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Career Gems

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Singer, Waje, took to her Instagram page to pen some sweet words to celebrate her industry colleague and best friend, Omawumi who turned who turned 36 today. She wrote:
‘I met her in 2009 and we connected immediately, so many years, many fights, many tears and laughter, yab and hailings…husband, children and so many beautiful things I thank God for cos you are an example of that virtuous woman who burns her candle while everyone is asleep.
I learn daily from you. Never afraid to tell me the truth. You’ve taught me so much and i love you more than you KNOW. My sister, ore, enyim. Welcome to the new phase of your life, the Lord has lifted you. Sing and dance cos the gates of hell shall not prevail against you, the Lord shall keep his angels charge over you.
Happy birthday to you my sister. I love you darling. Friends till the end!

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has designated children’s rights activist and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, as a UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education.

Guterres, at a ceremony at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, praised Malala for her contributions to girls’ education even in the most difficult places.

“You have been to the most difficult places, visited several refugee camps. Your foundation has schools in Lebanon, in the Beka’a Valley. You are a symbol of perhaps, the most important thing in the world, ‘education for all’,” the Secretary-General said.

Guterres, while conferring the highest UN award on her, said Yousafzai’s life was “a remarkable example of solidarity”.

“Yet, Pakistan was also such an example. We live in a world where so many borders closed; so many doors are closed. But Pakistan has received seven million refugees with open borders, open doors and hearts – open a symbol of generosity,” he said.

Guterres said he hoped “this spirit can serve as an example that it is not by closing doors that we will all be able to move forward”.

Accepting the conferment, Yousafzai, 19, underscored the importance of education, especially education of girls, for advancing communities and societies.

“Bringing change starts with us and it should start now. If you want to see your future bright, you have to start working now and not wait for anyone else,” she said.

UN Messengers of Peace are distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the UN.

Backed by the highest honour bestowed by the Secretary-General on a global citizen, these prominent personalities volunteer their time, talent and passion to raise awareness of UN’s efforts to improve the lives of billions of people everywhere.

After her designation, Guterres, Yousafzai and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, conversed with youth representatives from around the world on the theme of girls’ education.

Malala Yousafzai and UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed. Photo Credit: UN

Malala, in her remarks, said the most difficult time she faced had been from 2007 to 2009 in the Swat Valley.

“Because we were at a point of making a decision about whether to speak out or remain silent. And I realized that if you remain silent, you are still going to be terrorized. So speaking out, you can help people,” she said.

Malala,  who was shot in 2012 by the Taliban for attending classes, is the youngest-ever UN Messenger of Peace and the first one to be designated by Guterres since he assumed office in January.

She said while recovering from the Taliban attack, she realized that “extremists tried everything to stop me and the fact that they didn’t is clear evidence that no one can stop me.

“I have second life for the purpose of education and I’ll continue working on this issue”.

Malala went on to say that brothers and fathers must also support women and girls in the global effort to ensure education for all and, more importantly, “be who they want to be”.

According to her, her father always told people not to ask him what he “did for Malala, but ask what I didn’t do – I didn’t clip her wings”.

Source: Bellanaija

Pastor Nike Adeyemi is a year older today!

Renowned photographer TY Bello shared a couple of Nike’s beautiful portraits on her Instagram page captioning them:

PASTOR NIKE ADEYEMI: THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS OF FIFTY
I remember my first encounter with the ministry of @nikeadeyemi and her husband Sam Adeyemi of @daystarng. I must have been about 13 years old at the time .. It wasnt called Daystar at the time ..but I remember going to the Casino cinema in Yaba for their conferences.It was there.. I saw for the first time …the Greek language being used to further break down scripture . It was so over my head at the time .. but it stuck.. I’m constantly looking at new ways to understand words better.. it’s made me somewhat a little ‘breaker-downer’ when I’m studying.

About Three decades later ..say about six years ago ..I remember bumping into her at the airport . I mustered up the courage … and whispered .. My Name Is TY Bello .. I wonder why I’ve never photographed you.. I’d be so delighted to ..she was so pleasant and we exchanged numbers .. Nothing dramatic happened as a result of my bold move .. well .not until these many years later. The timing was perfect .. I was so happy to see her in front of my lens just because I took a bold step and made conversation. A seed was sown for sure .
Many times we take risks..Go out of our way to learn something new or introduce ourselves to someone .. and we don’t feel like we walked away with anything .. We actually did something more important .. we sowed seeds into the future.. into our learning experiences.. and those seeds become something.. ..well ..eventually.

@nikeadeyemi was worth the risk. She was a joy to photograph.. a beautiful woman in every way and absolutely inspiring too . The words and prayers she spoke over us during the shoot are so priceless .and I’m so happy we made images that truly represented her essence . Happy 50th birthday Ma. May every day of your jubilee year be filled with rejoicing .Thanks for bringing your refreshing colors to our lives .Im grateful #tybellophotography #50thbirthday #portrait #beauty #hairby @bernardsmiless and our God sent @hairwearenig.. # makeup by meekness for @ravishinmakeup #styled by the amazing @s_b_youme.. Girl you did magic once again. Hope you’re enjoying Thailand . Thanks for moving your flight for this .

See photos below!

Photo Credit: Instagram | @tybello


The New African Woman magazine has released the nominees’ list for the second edition of its New African Woman Awards.

We are so excited with this list because it’s another opportunity to celebrate women who are making a positive impact in their various fields of endeavour… and because our Founder/CEO Uche Pedro was nominated in the New African Woman in Media category. YAY!

Uche and CNN‘s Zain Ejiofor Asher were among the nominees in that category.

Chosen in 12 categories, 68 groundbreaking women made the final list which will now be adjudicated by a special panel of judges, and the winners in each category will be announced on April 12, 2017 at a Gala Dinner in Dakar, Senegal.

The second edition of the New African Woman Forum (NAW Forum) is scheduled to hold in Dakar, Senegal, on the 12th and 13th of April 2017.

The new UN Deputy Secretary-General, Nigeria’s Amina J. Mohammed, nominated in two categories – Politics and Woman of the Year, Executive Director of UN Women, South Africa’s Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Somalia’s first female presidential candidate Fadumo Dayib, Gambia’s doyen of democratic change, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, South African former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, first female FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura (Senegal) are some of the names that made the final list from the thousands of nominations received.

Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o, South African Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya, Nigerian comedy prodigy Emmanuella Samuel also made the nominees’ list.

Organised by the pan-African bi-monthly, New African Woman magazine, the Awards – which celebrate and honour exceptional African women who have made a positive impact and contributions in their communities and the continent at large, in the past 12 months – will take place on the eve of the New African Woman Forum, which takes place at Dakar’s Terrou-Bi Hotel on April 13 2017.

The New African Woman Awards and Forum, first held in London in March last year, under the theme “Changing The Game”, were born from the ethos that launched New African Woman magazine nine years ago: to boldly and positively highlight, share and represent African women’s issues, on the premise that women are an indispensable element in Africa’s growth story, and to celebrate the women contributing to that change.

See the full list of nominees below:

New Africa Woman in Business

Jennifer Riria – Kenya

Madjiguene Sock – Senegal

Dr Nathalie Beatrice Chinje – Cameroon

Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch – Morocco

Tabitha Karanja – Kenya

Phuti Mahanyele – South Africa

New African Woman in Politics

Fadumo Q. Dayib – Somalia

Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang – Gambia

Nayé Anna Bathily – Senegal

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – South Africa

Monique Mukuna – DR Congo

Amina J. Mohammed

Nigeria New African Woman in Education

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka – DR Congo

Oley Dibba-Wadda – Côte d’Ivoire

Graça Machel – Mozambique

Tsitsi Masiyiwa – Zimbabwe

Prof Unoma Ndili Okorafor – Nigeria

Rapelang Rabana – South Africa

New African Woman in Science

Anne Wanjohi – Kenya

Prof Aminata Sall Diallo – Senegal

Dr Helena Ndume – Namibia

Jessica O. Mathews – Nigeria

Dr Ola Orekunrin – Nigeria

Dr Tebello Nyokong – South Africa

New African Woman in Finance

Binta Touré Ndoye – Togo

Bola Adesola – Nigeria

Lamyaa Gadelhak – Egypt

Stella Kilonzo – Kenya

Viola Llewellyn – Cameroon

Evelyne Tall-Daouda – Senegal

New African Woman in Agriculture

Mame Khary Diene – Senegal

Maria Andrade – Mozambique

Kambou Lydie Rachel – Côte d’Ivoire

Rahab Kariuki – Kenya

Rose Funja – Tanzania

Tumusiime Rhoda Peace – Uganda

New African Woman in Media

Amira Yahyaoui – Tunisia

Eloïne Barry – Guinea

Gina Din-Kariuki – Kenya

Uche Pedro – Nigeria (YAY!)

Zain Ejiofor Asher – Nigeria

Rokhaya Diallo – Senegal

New African Woman in Sports

Caster Semenya – South Africa

Diknesh Tamiru – Ethiopia

Fatma Samoura – Senegal

Isha Tejan-Cole Johansen – Sierra Leone

Tegla Loroupe – Kenya

Vivian Cheruiyot – Kenya

New African Woman in Arts & Culture

Aïssa Dione – Senegal

Esther Mahlangu – South Africa

Lupita Nyong’o – Kenya

Olfa Terras Rambourg – Tunisia

Sophie Zinga – Senegal

Joan Okorodudu – Nigeria

New African Woman in Civil Society

Theresa Kachindamoto – Malawi

Francine Furaha Muyumba – DR Congo

Hadiza Bala Usman – Nigeria

Salimata Lam – Mauritania

Theo Sowa – Ghana

Zainab Hawa Bangura – Sierra Leone

New African Woman on the Rise

Botlhale Boikanyo – South Africa

Emmanuella Samuel – Nigeria

Rebeca Gyumi – Tanzania

Ndeye Fatou Njie – Gambia

Vivian Onano – Kenya

Sonia Mezzour – Morocco

Warsan Shire – Somalia

Jaha Dukureh – The Gambia

New African Woman of the Year

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Nigeria

Fadumo Dayib – Somalia

Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang  – Gambia

Madjiguene Sock – Senegal

Thuli Madonsela – South Africa

Amina J. Mohammed – Nigeria

Miss World 2001 and fashion entrepreneur Agbani Darego  married her longtime love Ishaya Danjuma in Marrakesh, Morocco yesterday.

Ishaya is the son of General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma and is actively involved in his family business while Agbani helms her eponymous ready-to-wear denim and leisurewear fashion company.

The couple’s wedding was intimate and beautiful…just how they wanted it. Agbani wore a classic sheath wedding dress with a stunning low back while Ishaya wore a classic grey suit.

Congrats to the lovely couple.

Source: Bellanaija

Twenty-two year old Horcelie Sinda Wa Mbongo discovered at 11, she was HIV positive from birth.

She won the 2017 Edition of Miss Congo UK and plans to return to Congo to carry on campaigning on HIV and AIDS.

“I’m happy I’ve won at least something in my life. My story has warmed people’s hearts and that’s the most important thing,” she says.

Horcelie, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is studying for a fine arts degree in London.

 

Source: Bellanaija

“You cannot date until you get married.”

Born to strict Nigerian parents, Yvonne Orji was determined to get married and intimate at 18 but her enthusiasm was diminished by her friends’ low expectations of sex. After getting “bamboozled by Jesus” in college, today Yvonne is a 33-year-old virgin. Suddenly her parents want her to meet someone.

Yvonne gives 5 suggestions for finding love – regardless of your beliefs, values and choices because when you find the right person, the wait is worth it.

Yvonne Orji is a Nigerian-American actress, comedienne and writer who continues to display her versatility and passion with each project she takes on. On television, she stars in HBO’s new comedy series “Insecure”. The show follows the friendship of two modern-day black women and all of their uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations.

Orji stars as one of these women opposite Issa Rae, who is executive producing the show along with Prentice Penny and Melina Matsoukas. She is also currently developing a half-hour sitcom, based on her life entitled “First Gen”, that Oprah and David Oyelowo are executive producing. The show is a comedy about a Nigerian girl who trades medical school for a career in stand-up comedy and the adventures that ensue after her strict African mother discovers her plans.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

source: Bellanaija

Ifeoma, star student, winner of the national Selma speech and essay competition, athlete, volunteer and student government president of Morris Hills High School, New Jersey, who also aces her advanced classes like they’re nothing, said, about applying to all 8 schools:

“I want to go into global health and study biology and so many of them have great research facilities, so I was like, I might as well just shoot my shot and apply.”

She says, of when she got the eighth acceptance letter:

“I was like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, like this might be eight out of eight and I clicked it and it said ‘Congratulations’ and I was like oh my goodness!”

“I got into Harvard early action so I figured I’ll just go there, so then I got into all the others and I was like, wait now I don’t know where I want to go.”

Andre and Patricia White-Thorpe, Ifeoma’s father and mother, are leaving the decision of which school to pick up to their really, really smart daughter.

(Photo: TAPinto)

(Photo: TAPinto)

The decision might just be easier than she thinks, as she may likely be attending the school which grants her a scholarship:

“At this point none of the schools I’ve applied to said they give merit scholarships, so I’m praying that they give me some more financial aid or some money, shout out to all of those schools, please give me something.”

This is a phenomenal achievement that has only happened to only four other people in recent history: Kwasi Enin in 2014, Harold Ekeh in 2015 and Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna and Kelly Hyles last year.

Of the five students to achieve this feat, three of them are Nigerian and we couldn’t be more proud

(Photo: TAPinto)

Source: bin

American music superstar, Beyonce has been the most influential celebrity as her Instagram posts have been estimated to worth One Million Dollars each by photo-sharing website, D’Marie Analytics.

Using an algorithm that measures 56 metrics across Facebook, Twitter amd Instagram, Time.com determined the music star’s value. Those metrics include the followers count as well as reach, engagement, click through and action conversations.

Chief Executive of D’Marie, Frank Spadafora said Beyonce’s “limited” use of social media had boosted her earning power:

Her limited release of exclusive curated content causes such frenzy from her audience

A ready example of Beyonce’s popularity is when she announced earlier this year on Instagram that she is expecting twins. That post attracted 6,335,571 likes within eight hours, subsequently breaking the record for the most-like picture on the website.

The picture which held the previous record was Selena Gomez‘ post where she was sipping from a Coca-Cola bottle which gathered 6.6 million likes.

Photo Credit: Instagram – @beyonce

Source: Bellanaija

Women of Rubies (WOR) is a reputable capacity building and inspirational online magazine for the celebration of women of substance in the society, with a weekly publication in the Guardian Newspaper.   It is believed that women are nurturers by nature and when these women nurture their God-given abilities, the world is better for it. It is on this basis that Women of Rubies and  Rubies Ink Initiative for women and children is planning an empowerment forum for women in the grassroots that are often neglected and forgotten. This workshop will kick off on the 7th of April at the Yaba Lcda and will take place in several Local Government Areas across Lagos. The theme for the workshop is “Sensitising Grassroots Women on Domestic Abuse and Lifestyle Issues”.

According to the Founder / Editor-in-chief of women of Rubies, Esther Ijewere; the workshop is in its second phase as we kicked off in August 2016, it will be an impactful learning experience for women at the grassroots, as we are collaborating with different Local Government to address the following issues:

Knowledge acquisition on domestic abuse – In addition, they will also learn to speak up when faced with domestic abuse. Women have the capacity to solve problems and influence decisions.  They will be equipped on how to utilize these decisions at crucial times as the girl child is dependent on this knowledge as a guide when she becomes a lady, mother and even a grandmother.

Lifestyle issues – We present to you a platform aimed at providing an avenue for women at the grass root level to exchange ideas and equip them on how to grow their businesses, support their families and create a better future for their children.

Savings Culture – The workshop would teach them on how to access business loans and proper saving culture in order to empower them financially.  When the woman is empowered the society becomes empowered.

Timeline of Event:

Date: 7th of April

1st Workshop : Yaba Lcda , Panti Busstop, Yaba​

Date: 13th of April

2nd Workshop :

​Igando- ​

Ikotun Lcda

​ , Ikotun ​.

Date: 19th o April

3rd Workshop & Venue:  Kosofe Lcda

​, Ogudu​

Date: 24th of April

4th Workshop: ​Ikeja Local Government Area

Time for all workshop: 10a.m

The event is endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Supported by: Power Oil, Guardian Newspaper, Wfm91.7, Bellanaija, Channels, Goldmyne T​V​ and TVC

Log on to www.womenofrubies.com for more information.

See pictures from previous edition here : http://womenofrubies.com/2017/01/13/photos-women-of-rubies-grassroots-women-sensitization-workshop/