Career Gems Archives

In Career Gems May 17, 2019 By Women of Rubies

NIGERIAN WOMAN, VICTORIA OBAZE BECOMES A MAYOR IN UK

Victoria Obaze, a Nigerian from Imo state made history on Wednesday, May 15, after she was sworn into office as Civic Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets, United Kingdom (UK).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaze’s inauguration on Wednesday, May 15, is the latest in turn of events that have seen Nigerians emerge as Mayors in their area councils of residence in the UK.

Obaze who contested three previous councillorship elections in 2010, 2014 as well as 2016 and failed, eventually succeeded in an election conducted on May 5, 2018 in Whitechapel Ward. She later became the council’s deputy speaker following her nomination by her Councillor Colleagues from where she took over the mantle as Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

A statement containing brief history of Obaze obtained by NAN from her close associate and UK Chapter Coordinator, Ugonwanne Social Club Nigeria Int’l, a Nigerian socio-cultural group in UK, Ms Blessing Chijekwu, revealed that the newly sworn-in Mayor had lived in Borough for over 30 years.

“For Councillor (Cllr) Obaze life is all about service to humanity with diligence. Her political experience started when she was elected as one of the board of directors to oversee the regeneration of her area, the Ocean Estate, in the 1980s.

“The move motivated her to get into politics having noticed that there were no black women in the council chambers and this led her to open a project named Healthy Life Style for Stepney Women, East London.

“The project was funded by local authority through Ocean African Caribbean Association which she and her late husband Chief Evangelist Charles Obaze, co-founded.

“She also established Ocean Saturday School aimed at ensuring school attainment for children, as well as Ocean Football Club through which young boys were able to have residential football experiences with Chelsea football Club.

“Above all, Cllr Obaze loves God with a passion; she is a member of Parochial Church Council (PCC), as well as an Executive Council member at St Dunstan’s Church of England Parish in Stepney. “She is also a Secondary School governor in Tower Hamlets and a habitual visitor to the elderly and physically challenged in the community,” the statement quoted Chijekwu as saying.

The statement also quoted Lolo Ngozi Nwanze, President, Ugonwanne Social Club Nigeria Int’l as saying that Obaze was chosen as life matron of the club because of her meekness and morality. “These are the virtues that have brought her to where she (Obaze) is today.”

Credit: legitamp

In Career Gems May 14, 2019 By Women of Rubies

ADESUA ETOMI TO VOICE LEAD CHARACTER IN ANIMATED FILM ‘MALIKA: WARRIOR QUEEN’

Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi-Wellington will voice the lead character in the long awaited animation, Malika: Warrior Queen.

Adesua Etomi stars as Malika in this animated film written by Roye Okupe, founder of Youneek Studios. The film is about a warrior queen and a military commander in the pre-colonial Africa.

The brilliant film also has Niyi Akinmolayan as its director and Roye Okupe as its writer. Roye Okupe says about the film:

“I have to give credit again to Niyi, who’s also the director of the highest grossing movie in Lagos - The Wedding Party Two…. So we discussed about who we would like to bring to this, and Adesua was the first person I had on my mind to voice it. Not only is she a huge star, she’s super talented. After the both of us went through the proper channels to present the idea to her, she basically said it would be a dream for her to do it. It was in October when she came on board after the right terms were established. A lot of credit also goes to the material because she was able to see some of the stuff we’ve done with Malika and the track record we’ve built with the graphic novels. And I can’t wait for people to actually hear her performance because it’s just so amazing what she’s done with the character in this short pilot. It’s an amazing 14 minutes. You basically get to see how an African queen lived her life back then.”

The film which started as a 150-page book came out in 2017 (set in the present day), and its synopsis read:

“Growing up as a prodigy, Malika inherited the crown from her father in the most unusual of circumstances, splitting the kingdom of Azzaz in half. After years of civil war, Malika was able to unite all of Azzaz, expanding it into one of the largest empires in all of West Africa. But expansion would not come without its costs. Enemies begin to rise within her council, and Azzaz grabbed the attention of one of the most feared superpowers the world has ever known: the Ming Dynasty. As Malika fights to win the clandestine war within the walls of her empire, she must now turn her attention to an indomitable and treacherous foe with plans to vanquish her entire people.”

In 2018, the part two of the story came out as a 15th century epic, and with the animated pilot, Okupe continues the saga. Youneek studios announced Adesua’s lead role in the animation:

Credit: stargist.com

In Career Gems May 13, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

AMAZON OFFERS EMPLOYEES $10,000 TO QUIT THEIR JOBS & START PACKAGE DELIVERY BUSINESS

Amazon announced on Monday, its plan to deliver packages faster for its customers.

The company made an offer to its employees, telling them to quit their jobs and it’ll help them start a business delivering Amazon packages.

Amazon says it’ll cover up to $10,000 in startup costs for interested employees, adding that it will also pay them three months’ worth of their salary.

TIME reports that the program started last year and it’s part of the company’s plan to launch an independent Amazon delivery business.

More than 200 Amazon delivery businesses have been created since the program was launched, according to Amazon’s vice president of global delivery services, John Felton.

Photo Credit: Ali Balikci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

In Career Gems May 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

SENATE CONFIRMS ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA AS CHAIRMAN OF NIGERIAN DIASPORA COMMISSION

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Abike Dabiri-Erewa for appointment as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission.

The Senate made the confirmation and subsequent announcement on Thursday via its verified Twitter handle @NGRSenate.

Dabiri-Erewa who is currently the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora was a three-term member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos between 2003 and 2015.

As a Reps member, she was chairman of House Committee on Diaspora Affairs; and had sponsored the bill seeking the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission.

Senate confirms Abike Dabiri-Erewa as Chairman of Nigerian Diaspora Commission

by Linda Ikeji at 09/05/2019 3:42 PM|23 Comments

In Career Gems May 8, 2019 By Women of Rubies

BLESSING EGBE’S NEW FILM, ‘THE TEN VIRGINS’ GULPS N50 MILLION

Blessing Egbe has revealed that her new film, ‘The Ten Virgins’ featuring Thin Tall Tony is cost effective and has gulped almost N50 million.

The producer and director made this known in a recent statement while speaking on the film. She also said the project can be likened to an ambitious side.

“This project has gulped nearly 50 million Naira. It is both a feature and a limited series and is indeed an ambitious stride,” she began. “We paid attention to technical details and all the elements that make a movie great, and I believe the audience will feel its pulse,” Egbe dropped.

Blessing Egbe says she intentionally made an ambitious move with ehr nee film, 'The Ten Virgins.' [YouTube/BConcept Network]

The woman behind Nollywood blockbusters, ‘Lekki Wives’ and ‘Two Brides and a baby’ said the move to dare to make an ambition movie was intentional. She further said Nollywood is in dire need of content.

In her words,

“Going into this, my intention was to tell a story so relatable, interesting and entertaining, and I believe we have achieved that aim. It is a movie driven on the strength of the story, its style and the execution of it.

Pulse NigeriaA scene from Blessing Egbe’s new film, ‘The Ten Virgins.’ [YouTube/BConcept Network]

“Nollywood is in dire need of content with substance and that substance starts from the depth of the stories we tell. For ‘The Ten Virgins, we told a familiar story in a dated’ stage like and musical format, it is simple yet so captivating. I am excited and can’t wait to share it with the audience.”

‘The Ten Virgins’ is a musical drama about 10 maidens who amidst many temptations must remain faithful in their commitment to the greatest prince in the land. The movie is scheduled for cinema release on August 2.

The feature film parades Honey Adum, Damilare Kuku, Blessed Effiong, Bukky Okorodus, Leelee Byoma, Jade Dunni, Osareme Inegbenebor, Chidera Makata, Oge Aniegboka, Ola Taiwo, Degri Emmanuel, Chinonso Young, Tunbosun Aiyedehin, and late Priye George.

Credit: pulse.ng

In Career Gems May 8, 2019 By Women of Rubies

JULIET EHIMUAN, GOOGLE NIGERIA’S COUNTRY DIRECTOR, RECOGNISED AS ONE OF ’30 PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING THE WORLD’

Juliet Ehimuan, Google Nigeria’s Country Director has been named as one of 30 People Who Are Changing the World by London Business School Review.

LBS Review says about her:

Juliet Ehimuan wants to raise human dignity by helping to develop human capacity and create opportunities for growth. But Ehimuan is not a charity boss or a UN chief. As Country Director of Google Nigeria, she’s a global tech leader whose contributions to technology and entrepreneurship have won her multiple awards and recognition, including being named one of Forbes’ 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa and featuring in the third series of the BBC Women of Africa strand, Power Women.

Ehimuan runs “Beyond Limits” initiative where she coaches young people to become self-leaders.

“I tell them to always apply themselves and make the best of every circumstance. Every situation offers an opportunity to learn, grow and define who you are. Always do your best, always expand your horizon. You never know what is around the corner,” she told LBS Review.

In 2017, she worked with thirteen young women from the disadvantaged area of Kiri Kiri, Lagos on an intensive boot camp to transform the lives forever.

Meeting every weekend over a three month period, she worked with them on self-development, leadership skills, personal and organisational effectiveness, and business skills – transferable competencies all required for any leader, whether in the field of STEM, fashion, catering or the creative arts.

Today, under her helm, Google is transforming lives and placing Africa at the forefront of the future of technology. Free digital training is being offered to ten million Africans in five years with three million already trained so far. This will give digital skills and certifications to young people, giving them an edge in an over-saturated job market.

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems May 4, 2019 By Women of Rubies

OMONI OBOLI WINS LEGAL BATTLE OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE MOVIE ‘OKAFOR’S LAW’

Omoni Oboli couldn’t contain her joy as she announced her victory at the court over the ownership of the script for ‘Okafor’s Law’ challenged by Jude Idada and Rancouteour Productions.

In her victory speech, she said judgment was given on May 2, 2019, after two years. In an Instagram post, Oboli narrated the experience in the last two years but happy to have been vindicated.

On Thursday, March 30, 2017, a Federal High Court granted Omoni Oboli the go ahead to release “Okafor’s Law” on Friday March 31, 2017.

Though the Court lifted the injunction, the case remained in court, with hearing of the substantive matter commencing on Monday, April 3, 2017.

Earlier Justice N. Buba had ruled in favour of an interlocutory injunction which was served to Omoni Oboli, Filmone and Dioni Visions to halt the release of the movie in Nigeria.

It all started online in September 2016, when a Canada based writer, Jude Idada, accused Omoni Oboli of stealing his idea for her movie, “Okafor’s Law.”

Jude Idada, a Canadian based screenwriter had publicly accused Omoni Oboli of stealing his idea for the ‘Okafor’s Law’ script’ on September 7, 2017. Few days after the name calling, Oboli’s ‘Okafor’s Law,’ premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Monday, September 12, 2016.

Idada assigned rights of his script to Chioma Onyenwe of Raconteur Productions. Following this move, Oboli was prevented from premiering her film in Nigeria on March 24, 2017, after being served a court injunction filed by Raconteur Productions. Following the injunction, the previously scheduled premiere of “Okafor’s Law” didn’t hold.

Jude Idada had called Omoni Oboli out over the script of her film, ‘Okafor’s Law.’ [Twitter/Jude Idada]

The Past between Idada and Oboli

In 2013, Jude Idada claimed to have written a treatment for the movie “Being Mrs Elliott,” which he forwarded to the actress. However, Oboli produced the movie off the treatment without contacting or paying Idada for his work.

According to our source, the actress defended her act, claiming to have forgotten that a treatment was sent to her by Idada.

Jude Idada, who had no idea that a movie was made off his treatment, got to find out at the 2014 Nollywood Film Festival in Paris, when the movie was screened to the audience.

Hence, Idada was reportedly hesitant to write the script because he once had a bad experience with the Obolis in the past.

The alleged negotiation between Oboli and Idada

On March 30, 2017, Pulse spoke with an undisclosed source who said that Oboli had contacted Jude Idada to write the script and that they had shared ideas during their several meetings.

According to her, Oboli decided to write her own script after several attempts to reach Jude was unsuccessful.

However, another inside contradicted the above source, stating that after Oboli had contacted Jude Idada in late 2014 to write her script, the latter tried severally to reach her, but wasn’t successful.

Credit: pulse.ng

In Career Gems May 1, 2019 By Women of Rubies

NIGERIANS CONDEMN ARREST OF WOMEN AT ABUJA CLUBS

Over the weekend, at least 70 women were arrested in different clubs in Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, according to lawyer and activist M.M Obono series of tweets. He wrote:

As I type, 70 girls were arrested and brought to Utako Police station last night. This is in addition to the ones who were arrested on Friday night. Their offence; clubbing and in some instance, prostitution. Some have been assaulted with injuries in their vaginas.
One of the ladies arrested has a 2-month old baby. She wasn’t allowed to breastfeed her baby by CRO in charge on duty despite continuous plea amidst tears. It took the intervention of a female police officer who called the DPO to overrule the decision of the inspector at the time.
The joint task force that arrested some of these girls have been allegedly molesting and assaulting them. Some even showed the bruises and bleeding in their vaginas.

This is not the first time this month. According to Premium Times, police officers, two weeks ago, arrested about 30 women at different night clubs.

Police say they were arrested for prostitution, which is against Nigeria’s law but it begs the questions, “how do they know they are prostitutes,” “Is it a crime for a woman to be in a club?” and “what about the ‘client’? What happens to them?”

Obono’s tweets said they officers have been sexually assaulting the women while in detention, and we know

Nigerians have been condemning the raid as well as the assault, and we stand with them!

The bored adventurer@oladavidd

#AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen sometimes, silence is consent. Speak up !

Sisters, kindly let your voices be heard on this issue. Women should never be denied the same freedom of movement as men in Nigeria.

This is an anti patriarchy cause I’ll be happy to join in. Thanks15 10:31 AM – Apr 30, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy See The bored adventurer’s other Tweets

Nkoliifunanyachukwu@stephie_coco

Lagos Twitter women, I urge you all to please lend your voices to this #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen The next plausible city to test run this is Lagos. They already bar you from certain public places if you don’t have a male escort. How long before you’re picked up outside quilox???102 10:39 AM – Apr 30, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 159 people are talking about this View image on Twitter

Ijeoma@Art_of_Achalugo

Nigeria’s rape culture grows stronger everyday.#AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #SayHerNameNigeria 132 10:37 AM – Apr 30, 2019 268 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy

Nkoliifunanyachukwu@stephie_coco · 22h Replying to @stephie_coco

Dear Women all over Nigeria, how long do you think it will take before the Nigerian police start start arresting you for buying suya or standing outside your gate at night?! If they can do it to women in a city where asorock is situate, how safe do you really think you are?

Nkoliifunanyachukwu@stephie_coco

Every Nigerian woman should get on this #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen and do their best to shed light on the Nefarious activities if the NigerianPolice! E fit be you next time. #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen 12 10:20 AM – Apr 30, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 19 people are talking about this

Elly@elly_kingjoe

It is just a matter of time b4 they start picking up ladies anywhere in Abuja once it is 8pm!

SARs started with yahoo boys but now picks every good looking youth!

If u are defending the raids in Abuja, it will soon be u waiting for a cab home from work.#AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen 89 10:14 AM – Apr 30, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 137 people are talking about this

Remi Ibinola RIO@reminola

Women on my TL, according to accounts by the victims, some of these women were raped using pure water satchets as condoms!!! Can you imagine that being done to you?!!!11 8:33 AM – Apr 30, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 80 people are talking about this

Amnesty Int. Nigeria✔@AmnestyNigeria

Amnesty International is concerned by spate of arrests and humiliation of women by FCT officials and the police, in some parts of Abuja. These arrests clearly show unacceptable deliberate targeting of women. #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #Nigeria #EndVAW 132 6:24 PM – Apr 29, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 217 people are talking about this

Amnesty Int. Nigeria✔@AmnestyNigeria

The raids and abuse targeted women, hence discriminatory and is gender-based violence. We are calling FCT and police authorities to investigate allegations of abuse of the women. #AbujaPoliceRaidonWomen #Nigeria #EndVAW 209 6:26 PM – Apr 29, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 287 people are talking about this

Jibrin Ibrahim@JibrinIbrahim17

It is scandalous that the police in Abuja would arrest 100 women just because they went to a night club. No man in the night clubs was arrested. We have a Constitution that guarantees human rights and equality. What about arresting bandits and kidnappers? @PoliceNG_CRU @MBuhari 2,859 10:18 AM – Apr 29, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 2,217 people are talking about this

Babasola Kuti@RealSolaKuti

The policemen used pure water bags as condom to have sex with the ladies arrested in Abuja nightclub raids. I give up…849 10:06 PM – Apr 29, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 1,165 people are talking about this

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems April 30, 2019 By Women of Rubies

HALIMA ADEN BECOMES THE FIRST MODEL TO WEAR HIJAB AND BURKINI IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE

Groundbreaking Muslim supermodel Halima Aden has made history once again by becoming the first model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

In 2016, Aden became the first contestant in Miss Minnesota USA to wear a hijab and burkini, ultimately reaching the pageant’s semi-finals.

“There are so many Muslim women that feel like they don’t fit society’s standard of beauty,” she told CNN at the time.

“I just wanted to tell them it’s OK to be different, being different is beautiful, too.”

She shared a similar sentiment at her Sports Illustrated shoot. “Growing up in the United States, I never really felt represented because I never could flip through a magazine and see a girl who was wearing a hijab,” she said in a behind-the-scenes video. “Don’t be afraid to be the first.”

Credit: Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Aden, who is Somali-American, grew up in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, before moving with her family to the US at the age of seven.Her Sports Illustrated shoot, photographed by Yu Tsai, took place at Kenya’s Watamu

“I keep thinking (back) to six-year-old me who, in this same country, was in a refugee camp,” Aden told the magazine. “So to grow up to live the American dream [and] to come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most beautiful parts of Kenya — I don’t think that’s a story that anybody could make up.”

Credit: Yu Tsai/SI Swimsuit

Again, this isn’t the first time Aden has made history — or even the first time this year. In March, she was one of three black hijabi models featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia — the magazine’s first group hijabi cover — alongside Ikram Abdi Omar and Amina Adan.

In April 2018, she broke new ground in British Vogue, as the first hijabi woman on the cover.”I empower women by staying true to myself and also encouraging them to go out and not be scared to be the first,” Aden told CNN on International Women’s Day in March. “If you don’t see yourself represented in any given field, take it upon yourself to be the one.”

Credit: CNN

In Career Gems April 30, 2019 By Women of Rubies

NNEDI OKORAFOR TO START A PRODUCTION COMPANY FOR AFRICAN FUTURIST SHOWS

Acclaimed Nigerian-American author, Nnedi Okorafor is set to take Hollywood by storm! According to Brittle Paper, Okorafor announced via Facebook that she is starting her own TV Production company, Africanfuturism Productions, Inc.

(Photo: TED.com)

According to Nnedi, the company will focus exclusively on television series because of the relative freedom TV affords:

“Film is too restrictive.”

Not much else is known about the company for now, but we can be expecting some high quality work from them because Nnedi’s novels are pretty incredible. She is is one of science fiction’s smartest and most successful voices.

She already has so many ongoing projects: Her novel, Who Fears Death is being produced by Games of Thrones‘ George R.R. Martin for HBO; and she is writing the script for Viola Davis’ Wild Seed, along with Rafiki director, Wanuri Kahiu.

(Photo: Nnedi Okorafor/Facebook)

Credit: konbini.com

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