Women of Rubies

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Career Gems

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Every viewer of the popular drama series, ‘Jenifa’s Diary’ knows her as Adaku. But she is a trained lawyer, who veered into broadcast media and now an On Air Personality whose name is Omotunde Adebowale David. Also called aka Lolo 1, she opens up on her status as a single mother in this interview.

On What Excite her 

I love it when I see my dreams coming to pass. It could be so exciting when things take shape; it is such a sweet feeling.

Handling Trolls online

I tell people ‘don’t look at online people, they are children; just ignore them.’  What I just do is look and move on. If it bothers me so much I delete you and block you because the more you answer the more you are misunderstood. The truth is that some people out there are just crying out for attention. You don’t need to focus on them.

Coping as a single mum of one

I am not divorced yet I am still in the process. We are in court already and it will be done in a few months. Being a single mom is one of the most challenging things I have ever faced and I am writing a book because a lot of people demonize single moms. There is no rule book that tells you this is how you should go about it, you learn as you grow older. You face a lot of challenges. What I do is focus on the important which is the up-bringing of my children. In my case, my kids’ father and I talk; we have a good relationship. But the only thing is that we don’t live in the same house and the kids relate well with both parents.

Giving Marriage a second shot

I would love to be married again. I won’t tell you if I am waiting for it to come. I am just asking God to help me get through this. However, if I meet someone I consider good enough, that would understand me; of course, I will be willing to try again because marriage is a great institution.

Many of the you don’t know so let’s give you some education while you all scream Slay, Queen at Beyoncé‘s 2017 Grammy Awards performance.

The pop star who is pregnant with twins, debuted her baby bump yesterday night at the Grammy’s  for the first time since announcing she’s pregnant with twins a couple of weeks ago. For her performance which also featured her 5 year old daughter Blue Ivy Carter and mother – Tina Knowles, Bey embraced and showed off her pregnant belly in a gold bikini and gold sequin gown which she topped off with a gold medusa crown.
But what many don’t know is that Bey drew inspiration from Nigeria for her performance, specifically the Yoruba culture.
For her much talked about Grammy award performance Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter channeled Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of love, fertility and healing.
This isn’t the first time the Grammy Award-winning artist has paid homage to Oshun and Yoruba culture. She did the same in her much talked about maternity shoot, announcing her twin pregnancy and last year in the video for “Hold Up” off her visual album Lemonade.

Source: Kemifilani.com

Nkiru Mordi is a Port Harcourt born On-Air personality that goes by the alias Kiki Mordi. She created a petition online against police extortion after some policemen barged into her home accusing her and her boyfriend of being cultists.

According to her, the policemen searched her home and when they found no evidence of them being cultists, they were taken to their station and demanded N200, 000 to kill the case.

The petition titled ‘End Police Extortion Now’ has a goal of gathering 1,000 signatures.

She tweeted,

If you no one hears from me tonight, ask State CID zone 5 for where I am… Goes without saying, I have a great extortion story to tell

Our only offence? Being young and having a car. Nothing else.

They’ve carried their robbery from highways to actually busting into your house. Police

I had a really wild day today with the police I just realized being a Nigerian isn’t safe. You are only safe because it’s not yet your turn!

I’ve had altercations with police before at the high way, they try to frustrate you into giving them “small thing” I never judge them…

Because a policeman, my friend, confided in me that they don’t get enough funding & it’s the “small thing” they use to fuel cars to operate.

But my experience with the police today was very wild! I’m still pretty shaken up but thank God I’m home. Safely.

You guys won’t believe that policemen barged into MY HOUSE today. This was not a highway issue, MY FUCKING HOUSE. WOW!

I was upstairs prepping for work when I heard the doorbell… My boyfriend got the door and was met with a dirty slap.

They barged into the house and started yelling. I only saw one at first, plain clothed. Asked me “IS THIS YOUR BOYFRIEND”? He was yelling

I was mad scared, I thought we were being robbed! So I was quiet. He asked a couple more times and I look a boyfriend, confused as hell

He started accusing us of being cultists? Hian. That was when other police men came with Police T shirt came, I then realised they were cops

“Oga stop shouting tell me what’s going on I’m sure I can help you” He tells us they had a tip off that we were cultists. Again.

I assured him we weren’t cultists perhaps he has the wrong address? He starts asking about the cars parked downstairs. Asked for our names..

I thought you had a “tip off” I told him I was a journalist He went downstairs, scribbled my boyfriend’s misspelled name on a “warrant”

I didn’t say anything. He searched through the house, saw some condoms in my wardrobe and said “Name original oh, this one nor be cheap”

I didn’t smile back. He searched some more for this imaginary gun. He didn’t find. Next thing he wants our laptops, I’m not surprised.

He’s seized some phones already o. I had 3 in my possession so I’m guarding them safely. Bros what exactly did we do? You’re harassing us..

He said he was taking boyfriend to police station for further investigation. At this point I’m VERY scared. I’ve called heaven and earth

So I went to take a picture and they launch at me. Tried to drag my phone with me. Drama. We eventually agreed to go to the station with dem

They took our laptops as “evidence”

This story is quite long because this started about 10 or so this morning. Long and short, I was shamed at the police station for being loud

They hurled all sorts of sexist comments. Because say you go school. Mane dey talk you dey talk. I get your type for house etc

One female police even threatened to beat me and cure me of my “sharp mouth”

The attention was no longer on the cultist charge but on my “sharp mouth” They went through our laptops. Nothing!

I need to point out that at home when they saw a car key, they asked for the name of he car, I said BMW, he just smiled. I was like oh…kay

About six hours later, they’re asking for 200k to “die the case” Are we not cultists and kidnappers again? Hian

Lawyer came to “bail” us out with 20k… They charged boyfriend with “suspected cultism” and me for “obstruction of justice”

I don’t even know if they’ll come back. They know where I live. I don’t feel safe at all. But I’m home now, thanks for asking.

My whole day… I didn’t even go to work, I haven’t eaten, I couldn’t change my tampon… I’m still shaken up

To think, after we had a new neighbor move in with 4 cars I’d been worried about kidnappers showing up, THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE SHOWED UP!

Shaken up, preparing to move. I’ve called agent already, I can’t.

The funny part about all these is people have told me it happens a lot, and I just became a target. Please tell me, HOW CAN I SLEEP?

They kept asking about the cars. The cars drew them to he compound. Talk about stalking.

So basically they barged into the compound and randomly knocked on doors. We just happened to be the ones at home. Y’all need to stay woke!

They were asking who owns what car and who had traveled! Still feel safe in your homes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A recent documentary by BBC shows the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian women.  BBC spoke to two women – Ayo Megbope and Aminat Salau – who sell moi moi, a meal made from beans, to make a living.

“Forty percent of Nigerian women are entrepreneurs, that is higher than anywhere else in the world,” BBC said.

Ayo started by selling moi moi, but now has a restaurant and a catering service.

“I started my business about nine years ago with a seed capital of $3. Nine years after, we are turning over about $250,000 annually. My access to education and information has helped me a great deal. Family and friends have also been good to me. There have been times that I got stuck and I needed to raise capital and I ran to family and friends because the traditional financial institutions would not listen to me,” Ayo said.

According to Aminat: “Sales are good, on some days we sell 60 or 80 wraps in the morning. When we have more time or more people passing by, we sell till late in the evening.”

According to BBC: “Female entrepreneurs in Nigeria often struggle to secure investment, banks normally require collateral, like property, which women often do not have. Without access to capital, it will be difficult for Aminat to grow her business.”

Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba ran the fastest ever women’s 2000 metres at the indoor Miting Internacional de Catalunya meeting in Sabadell, Spain on Tuesday.

Her time of five minutes 23.75 seconds sliced almost seven seconds off the previous indoor world record of 5:30.53 set by Romania’s Gabriela Szabo in 1998.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), athletics’ world governing body, said although the 2000m is not an official indoor world record event, Dibaba’s performance was “an outright world record’’.

It said it was faster than the outdoor mark of 5:25.36 set by Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan.

The 25-year-old Dibaba, a three-time world indoor champion, now owns the fastest recorded times indoors.

These are for the 1500m, mile, 2000m, 3000m, two miles and 5000m, as well as the outdoor 1500m world record.

 

 

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.