Blog - Page 82 of 462 - Women of Rubies

In Editor's Choice June 26, 2021 By Women of Rubies

#Interview| “Prioritize Your Mental And Emotional Health” – Omobolanle Ajijola

Omobolanle Ajijola is a Certified Trauma Counselor trained in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Early Trauma and an Executive Member of the African Network of Professional Counselors(ANEPCO).

An NLP Practitioner and a passionate Gender-Based Violence Advocate as well as being a trained certified Emotional Intelligence Specialist, she passionately spreads awareness against sexual and all forms of gender-based violence and is concerned about the total well-being of families and by extension children.

Omobolanle is the founder of Bina AI-Amal Safety Foundation, a non-governmental, and not-for-profit organization that provides social and economic empowerment to Survivors and Victims of Gender-Based Violence and disadvantaged communities across Nigeria.

She loves and enjoys working with families and children and this has led her to volunteer with organizations that share the same vision namely Rescue Village Africa, Heartminders Initiative, Amazing Amazon Initiative, and Black Diamond Support Foundation to name a few.

She has gone on numerous campaigns to schools and communities and has participated in road rallies to raise awareness on child sexual abuse and the rights of the African Child, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and Gender inequality.

Her passion has led her to attend various courses tailored to child safety and sexual abuse prevention.

Omobolanle is a firm believer in securing a safe and well-balanced environment free from all forms of Violence. A true global change agent, while speaking with Women of Rubies, she gave this explorative insights on her journey;

Childhood Influence

I grew up , pretty much sheltered with my siblings , not going out much and spent a lot of time with my Grandma who was the resident conflict resolver in her area.

People would come to her with their issues and I’d watch her listen and then help sort whatever the issue was and soothe hurt tempers.

Same with helping those in need, no one came to her door in tears and left the same, she had a solution to every challenge.

She would always give back or give out to whoever was in need and when thanked she would say she was but a servant of Allah doing his bidding.

Watching my grandma (God rest her soul) advocate for what was right no matter if it got her on the wrong side of people and her big heart when it came to giving ,shaped me into the woman I am today.

My parents aren’t any different and till date still help whoever comes to their door.

Inspiration Behind Bina Al- Amal foundation?

My deep passion to effect lasting change in people’s live that made a real difference was the inspiration behind the foundation.

I’d gone on numerous Sexual Abuse awareness campaigns and the stories of abuse we heard stayed with me, I wanted to do more.

Watching children and women roam the streets without a roof over their head and no access to basic amenities and the high numbers of women who would turn up for Empowerment programs worried me a lot, and after a summer school project at an informal settlement in 2019

My mind was made up, I knew what I had to do.

Managing life as a certified trauma counsellor, NLP practitioner and a GBV advocate,

Each role requires a lot of energy and focus and I’ve been able to merge all into one and balance them all.

It’s not been easy but managing my time and prioritizing has helped me maintain the balance needed to flourish.

Experience as a multiple hand volunteer for several organizations

It’s been very educative, each volunteer role came from a personal experience and working for each Organization has taught me lot of things ranging from leadership, rapport and communication building, conflict resolution among other things.

It’s an experience I won’t trade for anything.

My work at Bina Al-Amal foundation, and its impact since inception

At Bina Al-Amal Foundation we provide the support , encouragement and empowerment to that people who live in informal settlements and we also provide the interventions needed for Survivors and Victims of Gender Based Violence .

Basically we offer prevention and intervention against Child Abuse, Rape, domestic violence, and all forms of violence against children and women while Providing prompt sensitive and psychosocial support to survivors of abuse and ensuring perpetrator is prosecuted, Provision of sexual abuse awareness programs to engage and enlighten Teenagers and young Adults on Sexual and Gender based violence and the need to be more socially and morally aware while providing the necessary psychosocial support , Provision of temporary shelters for the homeless for women especially women and families who had gone through one forms of abuse and those who live in informal settlements (shanties and rural areas),

Empowerment for women in rural and vulnerable communities and Free Education for children in rural and vulnerable communities.

Our impact since inception has been amazing.

For our survivors and Victims of Sexual and Gender based Violence, we have been able to offer psychosocial and intervention services to at least 10 families and counting.

For our informal community recipients , we have been able to offer education to over 100 of the children in the informal community as well as provision of palliative during the covid -19 lockdown.

Our teen conferences designed to educate and empower young adults has reached over 100 youths and counting, providing them with information on the dangers of sexual and gender based violence and the importance of leadership skills

Work Challenges

Our major challenge has been getting the required amount of help our informal settlement residents in terms of the shelter need as they are constantly being evicted

Another challenge is their belief system , they feel they have no hope and no one cares about them.

For our Survivors and Victims it’s tackling the silence and stigmatization that doesn’t encourage them to open up freely about their experiences

For our teens and young adults it’s helping them with the difficult choices and temptations they face in a world where information overload is everywhere.

Other projects and activities?

We are working on a building a stable environment for our informal settlement residents and helping them create a better quality of life through Empowerment and Job creating programmes.

A group therapy hub for our Trauma warriors and a teen hub for our Young adults to help them cope with this fat paced world.

3 Women Who Inspire Me

Christiane Amanpour, Oreoluwa Adebiyi and Mrs Achenyo Idachaba for their fearlessness in reporting the truth, Their can do attitude and above all love for humanity.

They inspire me to be a better version of myself and to continue to push through even when people don’t understand the journey.

My experience at social Innovators Bootcamp and its forthcoming impact

To be honest , I’d joined the bootcamp to achieve two things: to gain clarity and get the structure needed and to come 2nd was a bit of a shock. I never imagined I’d make it to the top 3. It was a humbling experience for me, I gained so much more than what I signed up for.

My SIBC Experience taught me one valuable lesson, I’m doing something right and this is going to set the tone for a lot of our activities moving forward at Bina Al-Amal Foundation.

Right steps to take in reporting a case of Domestic Violence & Rape.

For Both cases the most important thing and the first step is to Document evidence.

For a rape victim the best way to Document evidence is to go as soon they are able to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre preferably Mirabel Centre to get checked by a doctor and to get the medical attention needed

For a Domestic Violence Victim, we encourage them to take pictures of bruises, take voice recordings only if it is safe to do so.

Next step is to go to a police station to report the case. At the station, ask for their Gender Desk or Family Support Unit.

After this the police would ask for evidence of assault to which a letter would be sent to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre who carried out the examination for the rape victim.

For the Domestic Violence Victim, evidence would also be collected.

How to overcome Trauma, and stay grounded

In handling Trauma, I encourage client’s to

1)Give yourself time. It takes time – weeks or months – to accept what has happened and to learn to live with it,take it one step at a time.

2)Acknowledging your experience,that way, you can start to understand what drives your feelings of fear and anxiety, and change your perspective over time.

3) Join a Support Group, being involved with other survivors of trauma, sometimes hearing others and knowing you’re not alone offers you some of the comfort needed.

4)Ask for support from family and friends willing to help, don’t isolate yourself.

5)Take some time for yourself: It’s okay to want to be by yourself or with close family and friends

6)Talk it over with a Professional. This is where therapy comes in to give a more grounded sense of healing.

7)Get into a routine to resting a sense of normalcy

8) Exercise.

On staying grounded:

1)Appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

2)Practice gratitude.

3)Take a break.

4)Prioritize your mental and emotional health.

5)Be the change you want to see in the world.

6)Stay active.

As a Woman of Rubies

What makes me a Woman of Rubies is my selfless character and passion to see a fellow woman attain great heights and my not giving up on those who need me.

Social Media Handles:

Email: omobolanleajijola@gmail.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ajijolabolanle

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/bolanleajijola.3

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajijola-bolanle

In Fashion June 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Emma Maame Efua Tandoh, A Ghanaian Fashion Entrepreneur Using African Textiles In New Creative Ways

In Africa, fabric and prints are more than just cloth; it’s at the core of who we are as Africans, expressive, creative, confident; a colourful and authentic people that carry an inextinguishable spirit.

African print has been finding its way into mainstream fashion for a long time, but it is always good to see a brand emerging from the continent that innovatively celebrates its diversity. This is why we acknowledge Love Ankara, a fabulous retail, footwear and accessory brand, proudly made in Ghana but loved by the continent.

The Love Ankara brand is here to re-define and showcase what authentic African fabric stands for. This it does by promoting authentic African prints, empowering women and preserving existing local textile industries.
Love Ankara shoes and accessories are made for powerful, outspoken, daring empowered women who are not afraid to be authentic and stand out wherever they are in the world.

Truly, one’s upbringing and environment during their formative years play a role in deciding the paths one would go in life. This is seen in the case of Emma who was raised in an entrepreneurial background. She grew up seeing her mother juggling between a 9-5 job and other businesses including clothing and drinks supply and distribution.

Forget the odds and go for it. As crazy as it may seem, the future of our continent rests with us women; especially women entrepreneurs. You will make some mistakes, but heck, start, go ahead and begin that dream and keep at it every day.

Emma always knew she would venture into entrepreneurship but she still worked in several industries including print media and marketing roles until she decided to launch her business by first creating an awareness around local African prints.
She launched her unique shoe making business after gaining access to lock prints like Woodin and GTP, both produced in Ghana.
Her mission is to provide employment to skillful artisans while the same time pushing the “Made in Africa” agenda.

Their foldable women’s shoes are made from premium leather soles as well as authentic African prints. The in-soles are extremely soft and prioritize comfort and the fabrics are all authentic pieces and do not fade after several washes. The shoes are machine and hand washable and dry within 3 to 4 hours. Because they’re foldable, they’re great for tucking away into a clutch purse, mini shoulder bag or handbag and are also packaged in mini shoe boxes which are great for presenting as gifts.

The Love African shoes are purposely made using Eco-friendly packaging that supports the “green” initiative as proof that quality, yet Eco-friendly products can emerge from Africa.

Love Ankara also retails men and women’s slides, beaded bags with ankara, jewelry boxes and other fashionable African accessories for the urban market.

Entrepreneurship is a journey and for us women, we often pride ourselves with being jugglers who perform the balancing act to almost near perfect, but entrepreneurship is challenging and will push you almost to the point of burnout so its important to also remember to pace yourself and schedule, as much as you can, and get much needed rest and relaxation.

In Fashion June 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Femi Olayebi Is Leading In The Nigerian Leather Space With Her Femi Handbags Brand

A translator turned designer and manufacturer, her entrepreneurial journey started in 1992 when she tried her hands at making a diaper bag for her first daughter.

Since then, she has poured all her energies into building her business, consistently pushing the boundaries and emerging as a leader in the Nigerian leather space.

Renowned for her statement, colour-drenched pieces, Femi has received several awards, and in 2013, her business became a case study for MBA students at the prestigious Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.

Nothing, absolutely nothing in her background had prepared her for the world of entrepreneurship and she did not have an entrepreneurial mindset as both parents were academics.

She learned all she needed to start up her business from books, as the Internet was barely three years old when she started and Google didn’t exist then. She kicked off as soon as she got tangible information and started with her friends and family as her first set of customers.

Success as they say, is 10% inspiration (creativity) and 90% perspiration (hard work), that failures, frustrations and setbacks are all part of the growth process and that very simply put, in spite of the curveballs that life may throw at you, you must keep showing up.”

In her words, “A major turning point along my journey was being selected in 2008 as one of the first set of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholars. This gave me the opportunity to attend an entrepreneurial programme at the Enterprise Development Centre in Lagos and undergo a business course for the very first time. After that, the ball started to roll and I was twice nominated to attend mentoring and networking programmes in the United States, where I job-shadowed some famous American handbag designers.”

“In 2010, I participated in my very first stand-alone international Accessories Show, Pure London. I felt the time had come to reposition my brand, and that led me to rename my line of leather handbags; Femi Handbags was born. Before long, my business became a case study for MBA students at the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

“In 2017, determined to change the landscape, I took the boldest step of my life and created the Lagos Leather Fair, a platform designed to promote Nigerian talent, tackle the industry challenges and begin to unlock the massive potential of the leather industry in Nigeria. With the support of the Bank of Industry, and a few other organisations, we were able to curate a massively successful, world class event. We have earned some recognition and been featured on local and international media, including CNN Marketplace Africa and BBC News Africa.”

2018, she opened her first flagship store in a high-end area of Lagos, showed on the runway at the Autumn/Winter edition of the London Fashion Week and have since participated at two editions of the Coterie trade show in New York at the invitation of SheTrades, a businesswomen’s empowerment initiative under the International Trade Centre (ITC) based in Switzerland.

Femi believes you are not successful until you have creates value in the lives of others.

Your team plays a very vital role in your business, and no matter how successful you become, you’re really nothing without your team.”

She enjoins entrepreneurs to work hard as much as they believe in their dreams. She believes in hard work, grit and tenacity as the key to success.

She said they must not be afraid to ask for help, but build a tribe on the way up, because at the end of the day relationships matter. That they must stay focused, stay curious, expand their mind and programme their mind to win, so they can develop a growth mindset and continue to thrive and grow.
Entrepreneurs must keep challenging themselves, never stop learning, keep building and preparing because, like they say, luck favours the prepared mind. They must seek to exceed expectations, and excel in all they do. And finally, they should trust the process, and remember always that good things take time.

In terms of the brand however, Femi Handbags has become much more than a handbag brand. It embodies the values of excellence and integrity to be cherished and has become a symbol and an expression of creativity, positivity and possibilities.

The brand sends out very clear messages and seeks to tell a powerful African story, change the negative narrative around ‘Made-In-Africa’ brands and shatter established stereotypes around African luxury.

In Inspiration June 21, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Mimi Shodeinde Is Pushing Creative Boundaries Through Her Groundbreaking Architecture And Design Business

Mimi Shodeinde is a British Nigerian artist, designer and entrepreneur, born and raised in London, Mimi’s passion for art was developed at a young age. Winning awards for her artwork she went on to complete her degree in Interior Architecture at Edinburgh.

She has worked and collaborated on a wide range of projects both nationally and internationally, from interior architectural projects, furniture design, lighting and product design spanning The UK, Europe, The Middle East and West Africa.

Mimi’s drafting and painting skills together with her artist’s eye allow her to break down the relationship between form and function where art and design intersect.

She draws on her diverse influences and background to manipulate the use of space through both form and placement defying categorization. Her style is fluid, sophisticated and functional but seeks to imbue each project with a personality of its own.

Consistency is key, love every moment of the journey, and don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back!

Mimi has a background in Fine Arts and had always been intrigued by painting and sketching at a young age, which served as a leverage to venture into interior architecture. Her keen interest in how interiors influenced the way people behave and interact with objects or a piece of furniture led her to create intriguing pieces that are quite different from what people are used to.

Her earliest form of inspiration came from her mother who was a fulltime business person and her father, who was a trained architect amidst other things. They instilled in her the value of hard work and the power of resilience, which are important values an entrepreneur should have.

As an entrepreneur, Mimi describes her greatest satisfaction in these words, “Seeing my ideas come to life. I feel peace when I see something that has worked perfectly, the way I imagined it in my mind. I still get surprised every time I walk into the studio. Taking something from sketch to reality isn’t always easy and there are many hurdles, tweaks & corrections needed to get to that final piece. Its hard work, but it’s so worth it!”

Miminat focuses on Interior Architecture & Design, Furniture, Lighting and Product Design and was established in 2015.

In Career Gems June 18, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Anto Lecky Launches “Edo Babes Are Fly” Initiative

To commemorate June 16th as International Day of the African Child, media personality and entrepreneur Munirat “Anto” Lecky has revealed plans to launch the Edo Babes Are Fly Initiative to promote girl child education, empowerment and skills acquisition, and reduce the rate of gender-based violence and sex trafficking in Edo State. Through her NGO, Anto Lecky alongside Musleehat Hamadu, plan to use the Edo Babes Are Fly Initiative to combat the many issues facing women from Edo State. Edo State is known as Nigeria’s capital for human trafficking, especially of young women and girls. According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), 94% of women trafficked to Europe from Nigeria are from Edo State.

To kick-off, the initiative is celebrating history made and history in the making by paying homage to great women who have shaped and are shaping Edo history and Nigeria at large with an educational tribute photoshoot featuring some favourites in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

These women include: Anto Lecky herself as Queen Idia, the Queen Mother and a cultural symbol of modern-day Nigeria; Jemima Osunde, Physiotherapist and Actress, as Princess Elizabeth Olowu, the first female bronze caster in Nigeria; Idia Aisien, Actor and TV Host, as Mabel Dorothy Segun, broadcaster, author, and first Nigerian woman to play table tennis; Arese Ugwu, Author and Executive Producer, as Osaretin Demuren, First Female Chairman of Guaranty Trust Bank; Vanessa “Vandora” Williams, TV Presenter and Influencer, as Prof. Lilian Salami, current and second female Chancellor of the University of Benin; Linda Osifo, Actress and Brand Ambassador, as Aisha Yesufu, socio-political activist and convener of Bring Back Our Girls Movement; Winfrey Dania Okolo, Media Personality and Lawyer, as Omosede Igbinedion, lawyer and youngest female member into the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives (Nigeria).

Anto Lecky says her initiative will celebrate Edo women both home and abroad who contribute immensely to the betterment of society and also spur the younger generation to attain greater heights. She noted that the tribute photo shoot is a reminder of the giant strides that women of Edo extraction have made, and continue to make.

“I’m inspired by the stories of all of these women we are paying tribute to, and my colleagues who were so earnest to be the muses for the project. All of these women are role models for girls around the world. We decided to pay homage to these women, while encouraging other Edo women that they are “fly”, and can soar above any stereotype” She said

She also revealed that the Edo Babes Are Fly initiative is one of the many works the Live Wire Project will be championing. “We plan to host impactful events on key days, and offer educational & skills acquisition resources.” “We hope to share the stories of survivors of sexual violence and trafficking. We also hope to partner with international organizations and to amplify the efforts of domestic organizations that need celebrity backing.” She further added.

Anto Lecky is not new to celebrating Nigerian and African women. She hosts a talk show on Ogelle Africa titled “She’s A Boss” celebrating African women who strive and thrive; and has paid tribute to some of her favorite women in the Nigerian entertainment industry on International Women’s Day.

connect with The Live Wire Project on Instagram @thelivewireproject or email livewireprojectng@gmail.com.

In Inspiration June 18, 2021 By Women of Rubies

#Interview | “My childhood Was The Training Ground For My Development”- Omoakin Olayinka

OmoAkin Olayinka Mercy is a luminary with life expectations and purposeful aim of supporting young adults to achieve result at the appropriate time.

She’s an advocate of The Great people foundation whose objective is to ensure that students and the less privilege on streets get back to school.

She is a trained and qualified teacher who studied business education in Adeniran Ogunsanya college of education. A trained Business Coach at My Branding Academy.

A certified public Speaker at TalkGenerals Training School and also a Certified Diction Coach at Right Sounds Institute.

She’s s competent Photographer,an Edutainer of MercyNub TVshow,On air personnel.

She’s excellent singer, a competent and certified diction coach,a relationship and career counselor,an inspirational citer with evidence and mind -blowing Testimonies.

She’s the founder of MercyNub Media Empire, also a Brand Visiblity Coach with the aim making Brands to be known,seen and heard all over the universe.

She is highly skilled in enterprenuership with excellent initiatives aspect (MercyNub Media),also a privileged member of young African leaders initiative( YALI Network team) which stands for innovating of ideas around business management in order to create prosperous lasting solutions and impact in the environment.

She shares her story with us in this interview.

Childhood Preparation

Yes I was prepared, My childhood was a training ground because parents were not available to nurture me but my Grandmother did. She spent her last kobo to make sure I have good Education and also to express a global Mind. Blessed Memories to her as well.

Inspiration behind MercyNub

MercyNub media was an inspiration got from my love for Photograph because it is an uncommon field. I’m a Photographer.

Being a Visibility Coach

Being a Brand Visibility Coach, It has restored many lives and birth initiatives.

Great People Foundation

Great people Foundation has existed 6 years ago. It is a graced platform that have saved lives in order to have equal Education with the Elite. It is an international platform.

How I manage my Feat

Time management is the seed that germinates to Success. I do tie my activities with dates and time . I have time table.

My perception of branding & visibility

Branding is a taste of how you want us to perceive and Buy You. So as a Brand Visibility Coach, my niche is to ensure that your product, value or content gets a Global recognition by embracing Media Appearance.

Challenges

At times busy schedules may hinder my effectiveness.

Other Projects

Music Ministry,TALKshows and Adult Literacy.

3 Women who Inspire Me and Why

Mrs Ibunkunoluwa Awosika, She’s a woman that births good deliveries.

b. Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, she never gave up on her dreams. Now the richest female.

c. Mrs Iweala Ngozi, She has proven that a woman can get to any length in life despite her background.

Nuggets on how to become a successful Public Speaker

From my own School of thought, we’re all public Speakers. Because as a successful Person ,The Microphone will get to you one day to come share your Success Story to motivate others so everyone should embrace Personal Development cause it’s the key to master one’s craft.

Being a Woman of Rubies

I’m a woman of Rubies because I’m priceless being designed by God, I’m born to lead and Dominate, I have a higher and Success Voice and I forever say No to Status Quo.

Facebook: Omoakin ola Mercy

1G: MercyNub Media

WhatsApp: 08098014636.

In Fashion June 18, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Temilade Adegbite Is Impacting lives In The Society By Making Shoes For School Kids Who Cannot Afford One

Shoes perform the dual function of making a fashion statement and protecting our delicate feet from dirt and dust. It is without doubt that I say that everyone loves great shoes that both look good and feel great.
Sadly, for many school kids in Nigeria, having such shoes is simply not an option, and when it is an option, it is a luxury for them. The desire to make a remarkable impact in the lives of these Nigerian school children, coupled with intense passion for making beautiful shoes led Temilade Adegbite, an entrepreneur shoemaker to launch Right Legs shoe business.

Temilade who didn’t come from an entrepreneurial background was inspired to launch into entrepreneurship due to her personal problems with finding shoes that fit her big foot. As she grew older, it became a challenge as it became more difficult getting the designs she wanted for my size. She found out through a survey she carried out that a lot of other people face her dilemma and she acted on the thought that prompted her into learning shoemaking craft and produce designs that are inclusive of all sizes.

Temilade sees building a business that produces bespoke shoes for customers as a means to contributing to the society at a social impact level, using her expertise to produce shoes for those kids that don’t have and cannot afford them.

This is why the goal of Right Legs is centered around catering to big-footed customers and supporting poor kids with good footwear to wear to school. And as a standard policy, 5% on the price of every set of footwear bought by customers goes towards the making of school shoes for kids that can’t afford to buy them.

Beyond the profit, her greatest satisfaction as an entrepreneur comes from being able to solve the problem of access to footwear in different sizes. Another satisfaction comes from being able to create great shoes from raw materials, producing something that is both beautiful and practical and that everyone wants on their feet.
Temilade also enjoys the pleasure of creating shoes for Nigerian future leaders.

Her personal experience is the best piece of advice she can give to every intending business owner, it is simply:

Find the need and solve the problem.

In Inspiration June 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib Is Helping Mothers Ease The Joy Of Motherhood By Providing Them With Natural Baby Care Solutions

Often the most successful brands and products are created out of a personal experience or a market need. For Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib, she was inspired to create her business and product range for both of these reasons with the birth of her triplets and the need to find great natural skincare products for her new arrivals.

When you are a mother to triplets, you have first hand knowledge of just what babies need when it comes to natural skincare, and that is certainly the case with Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib, founder of Amal Botanicals Baby Care who has a wealth of personal experience, essential consumer insights into what moms want for their delicate babies, and the passion to create a brand that can deliver.

Start from where you are and have a bigger outlook of where you want to be.

Amal Baby Care products are made from natural ingredients which have anti-inflammatory properties and have been tested and proven to relief dry skin, eczema, cradle cap, diaper rash and other skin inflammation, especially in babies.

Coming from being a chartered accountant and tax administrator to becoming an entrepreneur has been a very interesting journey for Zuwaira who has zero background in entrepreneurship. She had to learn entrepreneurship and is still learning on the never-ending journey. With entrepreneurship, Zuwaira has had to do lots of things and have been afraid and alone. With lots of mistakes on the journey from sourcing wrong machines to wrong purchase of raw materials leading to big loss for the company in millions, but she survived it all and pulled through.

She finds utmost joy and satisfaction in caring for other babies just like how she cared for her beautifully born premature triplets and helping other mothers ease the joy of motherhood by providing them with Natural Baby Care Solutions.

The simple entrepreneurial advice that has helped her scale through the initial hurdles of her business is “start with what you have no matter how little. Start from where you are and have a bigger outlook of where you want to be. Continue to put in the work daily and reinvest into the business.”

In Inspiration June 23, 2021 By Women of Rubies

Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro Is Bringing Positive Changes To The Lives Of Rural Women In Nigeria And Ghana Through Her Social Entrepreneurship Business

Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro is a Computer Scientist turned Social Entrepreneur. She is also the Founder and CEO of MitiMeth, an award-winning Social Enterprise transforming waste and building livelihoods through the transformation of water hyacinth, typha grass, banana bark, coconut shells and bamboo culms into useful, aesthetic products.

Her passion lies in rethinking, designing and producing unique home décor, art décor, gifts, stationery, baskets, fashion accessories, dining-ware and rope from these environmental menaces and agricultural residues.

Achenyo discovered water hyacinth which has been a persistent aquatic weed infestation problem in Nigeria and saw that as an opportunity to practically express her message on converting waste into something beneficial. It wasn’t difficult for her to choose crafts because it requires less capital to start and the technicalities involved are minimal. She thought it was a wise move to start small, have physical, marketable products and have economic proof that would serve as motivation to people who want to learn how to transform the waste in their environment to substantial and beneficial products.

Along the entrepreneurial journey, set realistic expectations. Disappointment is a given and so are detours. Being resilient and agile are essential attributes to have as an entrepreneur.

With over NGN17M in wages transferred to 100+ home-based Artisans, MitiMeth is impacting lives and the environment for good and has received recognition and favourable coverage from organizations

They have received accolades including the 2015 Tony Elumelu Foundation Award, the 2014 Cartier Women’s Initiative Award, the 2013 YouWIN Award, the 2013 Local Raw Materials Content Award.

As an entrepreneur, Achenyo has learned several valuable lessons on the journey to significance and impact at MitiMeth. Here are some of the valuable lessons:

For those who want to embark on the entrepreneurial journey or who are already on the journey, weigh your options carefully. Think through them, reach a decision and stick with it. Know your risk tolerance levels and take a calculated risk. Be confident and just do it! You do not want to look back several years down the line and wish regretfully that you should have done it.
Prepare for the journey. Research the idea, solicit advice as to the potential of your business idea from as many sources as possible: friends, family, colleagues, business associates, or any industry specialists you may have access to. Map the trip (write a business plan, apply to incubators, join network organizations and events, embark on professional development and training, “give-away” services and sample products, form partnerships, assemble the right team).
Enjoy the journey. Pace your business and don’t run ahead of yourself either due to peer pressure or ill-informed advice. Don’t drive more miles than your business is capable of handling.
Refuel along the way and don’t allow your tank to get dangerously low. Retreat every now and then to rejuvenate. Self-care is important. Make stops along the way to make sure you are still on the right track (take stock and evaluate the business to ensure you are meeting objectives and you are working towards the vision and mission of the business).
Celebrate your achievements.
Know that there’ll be unanticipated diversions along the way (like a change in government policy, a recession, a pandemic etc). Identify those potential threats to your business (your SWOT analysis) and devise ways to mitigate the impacts. Don’t panic or get overworked about the diversions. Make the most of the “distractions”. Focus on the positives by making lemonade out of lemons!
Take it all in.

From inception to date, MitiMeth has trained over 400 women from communities across Nigeria and Ghana to make eco-friendly home décor and lifestyle products from these natural fibres. She is passionate about creating employment opportunities through sustainable textiles and accessories from renewable materials.

In Food June 14, 2021 By Women of Rubies

The Musonda Sisters Put Zambia On The Global Map With Their Indigenous Chocolate Company

Passion is one of the key ingredients to building any successful business and brand. And, in the world of artisan chocolate making, it is one of the Savanna Premium Chocolate brand’s strongest assets, thanks to founders Chiinga Musonda and Lynn Musonda Phiri.

Chiinga has previously worked in banking with JP Morgan Chase and UBS in NYC. Most recently, she worked with the scientific publisher / information services provider Elsevier in The Netherlands. She also has an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics and in Computer Science from Smith College in the USA.

Lynn, the second half of the company, previously worked for the Zambia Telecommunications company. She is currently pursuing an MBA in International Business and has a BA with honors in Business Studies with Marketing from University of Greenwich.

These two sisters have a tracked record of different previous work settings, but nothing beats the passion which drove them to produce chocolates. The pleasure they derived from eating chocolates right from childhood and also the joy on the faces of loved ones when gifted chocolates were enough to fuel their passion and kickstart the journey.

Today, we have Savanna Chocolates because two sisters in love with chocolates decided to recreate the standard in Zambia.

As expected from an Indigenous manufacturing company, the duo absolutely love the support they are getting from the Zambian community. Chiinga and Lynn learned pretty quickly that this is not about them manufacturing chocolate in their beloved country, Zambia but that they are building a Zambian brand and the people want to engage with the brand in help to make it the best it can be.

The invaluable feedback received from their community has helped them improve in packaging designs and even in the chocolate flavors.
The excitement they get when their customers purchase their products and then share their feedback on social media cannot be contained as these positive feedback in turn motivates them to keep improving their products.

Chocolate letters, a product of Savanna Premium Chocolate

They take pride in the fact that their chocolates are made from carefully selected single origin cocoa beans to preserve the flavors of the country of origin. They are constantly improving on their chocolate making process to ensure that consumers get premium quality chocolates.

What makes their chocolates different from others is that they sell handcrafted chocolates and chocolate products that are made from natural ingredients with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no preservatives.

“Start before you are ready”. If you have a business idea, don’t wait until you feel you are ready. Just start and with every step that you make, it will become clear what you need to do and you will learn what needs to be done. The product or service may not be perfect in the beginning but you can keep improving as you build. By starting you will get invaluable feedback that you need to grow or make adjustments to your idea. The more momentum you build the more you will see your dream become reality,” are their final words to women who have a business idea they’re afraid to launch.