Olunike Adeliyi is a Canadian actress, writer, and producer. She got her big break in the hit television series Flashpoint where she played Officer Leah Kerns. Since then, she has built an impressive resume and inspired other women to chase their dreams.
The Early Life of Olunike Adeliyi
Olunike Adeliyi was born in Toronto, Ontario to Sunny, a Nigerian salesman and Roxy, a Jamaican nurse. Raised in both Jamaica and Canada, the well-travelled actress ultimately earned a place at the highly coveted American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Education
Adeliyi had her primary education in Canada. She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts In Newyork. Reportedly, she used to visit Brooklyn, New York, for her acting career and returned to her home country.
Career
Her popularity gained momentum after her appearances in films and TV shows like SAW 3D, French Immersion, The Listener, Being Human, Republic of Doyle, Lost Girl, Christmas Horror Story, Killjoys, and The Girlfriend Experience. In 2012, Adeliyi was nominated for “Best Performance by a Female – Film” at the Canadian Comedy Awards for her performance in French Immersion and won the 2014 Black Canadian Award for “Best Actress.”
Some of Adeliyi’s critically acclaimed stage performances include Macbeth (Unit 102 Theatre), HER2 (Nightwood Theatre) and Bleeders (Summerworks).
In 2019, she starred in the horror feature She Never Died, which premiered at LA Screamfest, where she was nominated for best actress and at the Blood in The Snow Film Festival, where she won the award for best actress. Olunike has performed in theatres throughout Canada and the U.S. playing leading roles in many productions.
Recognition and Award of Olunike Adeliyi
Olunike was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards for her role in Boost; “Best Performance by a Female – Film” at the 2014 Canadian Comedy Awards for her performance in French Immersion and won the 2011 Black Canadian Award for “Best Actress”.
She recently received the 2022 Rising Star Award from the Excellence Awards program of the Afroglobal Television channel in Toronto. Away from her awards, let’s take a look at Olunike’s journey into motherhood.
Motherhood
Olunike Adeliyi and her daughter, Alesha Bailey
The amazing thespian is a mother of a beautiful daughter named Alesha Bailey, an actress. However, the details regarding her baby papa are missing. Further, the actress shares a good relationship with her daughter, and the mother-daughter duo is often seen enjoying with each other on different media platforms.
We celebrate Olunike for her tenacity, passion for her craft, and for creating room for other women to thrive.
Choosing the right friends in life is very important. Do you know that you can accurately predict where you’ll be five years from now? You can easily know where you’ll be going, what you’ll be doing, and what your income level will be. If you want to know how, the answer is simple: by the company you keep. The people you associate with have a major impact and influence on your personal success. You can tell where most people are going to end up in life simply based on who they hang around.
It is likely that your income level is in the same range as that of your closest friends. You talk about the same topics and you usually hang out at the same places. In many cases, you may discover that you’re reading the same books… or none of you are reading at all.
Although your five closest friends are your best buds, you have to evaluate your relationships when you are ready to make a change for the better. Relationships are like elevators; they are either bringing you up or taking you down. Every connection isn’t meant for the long haul… sometimes we find ourselves holding on toxic relationships that expired years earlier. 8This is why it is so important to make the right relationship choices. For your long-term success, you simply must choose the right friends.
Here are some secrets to choosing the right friends;
1. Associate higher. If you are focused on taking your life/career/business to the next level, then why not associate with people on that next level? Doing this will help expand your mind to greater possibilities. It is natural to feel most comfortable with people who are like you, and that’s OK. However, now and then it’s good to step outside of your comfort zone and spend time with friends who can expose you to greater things, new information and a higher level of living. If you value these friendships, you will soon find yourself advancing too.
2. Choose friends with similar values. While diversity is great in many ways, when it comes to your general values and beliefs, it’s best to keep core friendships with like-minded people. While you can respect others’ opinions and differences, choosing friends that hold similar values to yours will keep you from compromising or being negatively influenced by those that don’t uphold your values and the standards that you govern your life by. When friends have similar values, they can help keep each other accountable.
3. Choose friends with common goals. I like to call these your purpose partners. When you have friends with common goals, particularly as an entrepreneur, you can push each other. You can work on your goals together and encourage each other in reaching them.
4. Choose friends who can bring balance in areas where you are weaker. We all have our strengths and weaknesses — you know what yours are. With the right friends, you can tap into the talents, skills and abilities of those that have expertise in areas that you don’t. Maybe you aren’t the best at keeping your closet organized, but you have a friend that loves organizing — enlist her help! You might be a great writer and can offer assistance to a friend that is updating her resume. When you utilize each other’s strengths, everyone wins.
5. Choose friends that stretch, motivate and encourage you. These types of friends are also great purpose partners. No one wants a friend that is negative or down all the time. It’s usually the people that are uplifting and positive that we naturally want to be around. Which category do your friends fall into? What do your conversations with them sound like? The best types of friends will be there to offer a listening ear and help you put a positive spin on any situation.
6. Choose friends that share the same interests. Friends with similar interests simply make life more fun. You can enjoy outings and activities together. Whether it’s sports, music, performing arts or food, when you share interests, you can get out and do things together. You have someone to visit new places and enjoy new experiences with.
7. Choose friends that have a thirst for knowledge. Life is about learning, growing and advancing. With friends like this, you can learn from each other. It’s always great to have a friend who can recommend a good book or share information with you to help you on your path. Friends who are avid readers are usually great conversationalists and fun to talk to as well.
8. Choose friends who you can be purpose partners with. By now, you have noticed that this term keeps coming up. To further expand on it, a purpose partner is someone who you can share your goals and dreams with, and they will encourage you toward achieving them. When you tell your purpose partners what you intend to do, they can help you stay accountable to following through. Allow them to check in on you and ask you about your progress — and do the same for them.
9. Choose friends who will celebrate your success. You want friends that celebrate you, not just tolerate you. A true friend will celebrate every milestone, accomplishment and success story on your journey. They will be genuinely happy to see you succeed and be the first to say “congratulations!” Friends like this can be rare so when you find them, keep them close!
Read Also: 10 Simple Tips To Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle
10. Choose friends who are “get-it” people. Get-it people are serious about their goals and serious about success. They don’t treat life casually or waste time on frivolous pursuits. They take fast action and get things done. If you consider yourself a get-it person, it’s important that you have friends who operate the same way.
11. Give what you expect to get. Every friendship is a give-and-take. If you expect great friends, you first have to be one yourself. If you live by the Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated, then you won’t be disappointed — you will find your friendships fulfilling and rewarding.
Choosing the right friends is very important for your mental and emotional wellbeing. Take some time to evaluate your relationships. Do your friends meet the criteria above? Can you call any of them your purpose partners? If so, then great! If not, then it’s probably time to branch out and start establishing some new relationships. With the secrets above, you can boost the quality of your relationships and your long-term success.
Let us know how you will be choosing the right friends in the comment.
Google Doodle is celebrating Jollof rice today with Haneefah Adam’s art illustration , though the official day is August 22. According to Google; “jollof rice, a quintessential West African dish simmered in reduced tomatoes, onions, peppers and regional spices.”
Nigeria-based guest artist, Haneefah Adam made the beautiful live-action doodle of jollof rice, The beautiful part of the doodle is the way it ended. They showed the different side dishes like plantain and chicken you can eat jollof rice with.
The beautiful soundtrack featured in the doodle is by Senegalese Jazz musician, Herve Samb. It is safe to say Google created a balance of Jollof rice origin and the country where it is eaten the most.
Describing the doodle, Google writes that, “on this day each year, rice farmers plant and reap a bountiful harvest, and cooks across West Africa prepare to make fresh Jollof. Also known as benachin and thieboudienne’
They also elucidated the origin of jollof rice. It is believed to have first been prepared by the Wolof tribe in the 14th century. “The Wolof Empire, ruling parts of modern-day Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania made Jollof rice popular.”
“Each country has added its spin to the recipe and West Africans engage in humorous banter over who makes the best Jollof. These friendly rivalries, known as the “Jollof Wars,” have become an African cultural phenomenon.” Google writes.
The most competitive countries are Nigerians and Ghanaians. Google elucidates the difference. “Nigerians use long-grain rice that absorbs more spices, while Ghanaians use basmati rice with a more aromatic flavour.”
In 2016, Haneefah won the #TechMeetsArtNG exhibition, sponsored by Samsung Nigeria and Rele Gallery. The competition was a culinary exhibition aimed at exploring the artistic presentation of some of Nigeria’s local meals.
It’s beautiful to see our food being celebrated, and the work of one of queens highlighted on a global platform.
Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with more than 18 years of success leading digital transformations, optimizing infrastructure and designing new approaches that improve service experiences.
She has worked in the technology industry for several organizations such as Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, North York General Hospital, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank.
Claudette began her career at BMO in 2000 and held multiple senior leadership roles including Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience. In 2020, she joined TD Bank as Global Executive Officer for Cyber Security.
In her spare time, Claudette writes books for children, builds robots and is the founder of the Black Arts & Innovation Expo. Claudette holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University and a Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University.
She is the recipient of several prestigious awards: In January 2020, she was selected as an honoree at the Jamaican Canadian Association’s 20th International Women’s Day event for her groundbreaking work in STEM. In 2019, Toronto Life recognized her as one of the city’s Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians, Women’s Executive Network recognized her as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, AdWeek Magazine heralded Claudette as a Toronto Brand Star, and the Digital Finance Institute honoured her as one of the Top 50 Canadian Women in FinTech.
In September 2019, Claudette also had the honour of moderating what is being hailed as ‘the most insightful one-on-one conversation’ with Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,000-plus at Elevate, Canada’s largest technology festival.
Claudette was recently honored by Afroglobal TV as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Canadian , she also received the Science and Technology Excellence Awards
On Saturday, October 29, 2022, Afroglobal TV honoured 16 Individuals, that make profound difference in the lives of people and the black community in Canada. Olunike Wendy Adeliyi, Caludette Mcgowan, Shola Alabi, Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Dianne Clemons, Joan Jekinson, Dr. Roz Roach and Grace Carter-Henry Lyons were recognized at the epoch making event.
These women have used their work and Influence in the society to help Black Canadian women realize their potential and encouraged them to chase their dreams fearlessly. They Inspire Black girls and women by showcasing examples of the many contributions Black women have and continue to make in the Canadian society.
Olunike Adeliyi is a Canadian actress, writer, and producer. She got her big break in the hit television series Flashpoint where she played Officer Leah Kerns. Since then, she has built an impressive resume that includes shows such as Republic of Doyle, American Gods and Little Dog. Olunike has been nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards for her role in Boost; “Best Performance by a Female – Film” at the 2014 Canadian Comedy Awards for her performance in French Immersion and won the 2011 Black Canadian Award for “Best Actress”.
In 2019, she starred in the horror feature She Never Died, which premiered at LA Screamfest, where she was nominated for best actress and at the Blood in The Snow Film Festival, where she won the award for best actress. Recognised with 2021 Canadian Screen Award nomination for her performance in BET and CBC drama series Coroner, Olunike has performed in theatres throughout Canada and the U.S. playing leading roles in many productions. She received the 2022 Rising Star Award from the Excellence Awards program of the Afroglobal Television channel.
Claudette Mcgowan- Science & Technology Award
Claudette McGowan is a global information technology leader with over 20 years of success in leading digital transformation to improve service and cybersecurity. She has worked at Deloitte, Metropolitan Police Services, Bank of Montreal and TD Bank. Claudette is the Founder and CEO of Protexxa, an cybersecurity company. She has co-led Phoenix Fire & The Firehood, a multi-million-dollar women-focused angel investment fund and network for women in technology. She its on the boards of MaRS, SickKids, Black North, Elevate and First Book Canada.
Claudette has been named Toronto Life Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians, Digital Finance Institute Top 50 Canadian Women in FinTech, IT World Canada Top 20 Canadian Women in Cybersecurity, and the Women’s Executive Network recognized her as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Canadians, she received the 2022 Science & Technology Award from the Excellence Awards program of the Afroglobal Television channel.
HON. WANDA THOMAS BERNARD, Lifetime Achievement Award
Wanda Thomas Bernard
The Honourable Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard is the first African Nova Scotian woman to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, representing the province of Nova Scotia and her hometown of East Preston. She was awarded the Order of Canada in 2005, and the Order of Nova Scotia in 2014. Senator Bernard served as a professor at the Dalhousie School of Social Work, where she held the position of Director for 10 years. During her time at Dalhousie, she developed a curriculum for the ‘Africentric Social Work’ course.
Senator Bernard was honoured with the Frank McKenna Award for Leadership in Public Policy in 2021. She is the Vice Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights and sits on the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. Senator Bernard has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Canadians. Television.
Diane Clemons, Global Impact Award
Diane founded The Pinball Clemons Foundation with her husband, Michael, an organization that provides marginalized youth with educational resources and options to integrate into mainstream of society. The goal is to see youth enter the workforce, and be gainfully employed. Since its inception in 2007, the foundation has been responsible for the construction of a hospital in Uganda, over 200 schools in developing countries, two orphanages in Haiti, and locally awarded more than 200 scholarships.
Diane Lee Clemons is a Singer/Songwriter. She has hosted Vibe Gospel Awards and appeared in ‘The Rev’ on CTS Network, as well as on ‘Train 48′.
Joan Jekinson – Media Award
Joan Jekinson
Joan Jenkinson is a highly accomplished media executive and an influential member of the Canadian screen industry. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Black Screen Office, where she works to empower Black Canadians working within the screen industries to thrive and share their stories. Joan was Vice President of Independent Productions for VisionTV, where she commissioned, developed, and executive produced hundreds of hours of award-winning content in all genres.
A recipient of the Reelworld Tony Stoltz Memorial Visionary Award, Joan spearheaded VisionTV’s DiverseTV/NSI initiative. She is the co-owner of Artemis Pictures. She served as Executive Director of Women in Film and Television, Toronto for five years. She sits on the boards of Hot Docs and the Reelworld Film Festival. She is been named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Canadians, and receives the 2022 Media Award from the Excellence Awards program of the Afroglobal Television channel.
Shola Alabi – Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award
Shola Alabi
Shola Alabi is a founding members of Africa Missions Canada (AMCA), a chapter of the Africa Missions Global. She served as Vice President from 2004 until 2013, when she became President. Under her leadership, AMCA has built water wells in Kenya, instituted two schools and Empowerment Centres in Uganda, and through the Rwanda Cow project, many have seen their status change, become financially independent, and grown in their Christian faith.
Shola is also the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, working with communities, NGOs, and government agencies. Shola holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration from Providence College, Rhode Island, USA; a postgraduate certificate in Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Mental Health at Humber College; and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Windsor.
Dr. Roz Roach – Community Development Award
Dr. Roz Roach
Dr. Roz Roach holds a Nursing Degree, Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Social Science, a Master’s Degree in Trans-Cultural Psychiatry, and a Doctorate in Health and Human Sciences. A certified Psychotherapist, Psychoanalyst, Raw Food Scientist, and Acupuncturist, she is the Founder and Executive Director of Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, a Centre for Empowerment and Healing for women and children survivors of domestic violence. Dr. Roz Roach negotiated with three levels of government to raise 5 Million dollars to change lives.
An athlete, mountain climber and marathoner, she completed a 120-kilometre walk from Collingwood to Owen Sound in 2022, and a 462-KM climb across seven cities in China, to raise awareness of violence against women in 2008. An artist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, playwright and designer, Dr. Roz is a mentor with the Scotiabank Women Initiative. She receives the 2022 Community Development Award from Afroglobal Television’s Excellence Awards program.
Grace Carter-Henry Lyons – Heritage Award
Grace Carter-Henry Lyons is Founder and Musical Director of Heritage Singers (Canada). The group is a reflection of the Canadian mosaic, and their repertoire ranges from sacred to secular, work songs, lullabies, seasonal ditties and perennial ballards. They have performed world-wide, including Holland, Germany, Taiwan, Mexico and Venezuela. Grace studied piano in Jamaica through The Royal School of Music London, England.
She served for 15 years in the banking industry, including Management at CitiBank Canada. A Real Estate professional for 35 years, Grace is in the Re/Max Hall of Fame. She has received the BBPA Harry Jerome Award for Business Excellence, the Women of Excellence Award from the Congress of Black Women, and was recognized in the Who’s Who of Black Canada. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Community Folk Arts Council of Metropolitan Toronto. She receives the 2022 Heritage Award from the Excellence Awards program of Afroglobal Television.
We celebrate these women for making a difference in the community, touching lives and being a source of inspiration to young girls and women across the globe.
Photos from the Afro Global Excellence Awards…
CoFounder, Afroglobal TV, Patricia Mawa and Esther Ijewere, Editor- Women of Rubies
Actress, Olunike Wendy Adeliyi, and Esther Ijewere
Esther Ijewere and Grace Carter-Henry Lyons
Afroglobal TV Patricia Mawa and Esther Ijewere
Afroglobal Television is a global super channel that caters to the of people of African heritage worldwide. It showcases the best of Africa and the Diaspora through programs that inspire, educate and entertains.
About the Writer
Esther ijewere Is a multi-award winning Social Activist, Journalist, Writer, Best-selling Author, Host of the Youtube syndicated show; #GettalkingwithEsther and a certified PR expert with over 10 years of experience. Esther has spotlighted over 1000 women across the globe, Interviewed First ladies, A-list celebrities and giants of different industries. She is the Editor-In-Chief of Women of Rubies, and other development initiatives recognized globally. Follow her on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
In 1994, Prophetess Uju-Ken had a major encounter with God when she gave her life to Christ, that was the beginning of her ministerial journey and commitment to the body of Christ.
The Canadian based woman of God who has toured different continents winning souls for Christ and reflecting the power of humanity works at the intersection of combining spirituality with reality, using her lived experience as a tool to educate and teach the society the importance of developing a relationship with God and having a prayer life.
Her story went viral online during her recent crusade in Baltimore, USA where she touched lives, performed mind-blowing miracles and spread the gospel. Prophetess Uju is happily married to her supportive husband, and they are blessed with amazing children.
Prophetess Uju-Ken shares her story with Esther Ijewere In this Interview.
Childhood Influence
I grew up in a very christian home. My parents were catholic and were quite involved in church events. My parents always took us to church on Sunday and every weekday early mornings for “Morning Mass”. While in secondary school, my classmates and I attended a church programme. While at this program, the preacher preached on the “Ark of the Covenant” and also asked that those who wanted to encounter the touch of the Ark of the covenant should lift up their hands. That was the first time that I had fallen under the anointing. At that time, I had started dreaming dreams but I had no idea that it was a gift of the Holy Spirit.
I would always tell my mom of my dreams and they would come to pass. I would narrate my dreams of someone dying and then that person would die. My mom would always caution me and warned me to stop telling her about my dreams. On the other hand, while in University, I started modeling and designing tops and shirts and selling to bankers. I would say that modeling prepared me to face crowds. I was already aware of God’s existence and work in and around me.
Inspiration Behind Glorious Reign Ministries
The HolySpirit inspired me to start my ministry. After my childhood encounters, I didn’t know how to pray but I talked prayers. I would pray like I was having a conversation with God. One midnight in 2009, I was laying down and fell into a trance. In that trance, I saw some tall grasses in the field, a strong wind was blowing and as the grasses were being blown by the wind, the words “Time 4 Harvest “ appeared. I was confused as to what they meant.
In that trance also, the voice said that if I was doubting, I should go to the sitting room, that I would find my brother lying on the couch sick. I did get up and go to the sitting room and actually found my brother laying on the couch and when I asked him to go into the room he responded that he was sick.
Before my trance experience, one of my female friends had gifted me with a T.D. Jakes Bible titled ‘Woman, thou art loosed’. After the trance experience, I started preaching to a set of 5 empty couches.
Why I moved My Ministry From U.K To Canada
My move from the U.K. to Canada was a decision of my husband and myself. This decision was solely for the purpose of availing our children the vast opportunities available in Canada including education.
The Journey So Far
We give God the glory. The journey has been amazing, in the sense that with the help of the Holy Spirit. It has also been a learning curve with challenges but God has been faithful because He has promised me in 1 Corinthians 10:13B that “He will not suffer me to be tempted beyond that which I am able to bear”. Every challenge has been a ladder to get to my next level.
Challenges Of My work
As a professional counselor as well as a Minister of God, maintaining boundaries especially with family and friends has been a challenge. I’m still working on learning to say “No” and stick with it. Another challenge is that I find it very hard to look the other way when I see people suffering. I have the tendency of taking on people’s burden and failing to realize that I can’t save everyone.
I’m very humbled that God has chosen me as a vessel to work miracles in the lives of people irrespective of their status in life. I’m also very happy to see God’s power in action, saving souls, healing diseases and mending broken hearts.
Other Projects and Activities
We are believing in God to establish a non- denominational pilgrimage center where people from all walks of life can come on a weekly basis to pray out for themselves and receive solutions to their challenges. I also make it a point of duty to support other peoples ministries to motivate and minister to the people. As per the ministry activities, we meet every first Saturday of the month for our Open Heaven program, we also meet every second Saturday for a meeting with the Holy Spirit titled “Fix me Holy Spirit”. We meet again every third.
What I Enjoy About My Job As A Woman of God
What I enjoy most about my work is my relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always teaches me, guides me and directs me. He always reassures me, all I have to do is to just show up and He acts. I also enjoy seeing people walk into my office with tears and leaving with joy. As much as we go on missions, we pray, and we give.
3 Women Who Inspire Me And Why
The first person is my mother because she is a prayerful woman, a hopeful woman of faith and a woman that never gave up. These attributes of my mother have shaped my own life. The second woman is Kathryn Kuhlman of the blessed memory who solely depends affectionately and intimately on the Holy Spirit.
My Work-life Balance
As a woman of God, a mother, wife, and mentor, I feel like I don’t have enough hours in the day. However, I have to follow strict timelines in order to maintain a work-life balance. Moreso, I have learnt to let go of what I cannot control. So I prioritize my work according to the order of importance. I am also very grateful for my very supportive husband. He’s always there to offer support and cover for me in the home front.
As a society, to win more souls, we can show more love, be empathetic, compassionate, and actively listen to one another. We can be more tolerant towards one another.
On The Importance Of Unity Within The Christian Community
Men and women of God to help each other and to collaborate more especially through complementing one another where the other is inadequate since God has given different spiritual gifts to all men for the perfecting of saints and edifying of the body of Christ ( Ephesians 4: 11-12).
Being A Woman of Rubies
What makes me a Woman of Rubies is the grace of God upon my life and the power of the Holy Spirit.
To Those who Have lost faith
I would tell them “Don’t give up” “Help is on the way” and “Your SOLUTION (Holy Spirit) is bigger than your PROBLEMS (the challenges
Nigerian-born Khadijah Haliru has emerged as a Councilor in Ingersoll Town in southwestern Ontario, Canada in the just conducted elections. She garnered 1708 votes to win the election.
In her campaign, Haliru had promised that she would like to shine a light on downtown businesses, engage youth and address homelessness if she becomes an Ingersoll Town Councillor.
It could be recalled that Khadijah Haliru moved to Ingersoll six years ago. She is the CEO of K Business Group Inc and she’s also the owner of Hanak Foods, K Body Blends, and K Coaching Academy.
Having fallen in love with the community over the years, she is determined to make a difference at Town Hall.
“I feel like we just really have to open our hearts and minds to a different way of thinking so we can bring some change. I’m not saying anything about whether the current council is right or wrong, but having an additional perspective is fair.”
The mother of three had also noted that she has some big plans if she’s elected. “Being really strategically located we have the opportunity to be a centre of attraction for tourists. Our downtown is suffering, so we need to bring more attention to our businesses and I have a few ideas on how we can engage youth more.”
She also said, “I see a lot of opportunities to improve the climate for newcomers and small businesses”.
“There are a lot of newcomers to Ingersoll and they deserve a voice.”
We celebrate Khadijah Haliru for her resilience and tenacity, and above all making the country proud.
Follow Khadijah Haliru on her social media platforms to know more about her work.
Fatima Mohammed Habib is a young empath with a heart of gold, and passion for community service. She is the youngest humanitarian in Nigeria. At 14, she founded the Advocacy for Human Value Foundation (AFHVF); a Not-for-profit organization that aims at improving the lives of the most vulnerable by providing them with basic needs such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health care services, protection and education across Nigeria.
Fatima is a graduate of Political science from University of Maiduguri, and a YALI Regional Leadership Course (RLC) alumna. The organization is powered by over 1,300 volunteers around Nigeria and 30 staffs. With operations in Abuja, Borno, yobe, kaduna, Kano, Taraba, jigawa, and katsina states.
Fatima Habib is well known for creating awareness on child sexual exploitation, gender based violence, and promoting girl-child education in vulnerable communities. Her organization has impacted over 6000 lives in 73 marginalized communities in Northern Nigeria over the years it has been in existence.
In October, 2020, Huawei Technology Company Nigeria Limited partnered with the AFHVF and The Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy in donating standard equipment and renovating the school building of Al-Walidyn Charitable School in Pantami Community, Gombe State, Nigerian.
Fatima’s motivation comes from support she gets from her family and the values upon which she was raised amongst which is kindness to people of all backgrounds. She shares her inspiring story with Esther Ijewere in this exclusive interview.
Childhood Influence
I was born on September 23rd, 1999. I am Kanuri by tribe and hail from Maiduguri, Borno State. I had my Primary and Secondary Schools at Adeola International School Abuja and later moved to Maitama Model Secondary School Abuja to complete my SSCE in 2015. I’d say that I have always wanted to help the less privileged. My parents were my first teachers and therefore had the biggest influence on my life. Things they say and do, their way of being and relating to me and others, laid the foundation for many of my beliefs, values, attitudes, and respect for people around me.
Inspiration behind Human Value Foundation (AFHVF)
My zeal and passion to help the less privileged most definitely pushed me into this path. Let me start with the man whose character, intellectual milieu, and philanthropic gesture to whosoever approaches him in the day, at night, or any other time is indescribable. He is Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa mni. He has greatly inspired me beyond measure.
Additionally, Dr. Zainab Bagudu (the First Lady of Kebbi) whose Medicaid Cancer Foundation is similar to my Foundation’s objectives remains dear to my heart as a woman. I also had the opportunity of meeting Hajia Laraba Shuaibu (a barrister who works with my dad in the Corporate Affairs Commission) in 2014 with my siblings. She had cupboard-of awards displayed in her sitting room which I believe was a result of her versatility, network, and consistency towards her work and profession.
My Passion For Issues Centered Around Child Sexual Exploitation, And Gender-Based Violence
We realized that one of the most prevalent issues that almost all women face is the issue of Gender-Based Violence. We have studied and come to the conclusion that why most women face this problem because of their dependence on others for their sustenance. The solution to most of the causes of Gender-based violence is the economic empowerment of women.
To this end, I recently started the advocacy on Sexual exploitation. We advocate making these victims become stronger, and more well-informed so that despite the daunting challenge they could be able to speak up and change the face of the world.
Challenges
Sometimes the security challenges in the Northeast make it difficult to reach some communities. Even when one is determined to go, loved ones will caution against that. Other times, there is the issue of funding.
When we have a project to execute, we usually find it quite challenging to raise funds to meet our budget. We navigate the security challenges by trying to do as much as possible what we can in areas that are safe. For the funding, we try as much as possible to cut down our budget or improve efforts on fundraising
My Thoughts On The Development And Advocacy Sector And What Stakeholders Should Do Better
Stakeholders can do more with the regulations in the sector. Founders should be vetted before giving the necessary license or registration documents to start. This is to protect against people who set up non-profits to enrich themselves. Stakeholders should set more regulations to protect the humanitarian development space from being flooded by people who don’t have the appropriate aim.
Thematic Areas My Organization Cover
Currently, we work in the areas of health, education, and the environment. In the aspect of education, we’ve assisted many people. We have given scholarships and we recently built a school with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and Huawei Technologies Nigeria. We just completed the building of a charity school – primary to secondary levels.
How I Am Using My Organization To Create Room For Women In The Community
About thousand of people’s lives have been impacted and shaped by my foundation as we have been able to give children their right education by enrolling them in schools and funding their education. We have done a lot of fundraising on social media platforms and also a television in providing hospital expenses to people with special disabilities ( Vulnerable members of society).
Periodically, I visit the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri and hold discussion sessions with some of our targets where we talk out the problems faced by them. This leads to the curing of trauma and depression amongst the vulnerable members in the various camps we visited. I recently started the advocacy on Sexual exploitation. We advocate making these victims become stronger, and more well-informed so that despite the daunting challenge they could be able to speak up and change the face of the world.
Women Who Inspire Me
1. Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu
2. Hajiya Laraba Shuaibu
Other Projects And Activities
For health, we are assisting people who can’t pay their hospital bills. So, we post it online mostly. In 2018, the then-minister of health saw some of our posts and made sure that one of the boys we were assisting was given the care he needed. As for the environment, you know the northeastern part of the country has been prone to conflicts, especially Maiduguri. We have been providing aid in IDP camps and communities affected by criminalities.
In the area of sanitation, we provide boreholes. For the females, we sensitize them to child sexual exploitation and provide them with sanitary pads to enhance their menstrual hygiene among others. That is water sanitation and hygiene.
My Work-Life Balance Routine
I understand that to whom much is given, a lot is expected. I have never taken the privilege I have for granted. I try to be as very organized as possible. Whatever I do, I plan adequately for it. Anything that comes up later that is not in my plan, initially, I try to see if some plans can make way for it. If they are all priorities, I postpone or discard them as appropriate.
Being a Woman Of Rubies
I am very ambitious. Supporting and encouraging people to pursue their own goals and dreams, I make my own as well. I have a vision for my future and chase after it with voracity.
Follow Fatima Mohammed Habib on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram to see more of her work.
There is no force greater than a woman determined to live a fulfilled life, and make a difference while at it. Oluwatoyin Fadairo is a goal-oriented woman full of passion. for humanity and affinity for change. TSD, as she is fondly called by friends, is a successful entrepreneur that also doubles as a philanthropist whose focus is on vulnerable women and children in the society.
With her creativity and innovative ideas, she has been able to create a niche for herself on social media, and this has landed her a number of ambassadorial and brand promotion roles with reputable brands and businesses across the world.
Oluwatoyin Fadairo is the Director of Operations for TSDXclusive, the home of quality bespoke footwear for men, and shoes for women and children. Oluwatoyin has successfully created a platform for children and women experiencing any form of abuse or human right violation, to seek and get necessary help and intervention.
Being a philanthropist, TSD is the founder of The Unbroken Women Initiative (TUWI), a non-profit organization that caters for women and children with psychological, emotional, and financial needs.
Oluwatoyin Fadairo shares her inspiring story with Women of Rubies.
Oluwatoyin Fadairo
Childhood Influence
Growing up was fun. I grew up in a relatively comfortable family, as my parents tried their utmost best to provide us with the necessities of life and my siblings and I attended some the best schools around. However, we were taught not to close our eyes to the needs of the people around us, as there are rewards for givers.
In our neighborhood, we had folks who were struggling to cater for their kids, my parents especially my mum always assisted in her own little way and I learnt this from her. I made up my mind at the early stage to ensure I am always there for people, in my own little way.
Inspiration Behind The Unbroken Welfare Initiative
The empathy for women who suffered all kinds of abuses in marriages. The trauma some of them experienced when they lost their spouse, seeing children, who ought to be in school doing menial jobs at the earliest stage of their lives, etc, motivated me to start The Unbroken Welfare initiative (TUWI).
The Journey So Far
Frankly speaking, it has been very challenging. This type of vision requires a lot of resources – human, financial and a host of others to sustain it and make desired impact in the lives of the target population.
A lot of financial resources are required to meet up with the ever mounting financial requests.
You will be amazed to see the number of requests that get to our table on daily basis, like financial assistance to sort medical bills, school fees, accommodations, etc. Many people believe, for you to set up this kind of NGO, the finances are there and you must be able to respond to all, immediately these requests are presented.
They are ignorant of the fact that the organisation runs on the little gains from personal businesses and goodwill of friends and family that key into TUWI’s vision.
Another major challenge we face is that people are skeptical of sharing their burdens with us. Many are reluctant to share their experiences due to societal discriminations, as well as pressure to keep quiet, especially those in abusive marriages/relationships.
Also, for every platform, there are people, who are not genuinely in need but cook up stories, to the extent of ‘cooking up’ fake medical reports in a bid to get funds from us. We also need volunteers, especially professionals, to assist in attending to diverse issues.
How My Work Inspire Other Women
I have seen a lot of women coming out to express themselves freely about challenges they are going through. People have walked up to me, to speak of their desire to touch lives in their communities, because they appreciate what we are doing. This gives us at TUWI, a lot of joy and push to do more.
I started my business years ago (sales of interior décor). I am now also into sales of fashion items mostly shoes and many others….brand influencing, social media adverts and campaigns for brands/businesses and brand ambassadorship (I am presently the face of two brands).
What I Enjoy Most About My Job
Getting to meet new people, helping small businesses grow as I also supply items in wholesales…I have a number of people who get items from me through what we call the dropshipping system, this makes it possible for people to start and run businesses without having to worry about capital The most satisfying aspect of my job is the running of TUWI, knowing that at least I get to touch lives positively in my own little way
3 women who inspire me and why
My mum, Chimamanda Adichie and Olamide Ogidan Odeseye(Larmmy)
To People Who Judge Women Who Walk Out Of Abusive Relationships
Stop pushing people down the death valley. Life has no recovery key and we cannot continue to encourage people to keep enduring torments. If we only put ourselves in other people’s shoes, we will be less judgmental.
Then we need to let people especially this new generation know marriage is not a do or die affair, its supposed to be a journey between partners not a war zone.
How To support women in abusive relationships
As a society, we need to stop stigmatizing single people and single parents. This has prevented many from walking away from unproductive and abusive relationship.
We need to encourage women in abusive relationship to speak up and also provide them with therapy to enable them heal, as abusive relationship leaves people with a huge scar and takes so many things away – joy, self-esteem, vision and so many other things.
In the adventure of life, I have been through a lot of fire and storms. I have not given the fire the power to burn me nor subjected myself to be blown away by the storm. Rather, I have allowed the experiences to shape me into a woman of dignity, industry, influence, vision and respect.
No matter the challenges or the obstacles that come my way, I have chosen to live through them and to be inspired by them.
My life is a proof that God exists, I am evidence that He is indeed faithful and so gracious. There are days I feel like my life is not all together, other days, I feel like wonder woman but I have learnt to be in charge, in both situations. Rubies are beautiful, they are formed under severe heat and pressure.
The heat of life refines me, the pressure of life strengthens me.
If I Could Speak To A Young Person Who Is On The Verge Of Giving Up
Quitters never win. No situation is common to a man and no challenge has ever come to stay, as long as one does not surrender to it. Never stop dreaming. Everyone being celebrated today, would tell you they were at the point of given up, at some time but they turned things around by realizing that, giving up would not result in change of fortune, they re-assessed where they were, where they ought to be, understand what was needed to move from where they were to be where they ought to be, resolved to give it all their all, connected with people who can lift up their spirits and assist them in their life journey.
Life is full of ups and downs but never give up.
You can follow Oluwatoyin Fadairo On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to know more about her work.
I never imagined I’d be a single mom one day. I grew up believing one day I would marry, stay married and have kids. Nothing prepared me for this lone parenthood journey. Absolutely Nothng!
Now….that’s not a complain. I have been on this journey for 7 years and I’m getting better at my solo parenting life, taking each day as it comes and intentionally staying happy for myself and my amazing children. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but It’s a job you do with relish and pleasure, and with the understanding that “You are doing your best.”
While I won’t like to go into the context of my lived experience, and why I became a single mom, I don’t wish whatever led me to this journey on my worst enemy. We live in a world where people only ask the “why” questions when they meet a single mother instead of understanding the “how”, they are ready to judge and throw you under the bus even without having the full picture.
If you had to choose between being a single mom or being married to a man who is destroying your soul, you would choose being a single mom every time. I’ve been through some experiences in my life but nothing quite prepared me for my separation. It hit me hard, it hit me deeply.
With two children who are just 1 year and 7 months apart, I had to teach my mind to be stronger than my emotions. I had to learn how to filter my connections and disengage from folks who were bent on misunderstanding my plight.
The Emotional Struggle Of Being A Single Mom
I quickly got used to being a single mom. It wasn’t too difficult. I had been living in an environment where I constantly had to fight to protect myself and my children. The hardest part I think was the emotional torment I was going through which everyone suffers during a messy separation.
When you are a single mom, you don’t always get the luxuries others get.
You can’t ask your partner to watch the kids while you go to the gym or walk around the block.
I am not too much of a social butterfly but I know the importance of socializing, and having support. When I started coming out of my shell to share my story and build a support system, things changed.
Starting From Rock Bottom As A Single Mom
Moving out of my home country was one of the most difficult, yet necessary decisions I had to make. I had less family support and the responsibility of solo parenting became even greater. I remember how I couldn’t sleep that first night as a lone parent.
Adapting to single parenting was a little tricky and I sometimes felt like some people don’t understand how difficult it is. Single parents hardly ever get a break, unless they have a strong support network or family willing to step in but all too often that is not the case.
Financially raising my children on my own is difficult. As a single mother the income was much less than that of a couple with kids and I often felt the pinch on the purse strings. The money goes as fast as it comes, that’s even If it comes at all.
My plan to dive right back into work was stalled because I wanted to be a present parent. I was so attached to my girls that I almost made a decision to be a stay-at-home mom, but how do we survive If I don’t get up and play my part. The sacrifices I had to make even while working has stalled my career growth.
Sadly, the world would view you as weak or incapable, when In actual fact you are slowing down so your children can fly in the future.
Don’t Judge Single Mothers
The thing is I do think there is a stigma even in today’s society when you are a single parent. Rather than sit and judge it would be better for people to help and support. It’s better to ask questions than assume a woman just woke up and decided to be a single parent.
You never really know how or why they ended up a single parent, so please the next time you see a single parent, let your sense of empathy over-ride your judgement and assumption. There are women who have gone through situations they are still healing from. Don’t judge or nail them to the cross.
Some parents split up, others lose partners to cancer and horrible diseases, others were just unfortunate to meet the wrong partner, and while they can walk away from that person, they won’t do that to children they brought into the world.
I guess the point I am trying to make is we should worry less about why someone is a single parent and think more about what we can do to help and support because single parenting is not easy.
The Loneliness
One thing I really didn’t expect was the intense isolation that comes with being a single mom. When you’re married, you’re often so used to your partner’s constant presence that you can crave having the house to yourself—an evening alone seems like bliss from a distance.
The Mental Stress
This is the part of the journey no one warned me about, but it’s the reality of every single parent. There is one parent to go around now and my kids definitely feel it. You feel it too. You are constantly on a think and plan mode, what they wear to school, what they eat, making the best decisions for them, putting them first. It’s alot for one person, and it affects your emotional wellbeing sometimes….
Anyway, I’d rather learn how to de-stress and handle what I can than go back to what broke me.
Vetting Of Potential Partners
With all this independence and empowerment, I’ve become very unwilling to give up or even share my new life with anyone. I’m being cautious. I’m wary of needing someone too much, of leaning on them instead of myself.
Perhaps this is the effect of living with an abusive partner who stressed me mentally and emotionally, and now I don’t want to give up the healed version of me to someone who probably has his emotional baggage too.
I set my dating boundaries from the get-go, It probably makes me come off as a little on the edge. You know what they say about life being a teacher? You learn the hard way, but don’t become hard, be smart. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case for abusive partners, they move on easily.
When a car hits a person, the accident victim might spend the rest of their life nursing the Injury. The owner of the car probably won’t feel the impact of the accident. He would still live his life and drive round, while the victim nurse the pain. That’s what I tell folks who judge and are quick to say, things like, “Oh, but the person you claim is abusive has moved on”…
In conclusion, before you judge another single mom, remember you didn’t live through their pain, If you don’t have kind words to say to a lone parent, please, don’t say anything at all.
Life is hard for many already, don’t make it harder. We are trying to make lemonades from the lemons life threw at us.
Are you a single mom? Would you like to join a group of for single mothers for financial support and empowerment ? Join Single Moms Ville
Dedication
I dedicate this article to all the single moms out there, and to Late Dr. Olabisi Igbalajobi , who was a member of our community, and one of the first women I I spotlighted as a Columnist in Guardian Newspaper. May her gentle soul rest in peace.
Late Dr. Olabisi Igbalajobi
About the Writer
Esther ijewere Is a multi-award winning Social Activist, Journalist, Writer, Best-selling Author, Host of the Youtube syndicated show; #GettalkingwithEsther and a certified PR expert with over 10 years of experience. Esther has spotlighted over 1000 women across the globe, Interviewed First ladies, A-list celebrities and giants of different industries. She is the Editor-In-Chief of Women of Rubies, and other development initiatives recognized globally. Follow her on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
