your child in a direction you’d like to see them go in, but let them have some independence. Support the choices they make and the lifestyles they want to live.

. Denying them your attention:
Children need and crave love and affection that only their parents can give. Not being there for your children creates “emotional neediness” in them. Some of these children crave and look for a “mother” and “father” figure in other people which could sometimes lead to abuse. Be intentional about spending time with your children. This might be difficult since we all live busy, stressful lives and have endless concerns as parents. However, give your children all your attention, some of the time! Whenever you have time to spend with your children, ensure that they have all your attention. The occasional hugs, kisses and “I love you” should also not be forgotten.

In Career Gems July 27, 2019 By Women of Rubies

YOUTUBE AWARDS YEMI ALADE FOR BEING THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN ARTIST TO REACH A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS

Youtube has awarded Nigerian Singer, Yemi Alade the Golden Play Button award for reaching one million subscribers on her channel.

She recently became the first female African artiste to have over one million YouTube subscribers.

The YouTube Global team who are currently on a visit in Africa have been meeting key players in the Pan-African region to honour them for adding digital value to the growth and development of digital music.

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#DREAMTEAM 🥂✊🏾❤ #GOD + #HARDWORK SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO WILL ALWAYS PUSH YOU @TAIYEALIYU 🙏🏽 #WOMANOFSTEEL IS COMING #WOSALBUM🔥 #YEMIALADE #ITSEFFYZZIEBABY

A POST SHARED BY YEMIALADE WOMAN OF STEEL (@YEMIALADE) ON JUL 24, 2019 AT 11:51PM PDT

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THIS IS HOW I FEEL 🤦‍♀️1 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS IN 6 YEARS 🥂🍾🍾 . . ALOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT THE SECRETS TO SUCCESS IS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION BUT I RECENTLY REALISED THAT THE MOST CORRECT ANSWER IS GRATITUDE. . . . INVEST EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 YEARS WITH EVERY ATOM OF GRATITUDE AS YOUR FOUNDATION AND SUCCESS CAN VERY EASILY BECOME YOUR “BESTFRIEND”🥂 . . . AND AS A LIVING AND PRACTICING MUSICAL ARTIST ; I GIVE GRATITUDE TO MYSELF FOR BELIEVING IN EVERY ODD IRREGULAR IDEA I EVER HAD EVEN WHEN IT SEEMED WEIRD OR POPULARLY UNCOOL…EG WEARING MY INFAMOUS BIG HAIRSTYLES 🍍AND SAYING THINGS LIKE ” AYAKATA ” OR LIVING THE UNDILUTED LIFE OF MAMAAFRICA AND JUST GENERALLY BEING MY TRUE SELF UNAPOLOGETICALLY,I SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT LET ME BE ME. 🙋‍♂️ . . . AS A BUSINESS WOMAN. I WANT TO THANK MR TAIYE ALIYU CEO EFFYZZIE MUSIC GROUP @TAIYEALIYU FOR TEACHING ME THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ; ” INVEST IN YOURSELF SO OTHERS CAN INVEST IN YOU” . . . . . AS AN ESTABLISHED BRAND HAVING TOURED THE WORLD MANY TIMES, IT SHOWS THE WORLD IS TRULY ENTERTAINED 💃💃 . . . .I SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PRODUCERS I HAVE WORKED WITH, PHILKEYS, SELEBOBO, EGARBOI, VTEC, DJCOUBLON, KLEM, THELMA, VIDEO DIRECTORS: CLARENCE PETERS, GAMBIT, OVIE, THE ENTIRE @EFFYZZIEMUSICGROUP TEAM ; MR TAIYE ALIYU, MR KORIBO HARRISON, ONAZI OGABA, TOYIN AJAYI, GIDEON,OGAGUS, INTERNATIONAL REPS MRS REBECCA AND MR ADESOPE, MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MRS HELEN, BOLA AND SEYI ALADE.💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞 . . . TO ALL THE DESIGNERS, FASHION STYLISTS, DANCERS, HAIRSTYLISTS, MAKEUP ARTISTS CREW MEMBERS WORLD WIDE…I COULDNT HAVE MADE QUALITY CONTENT WITHOUT YOU…💞👗👔💥💭🥾👑💄💫 TO MY FANS WORLD WIDE …MY SOLE PURPOSE IS TO SERVE YOU WITH THIS TALENT OF MINE. I THANK YOU AND I THANK GOD FOR YOU… 💦💦 LETS MAKE ONE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS 100 MILLION 😛😛😛💣 AND FOR YOUR TIME THANK YOU FOR READING TILL THE END💗💗 I MUST HAVE SKIPPED SOME NAMES AND I’M SORRY.I’M JUST SO EXCITED💃💃

A POST SHARED BY YEMIALADE WOMAN OF STEEL (@YEMIALADE) ON JUL 25, 2019 AT 4:30AM PDT

Credit: fabwoman.ng

In Career Gems July 27, 2019 By Women of Rubies

FUNKE AKINDELE-BELLO, TIWA SAVAGE NAMED NIGERIA’S RICHEST FEMALE CELEBRITIES ON INSTAGRAM

Nigerian celebrities, Funke Akindele Bello and Tiwa Savage are the richest female Nigerian celebrities on Instagram.

According to the Instagram Rich List 2019, Akindele at 45th position is the richest female Nigerian celebrity globally with over 8 million followers and earns 50,500 dollars which is (over 18 million Naira).

Singer, Tiwa Savage who follows closely at 48th position is second richest with over 7.5 million followers, earning 47,200 dollars (17 million Naira).

The list, compiled by Instagram scheduling tool HopperHQ, shows that billionaire entrepreneur, Kylie Jenner with Instagram followers of 141 million, is the world’s richest entertainer, has a worth of $1,226,000 per post.

Singer and actress, Ariana Grande is second on the list with an Instagram followership of 158.4 million and a worth of $996,000 per post to emerge second ahead of Ronaldo.

Kim Kardashian is fourth on the list, followed by Selena Gomez in fifth position and Beyonce in the seventh position.

See list below

Credit: Fabwoman