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Toyin Lawani is  a serial entrepreneur  and also well known as a celebrity stylist through her fashion outfit Tiannah’s place . She is also into hmanitarian services and support, empowering young women and men who she trains to become selfmade

In a recent  interview with  she reveals how she empowered two disabled sisters to become self-made. She and  one the girls named Gladys are the cover girls for the latest edition of Lamode Magazine February isse.

On her Humanitarian work

I just Love giving because I believe when you give you will receive. Everything in Life is a risk but when I help I feel fulfilled. For example one of the student I trained Her name Gladys she was deaf and dumb but she has a skill of sewing so I trained her till she became the best in what she does and also her sister Mercylyn she was deaf and dumb too so I trained her in the field she was good in which is Making of different type of wigs and braids all my colorful braids and wigs you see was done by her she was so good at it with the platform I helped them with and also don’t forget the boy I picked up from the street his name is Lekan who use to be a street boy doing minor works on the street of VI to carter for his grandma a lot of people were talking why I picked him up or try to help him and I don’t know I know what I see so I gave him a helping hand. I adopted him and took care of him trained him as a stylist so he would have a means of livelihood and am proud of him.

 

On Humanitarian activities In Nigeria

Humanitarian services, to our society are an inevitable task of every business owner/ entity. Your ability to be adjudge successful in life is a factor of how positively impactful you have been to others in your society. Successful business owner(s)/ entities are not doing enough to alleviate the suffering of the masses in a populated country like Nigeria, rather modern day exploitation for more gains dominates the space. Well-meaning individuals and successful organizations should evolve a wealth creation strategy infused in their yearly business strategy with the sole desire of empowering teeming populace, through their corporate social responsibility platform, to help start up their business in various areas of interest. If we are actively committed to this project, the living standard of the populace will improve and Government will be able to administer limited resources infrastructural development

READ ALSO : 9 Nigerian Female Photographers making us proud

On her advice for people who want to start a career in fashion designing & Entrepreneurs

First of all you have to be able to work under pressure, you must be a good leader and be a good example to your followers, you must know the crafts be good in what you do, and handwork and consistency is the major Key of been successful in what you do, you have to be willing to go extra hard to get what you want and don’t let anybody talk you down from been what you want to be Yes you can pray for what you want and thank God for what you have

Solange Knowles rocks some Norma Kamali coats on the cover of Elle magazine’s March 2017 issue!

Here’s an excerpt from the Interview:

On growing up in a house with two of the three Destiny’s Child members

My sister and Kelly Rowland were the same age, which is like a built-in best friend in the house; they were extremely close. Writing felt like this insular thing that I could go back in my room and express all that I would observe, all the emotions that would arise. It felt like mine, my little thing.

On raising her son in Moscow, Idaho, while still in her teens

It was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life because I was so in love with Julez, and having spent a lot of time on the road, I yearned to be in one place, to have the opportunity to really ground myself with him. But it was isolating and lonely, and so cold and dark. And it was just Julez and me most of the time. It was hard to imagine being able to progress in my career in any way.

On her album, Seat at the Table

I did want to create this juxtaposition, politically, of having these very hard, messy conversations but having them stylistically in a way that you can really hear me, and not the yelling, the rage, I wanted to project in my delivery what I was not achieving at all: peace and having a certain lightness and airiness that could maybe help me get closer to having more light and airiness in my life.

As the year 2017 says goodbye to January, Faithia BALOGUN has a lot to celebrate already, in addition to her birthday tomorrow the fifth of February.

The Nollywood icon revealed that she was embarking on projects different from what we are used to. In a statement today, she said ” I’m redefining my brand to also accommodate other scripts outside of the Yoruba movies plethora, I have the pleasure of working with brands like Kunle Afolayan in the new movie with Kate Henshaw and I’m excited for you guys to see projects like that. I’m also interested in empowering young girls through a series of projects I’m working on (details coming) with some great people so 2017 is looking fantastic already”.

When we asked if we are going to see any productions from her this year, she told us to just watch the space and to that we say, bring it on….

 

The Nigerian author has given us countless, cackle-worthy gems via her blog AwesomelyLuvvie.com, and it looks like her humor and candid wisdom will be making its way to television.

Shonda Rhimes‘ production company, Shondaland and ABC Signature Studios have acquired the rights to Luvvie’s New York Time’s Best Seller I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual with plans to adapt the book into a CABLE comedy series.

Shonda has been a long time fan of Luvvie, and appreciates her wit and insight just as much as the rest of us.

The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, through the Asst. Director Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri, on Monday, called on mothers, women groups and high-powered government organizations, increase efforts towards total eradication of female genital mutilation.

She made the call in Alausa, Ikeja, while interacting with newsmen on the occasion of the 2017 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

 

The first lady of Lagos state said:  “It is surprising that 45 out of every 100 adult women living in Lagos State have undergone FGM at one time or another as reported in the National Demographic Health Survey 2013.

“This is largely due to migration from those states where the prevalence in much higher.”

Speaking further, she disclosed that FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometimes between infancy and age 15, and this causes much bleeding and health issues which include but not limited to cysts, infections, infertility, as well as complications and even death in some cases.

Mrs. Ambode noted further that it was erroneous and misleading to tie the gruesome procedure to family honour, hygiene, fertility, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity.

She called for massive public awareness campaigns and concrete action against the practice.

She contended that only when mothers began to raise their voices against the act and governments initiated strong legislation, could we begin to race toward total eradication of the wicked practice in Africa and the world come 2030.

FGM is inextricably linked with other forms of gender inequality, such as violence against women and girls, and other harmful practices such as early and forced marriages.

February 6 of every year has been set aside by the United Nations as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

Model/TV presenter is taking 2017 by storm, and she wants the world to know it!

On Zen Magazine’s February 2017 cover, she channels her inner warrior princess.

Here’s a sneak peek into what’s coming in the soon-to-be released mag:

On Zen Magazine’s cover for the month of February is Nigerian-Cameroonian model and TV host, Idia Aisien, who has made an indelible mark in the fashion industry.

From doing commercials for LAN Airlines and campaigns for Black Opal, BMW Nigeria, Nivea and Sway Hair, to gracing the catwalks for the likes of Maki Oh, Ituen Basi, Deola Sagoe, Lanre Da Silva, Danny Nguyen and so many others, she is one model who always brings something new to the table.

Styled in tribal queen attire, the cover model, Idia Aisien, is absolutely glowing on our Feb/Mar cover. Adorned in jewelry from Le Reve Pieces, Idia makes a positively radiant statement with her lightly bronzed, natural face and embolden feminine warrior princess look.

Currently a talk show host on “Style 101” and “You Got Issues”, Idia sits with the editor this month to discuss how she got into modeling and opens up about the life of a Talk show host.

Photo Credits :

Photographer: Emmanuel Oyeleke

Styling: I-the-stylist

Makeup: Anita Brows
J

ewelry: Le Reve Pieces

 

As the world commemorates World Cancer Day, we join hands together with everyone who has felt the blight of this horrible disease. We continue to hope for a cure and pray that this scourge will be eliminated.

As a community, Women of Rubies chooses to join the fight against cancer and its deadly effects. In that light, we are proud to announce that On Air Personality, Adenike Oyetunde is launching Amputees United – an initiative to provide support for amputees.

Adenike is a cancer survivor who continues to live her life like it’s golden. We shared her story in 2016. {Click here if you missed it} Adenike lost her right limb as a result of cancer but she has managed to live a full and wholesome life – inspiring people daily through her story.

Through Amputees United, she plans to provide support to amputees. She writes about life has been in the 11 years since her diagnosis and the amputation of her right limb.
***
It has been eleven full years of living without the use of my natural right limb. And I’m wondering what if?

Honestly, I guess you’re wondering if I ever just hoped it all never happened.

I had, earlier on in my journey asked, what if? What if it never happened? What if it was all a dream, a very scary one too.

Yes, I had wished it was a dream. I had prayed to be woken up from that dream, but that hasn’t happened; at least not yet. I’m never shy of stating that. Oh please, don’t come at me with your ‘Christianese’. I miss my leg. I wish they were still together. I wish my hour glass frame *sneezes* was all together coordinated…See shape now!

What if, I never had to undergo the gruesome experience during chemotherapy?

What if my hair never had to fall?

What if my mum didn’t have to be humiliated, because, this one neighbor had made fun of her only child having one leg now?

What if I didn’t have to meet that one scary doctor, who I still believe may have had an interesting fetish, where all his girlfriends have one condition or the other? He clearly wanted to add me to his list.

What if I did I didn’t have to burden my friends to always pick me up, or drop me off after classes?

What if everyone didn’t have to scream at me, the first day I got on a bike?

What if the doctor who told me it was cancer, had been just a little nicer?



What if I didn’t have to watch my dad (my hero) cry, after we were informed?

What if we didn’t have to believe the hospitals weren’t sure with the diagnosis?

What if I didn’t have to waste so much time, and money moving from place to place, hoping the solution will come?

What if we didn’t have to finally see my leg get as large as a basketball, simply because we refused to amputate it?

What if we had the money to fly me abroad? Would my leg have been saved?


What if the government provided subsidized cancer treatments, and we didn’t run out of money as a family?

What if I didn’t need blood transfusion and that ex didn’t say no to donating blood?

What if it didn’t cost so much to have a limb made for me in Nigeria?

What if these limbs were as good as they look, at least, a number of them, now; back when I needed one?

What if I wasn’t denied access into banking halls, because of my prosthetic leg?

What if I didn’t get the stares, I didn’t get the many questions?

What if I didn’t get the – are you sure you will get married like this? Can you get pregnant?

What if I didn’t have to wear an attachment daily – my limb?

What if, after eleven years, I wasn’t just tired of wearing my limb?

What if you or your loved one, have been recently told that the only way out, will be to amputate that limb?

What if I didn’t have to fight the battle for my mental sanity all alone, by myself; for so many years unending?

I wouldn’t want them to go on this mental journey alone. I will love to help them wage through the storm, because honestly, I went through this, that I may help them on their journey.

We at the AMPUTEES UNITED INITIATIVE would love that you allow us hold hands together.

Let’s hold hands till you come to terms with your new reality.

Let’s hold hands, so you don’t have to suffer depression.

Let’s hold hands to inspire one another.

Let’s hold hands, so they know we can, despite our journeys.

And for this, my – what ifs, aren’t as valid, as they once seemed.

Please send us an email if you’ll like to join us on the journey. (Amputees ONLY) Please send your emails with your contact and stories.

Source: Bellanaija

The inspiring story of a new bride, Sarah, has been trending on social media since Saturday. Sarah is a 60-Year old bride who waited 30 years for “Mr. Right”. She never compromised on what she wanted and two years ago, her Mr. Right walked into her life.He proposed in 2016 and  the couple got married on Saturday.

The bride’s wedding dress vendor had quite an interesting story to share about meeting Sarah.

She wrote:

60 years old and a first time bride, as in she’s never been married…Dang! She looks good at 60!!….#goodgenes #healthyliving…I remember the first time we met and she told me her age…I was like #hollymolly!!! #abasi mbok…..#unbelieveable ……she went on to tell me how she’s been waiting for ‘Mr. right’ since when she was in her 30’s and he never came. And so two years ago, he finally appeared and proposed in 2016 …..#God is good…#delayisnotdenial. My dearest aunty Sarah…I celebrate with you and may God bless your union…. from @bridesnmoreikeja…. #itsnevertoolate….. more pictures of our youngest and latest bride in town coming

See more beautiful photos from the wedding below.

Picture credit : Bellanaija

Toke Makinwa was recently in Ghana to promote her book “On Becoming” and she had a chat with MyJoyOnline TV’s presenter as she talked about the need to write a book, helping other vulnerable women with her book, the fact that she was still promoting the book even with a pending lawsuit and more.

The media personality also talked about possibly writing other books, the difficulties of dating again and much more.

Watch below.

Greatly concerned with the safety of children and their use of social media, a group of people, Project Open Eyes, came together recently and conducted a survey of over 2000 children in select secondary schools in Lagos State, to understand how they make use of digital devices to access social media.The survey, the first of its kind in Nigeria in terms of content and scale, targeted children between the ages of 13 to16 and was conducted in the light of the fact that children are increasingly owning mobile devices, using the Internet and joining several social networks that might be harmful to them. The goal of the survey was to have relevant facts relating to what children are exposed to online and how they react to it.

At the end of the survey, nine out of every 10 of the teenagers sampled said that they own mobile phones that can access the Internet and said phones were bought for them by their parents. Others got theirs from friends or boyfriends and girlfriends.

Enquiries into what they use the Internet for showed that academics/research and entertainment are the main reasons children go online. Other reasons include playing games, watching videos and movies, listening to music, and downloading content. Many of them also say that they go online to read news, read biographies of individuals that interest them, and some of them blog.

The children were found to also be heavy social media users. Altogether, they use over 70 social media networks, chat apps and even dangerous dating sites. Facebook is the most used social network among the children surveyed followed by WhatsApp, then Instagram. 34% have a Twitter account and 35% use BBM.

Interestingly, while Facebook’s policy is that only people 13 years and above could join, most of the children surveyed had joined the network by 8-9 years. This simply means that they lied about their ages in order to join. Furthermore, nine out of every 10 that have Facebook accounts say their parents are aware.

More worrisome is the fact that 77% of the children say that they do not know all their Facebook friends but were willing to hook up. Not surprisingly, 68% of the girls surveyed said that a male stranger had tried to start a conversation with them online. When asked what they do when strangers contact them online, at least one in two girls say that they first discuss with the strangers to find out what they want, 30% of them say that they sometimes block the strangers and just 12% of the girls say that they always block or ignore such advances.

At least one in two girls surveyed say that they have received an offer to date from someone they have only met online. One in every five girls that have received such offer has said ‘Yes’. The implication is that 13, 14, 15 and 16-year-old girls are dating persons that they have never seen face-to-face and their parents don’t know and seven out of every 10 of them say that they would not allow an adult read their chats or messages.

It was also found that many of these young ones are exposed to pornography. While 72% of the girls have seen pornography online without looking for it, 67% of the girls have experienced same. However, 46% of the boys and 24% of the girls surveyed have intentionally visited a pornographic site or accessed pornography online.

One out of every two of the girls surveyed say that someone online had tried to have a sexually explicit conversation with them. One out of every eight of the boys surveyed say that they have been asked online to send a nude picture of themselves while one out of every four girls said same. 7% of the girls who had received such requests admitted that they had sent a nude picture of themselves to someone online they do not physically know.

One in two of the teenagers surveyed say that they use social media daily while one in five claim they spend over seven hours online daily. Only one in four children say that their parents place some form of restriction on their mobile phone use. 92% say that their parents are on social media and 8% of the children whose parents use social media, say that their parents’ use of social media affects time that they should devote to them.

One out of every three of all the children surveyed think that social media negatively affects time they should spend studying. 12% of the boys and 2% of the girls report that they have been involved in online betting and dubious deals online that their parents do not know of.

 

By: Tobi Awodipe for Guardian.ng