Inspiration Archives

In Inspiration April 24, 2020 By Women of Rubies

#RubyGirls | “You not recognizing that you’re precious and beautiful is your blindness” – Eniola Moyinoluwa Bello

Twenty year old Eniola Moyinoluwa Bello is a graduate of Political Science from the prestigious University of Ekiti. She co-owns Moi Jewel O.F multiglobal company with her mom.

Eniola volunteers with Gender Mobile Initiative and Ruby Girls Ng. She is a strong believer of personal growth and positive thinking.

Eniola loves reading novels a lot but can also be found surfing the internet for long hours.

1. Let’s meet you. Who is Eniola?

I am Bello Eniola Moyinoluwa. I’m the first of four children. I hail from Ekiti State and I’m a “fresh” graduate of Political Science from Ekiti State University. I had my primary and secondary education in Lagos though, before moving down to Ekiti. I enjoy reading and surfing the net. I’m a positive thinker, I like to see the good in every situation.

2. What are your hobbies?

I enjoy reading, surfing the net and sometimes writing.

3. What is your biggest fear?

This may sound cliche but my biggest fear is losing everyone I love.

4. Best quote?

“You not recognizing that you’re precious and that every inch of you is beautiful is your blindness.” You are a gift.

5. You started writing at an early age. What do your writings border on and what inspired your early writing?

(Chuckles) I’m more of a reader. Well, I write about anything that catches my fancy. Erm, I guess the books I read inspired my early writing and I had my childhood friends ( Joy and Kofoworola). We often wrote stories to compare.

6. You started a business with your mom right from your undergraduate days named Moi Jewel O.F Multiglobal company. How was it like combining your academics with it and also partnering with your mom on a business?

My mom initially started the business way back and she’ll give me some to help sell in school. I’ll bring the proceeds to her and I got my own little “change” from it too. She suggested since the business was doing well in school and people were ordering more, I should join as well. It isn’t a bad idea making a little dough for one’s self. That’s how I started going to the market with mom and so yeah. It didn’t affect my academics in any way because during exams, I wouldn’t bring goods to school.

7. You are a volunteer with Gender Mobile Initiative. What are the things the organization seek to address? How far has the organization being able to achieve these objectives?

Gender Mobile is an NGO established in ending sexual and gender-based violence by leveraging and harnessing the power of technology. We endeavor to facilitate victims’ access to support services through accessible channels and platforms.

How far?

Sometimes this year, we did an online survey on sexual harassment of university students in Ekiti State University.

There’s the adolescent hub too where we visit different schools in different local government areas of the state to provide information and build the knowledge capacity of adolescents through multiple exposure to life building skills.

There’s the Gender Mobile food hub initiative as well. We’re trying to help during this pandemic by giving foodstuffs to vulnerable women and children in Ekiti State.

8. Mention three women who inspire you to be better and why

I) This sounds cliche too but my mama is my biggest inspiration.

ii) Tiffany Haddish after reading her book the last black unicorn. She went through a lot of shit but here she is now.

III) Ibukun Awosika, she inspires me at all times.

*9. If given the chance to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what will you change?*

I’ll most likely ensure free sanitary pads are provided for ladies. It’s heartbreaking when you see or hear of ladies using clothes or other unhygienic things during their menstrual cycle.

10. What keeps you up at night?

If I’m not reading, I’m probably surfing the net.

11. You are a team member of Ruby Girls Ng. How has volunteering for it affected you as a person and what are your thoughts about platforms for young females?

It’s wonderful what we do with @rubygirlsng. It’s given me an insight into lives of women who should be celebrated always. It’s inspiring too, after reading about them, you want to do and be more too.

12. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Well, I’m going to be learning and gaining practical experience. I hope to take a course on Development Study. I want to make impact too, touch lives.

13. If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you, what will be your advice to them?

Never seek validation from anyone. Don’t sell yourself short, because at the end of the day it isn’t what they call you but what you answer to.

In Inspiration April 24, 2020 By Women of Rubies

New 108 COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, total rises to 981

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reportedly recorded 108 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

In a tweet on Thursday night, the NCDC said that the new cases had taken the total number of infections in the country to 981.

The centre said that 78 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos, 14 in FCT, 5 in Ogun, 4 in Gombe, 3 Borno, 2 in Akwa Ibom, and 1 each in Kwara and Plateau.

The NCDC added that as of 11:30 p.m. on April 23, there were 981 confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported in Nigeria.

According to the Nigeria’s agency, total deaths recorded in the country from the coronavirus (COVID-19) now stands at 31, while 197 infected persons had been treated and discharged.

It disclosed that Nigeria now has 753 Active Cases as of 11:30p.m. on April 23.

According to a report in South Africa, Africa has registered a 43 percent jump in reported COVID-19 cases in the last week, with officials highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) that the continent of 1.3 billion could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak.

Africa also has a “very, very limited” and “very, very strained” testing capacity, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in his weekly briefing on Thursday.

In Inspiration April 23, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Coronavirus: Quick reminder on prevention as Stated by WHO

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

These viruses were originally transmitted from animals to people, including SARS, which was transmitted from civet cats to humans.

It is been known that coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. Corona virus comes from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. Under an electron microscope, the virus looks like it is surrounded by a solar corona.

Prevention as stated by WHO

Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions. Follow advice provided by your local public health agency.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Stay home if you feel unwell.

If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance.

Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Avoiding unneeded visits to medical facilities allows healthcare systems to operate more effectively, therefore protecting you and others.

In Inspiration April 22, 2020 By Esther Ijewere

12 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Multi-Talented Artist Wana Wana

Nigerian writer, poet, journalist, filmmaker, and tv personality, Wana Udobang has been described as “one of the biggest champions of the new spoken word renaissance. Here are 12 amazing facts about her;

She graduated from the University for The Creative Arts with a first class degree in Journalism.
She is an ambassador for the Mirabel center in Lagos.
She founded the 1k4cancer initiative which to date has raised over three million naira in funds to assist women from low income families with their cancer treatment.
She worked as a radio presenter and producer at 92.3 Inspiration FM in Lagos, Nigeria for over six years and hosted the television show “Airtel Touching Lives”.
She is the producer of the documentary “Sensitive Skin” a documentary film about the skin condition, Psoriasis.
She is a public speaker in the areas of gender advocacy, youth mentorship and is a well sought after moderator in the creative and culture space.
She has starred in a number of television series and films like Indigo and Flip, to name a few. She plays Visha in the award winning Burkinabe film “Frontiéres”.
She has been a freelance writer and contributor for Aljazeera Online, Guardian UK NEXT, BellaNaija and the Huffington Post.
Wana has worked with the BBC Radio4, BBC world service, 92.3 Inspiration FM and Resonance FM.
She just aired a YouTube series called Warriors. She had earlier aired Culture Diaries and Room 313.
She also is the creator of the poetry series “Words and Inspirations” and the interview series “Culture Diaries”.
Wana is creative director of WanaWana productions and hosts the television show Airtel Touching Lives.

How inspiring to see her combine all this as a media lady.

In Inspiration April 22, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Michelle Obama is encouraging children stuck at home to keep reading

As the pandemic has put a close on schools at the moment, studying should not be put on hold. Michelle Obama has partnered with PBS for a weekly reading series for children. The Public Broadcasting Service is an American public broadcaster and television program distributor.

PBSKids announced the “Mondays with Michelle Obama” partnership via Twitter saying, “In this weekly read-along series, she’ll read 4 of her favorite children’s books (one book every Monday)… [starting with ] “The Gruffalo.”

In Inspiration April 21, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Busola Dakolo shares a message of courage to everyone in this tough times

Busola makes it clear that it was her way of telling people to be brave enough to deal with an unpleasant situation.

She wrote:

“So I wore my husband’s double breasted suit,Tie and shoes. My idea of saying, it is a Tough world out there, So Man Up.”

Photo Credit: @busoladakolo

We love this.

In Inspiration April 20, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Meet Ramla Ali, first Muslim woman to win a boxing title for England

Ramla Ali who was bullied at school for being overweight, took up a boxing career. Now she’s a British boxing champion, a model and the first Muslim woman to win a boxing title for England.

The amateur featherweight boxer was prepared to be the first boxer to represent her home country Somalia at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo this August until the corona virus pandemics struck.

As a child, her family fled Somali during the war after her eldest brother, who was just nine at the time, died as a result of a grenade that was thrown into their front garden as they played. Her family took refuge in London.

Due to her beginnings, she doesn’t seem to have a birth record. Although she believes she is between the ages of 27 and 30. “I genuinely don’t know the date, the month, the year,” she told Evening Standard.

A major secret she kept from her family is she took up boxing to knock off her weight, her mother thought it was immodest for women to play sports.

“When you come from an African household, education is key, ” her mother used to say, but she is her “number-one fan” today.

According to her, the first time she entered her local gym in East Ham, London, she had to wait up to 40 minutes to use the changing rooms because there were no facilities for women. “I was the only girl there,” she said.

In 2016, she became the best amateur boxer in the country in her weight division; she won the Elite National Championships, English Title Series and the Great British Elite Championships. In 2018, she represented her birth country, Somalia at an international level.

Somalia had no boxing federation so Ali and her husband and trainer Richard Moore created a boxing federation in the UK. Ali now travels around the world for competitions.

As model she was shot for British Vogue’s September 2019 “Forces For Change” issue, she said: “To see girls that look like me, with an afro, on the cover of magazines is amazing.”

“Beauty is 100% strength within yourself,” Ali said. “You have to feel it – that’s what beauty means to me. There are so many pretty women out there, but if you don’t feel like a beautiful person inside then you’ve gone from a ten to a two. As cheesy as it sounds, I truly believe that.”

She is gives back to her community by volunteering to teach self-defense classes to “predominately hijab-wearing” women, between the ages of 20-40, in south London once a week.

Full article here

In Inspiration April 19, 2020 By Women of Rubies

A 68-year Old First Time Mother Successfully Delivers Twin

A 68 year first time mother has been delivered of twins in Lagos University Teaching.

Her pregnancy was achieved artificially through IVF. Delivery through Ceaserian Section. Everything was successful as mother and babies are doing fine. With LUTH taken to their twitter page to break the news below;

This happens to be the oldest confirmed verifiable mother in Nigeria and in Africa.

God Is Good.

In Inspiration April 18, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Meet Courtney Adeleye founder of Mane choice haircare product, and her CEO young daughter

The Mane Choice has been a well known haircare product for years. And founder Courtney Adeleye, has been passionately educating, encouraging and inspiring other women in America and globally.

Now, she is teaching her 5-year-old daughter, Lily Adeleye the ropes. She is keen on teaching that one needs to take full control of their financial futures.

Adeleye can be found helping others going through financial hardships and dropping gems on lessons that she has learned in business. Her products are on the shelves in hundreds of Target stores and her daughter’s Frilly hair bows can now be found not too far from her mom’s.

“From the time Lily was 3, I knew then she had a business mindset. At an early age, as she watched me build a successful business from the ground up, it exposed her to many possibilities and goals, so with that, we didn’t wait until she was an adult to help her pursue them.”

And if you ask Lily, she’ll tell you she is the boss. “I own my own company. I don’t just like it, I love it,” exclaims Lilly. In fact, she is the youngest CEO ever to retail at the superstore.

According to Adeleye, this accomplishment is one near to her heart as a mother and a businesswoman. “Being the first Mother/Daughter duo to hit shelves in one of the largest retail stores in the world is still surreal to us. It’s history. It’s life-changing and it should definitely be celebrated,” says Adeleye.

In Inspiration April 17, 2020 By Women of Rubies

Why China must pay Nigeria, other African countries – Ezekwesili

There has been a widespread financial challenge globally, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As so, Oby Ezekwesili former Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa division has therefore called on China to take responsible actions to support Africans financially. She shared her opinion in an op-ed for Washington’s Post, below:

The covid-19 pandemic has dealt a severe injury to Africa’s development prospects and worsened the conditions of its poor and vulnerable. Although there are calls for voluntary international aid to support the continent during this difficult time, this is far from the best solution.

The continent must be accorded damages and liability compensation from China, the rich and powerful country that failed to transparently and effectively manage this global catastrophe. Africa’s economic gains since the last global crisis have been eroded. It is time to make offending rich countries pay the poor ones a global risk burden tax for delaying their rise out of poverty.

Today, Africa is home to more than 70 percent of the world’s poorest people, with more than 400 million living below the poverty line. It is no surprise that it is disproportionately vulnerable to this crisis. It should not suffer even more because yet another powerful country failed to act responsibly.

China should immediately announce a complete write-off of the more than $140 billion that its government, banks and contractors extended to countries in Africa between 2000 and 2017. This would provide partial compensation to African countries for the impact that the coronavirus is already having on their economies and people.

The analysis of the balance of compensation due to Africa can then follow from discussions with the Africa Union and its member countries, alongside global and regional organizations including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank and the European Union.

Our world is long overdue for a change of approach in the way it manages global risks that leave the poor worse off due to failures of the rich and powerful. The current model of development assistance is broken and can never deliver any real change of fortune for the most vulnerable. We need a new model that strengthens people to engage in the design of their pathway out of poverty and builds economic resilience.

The current conditions mirror what happened during the 2008 global financial crisis. In my time as the vice president in charge of the World Bank’s operations in Africa, we had to mobilize internal and partner resources to mitigate the severity of the economic recession suffered by the continent. Exogenous shocks dealt a lethal blow to the countries’ decade-long steady rises of economic growth, which had averaged 5 to 6 percent annually until tumbling to 2.4 percent in 2009.

This sharp fall ended Africa’s upward economic growth trajectory and sent per capita income tumbling. It increased inequality and the number of Africans in absolute poverty. Such fragile and low economic growth rates for a continent with one of the world’s highest concentrations of young people and annual population growth rate of about 2.5 percent is a key reason for widespread multidimensional poverty — a threat that carries seeds of global insecurity and instability.

The economic shock caused by the coronavirus has badly reduced the opportunity Africa would otherwise have had to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty. The African Union Commission estimates that Africa’s gross domestic product will shrink by as much as 4.5 percent, resulting in 20 million job losses.

This has dangerously hampered the possibility that Africa can generate jobs for young people and women, or increase literacy levels by reducing the number of out-of-school children with access to quality learning opportunities. It will result in lessened ability to reduce maternal and child mortality, improve nutrition and food security, make reliable energy available and accessible, improve the availability of quality roads, water, sanitation, and other infrastructure, and such other investments in public goods.

China, a country that only within the past four decades has managed to lift more than 850 million people out of poverty, would understand how critical it is for African countries to accelerate inclusive growth. While economies in Asia, Europe and the Americas have announced hefty emergency stimulus packages for their people and businesses, countries in Africa struggle to meet short-term food needs.

Most of Africa’s countries simply do not have the buffer required for fiscal relief in times of crisis, because they were already severely constrained by budgetary crises caused by poor domestic revenue mobilization, high public debts and low productivity. The parlous public finances of these countries worsened due to volatility in commodity prices as the pandemic worsened.

Africa faces frequent shocks caused by climate, terrorism, health issues, food insecurity, crime and other sources of risk. Most of these perils emanate from the failures of the rich and powerful economies, but end up inflicting a disproportionate share of the poor and vulnerable.

China should demonstrate world leadership by acknowledging its failure to be transparent on covid-19. Beijing’s leadership should then commit to an independent expert panel evaluation of its pandemic response. China and the rest of the Group of 20 countries should engage with the Africa Union and countries to design a reparations mechanism.

It is time for rich economies to show that our world is capable of doing right by the poor and vulnerable.

China must pay.

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