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#INTERVIEW: THE GREATEST REWARD I RECEIVE FOR WHAT I DO IS WHEN CHILDREN APPROACH ME AND TELL ME THAT I MADE STEM FUN FOR THEM – ADETOLA SALAU

Adetola Salau is a global educator, Engineer and the author of more than eight books, one of which has been critically acclaimed as a roadmap for transforming our educational system; “Re-engineering minds for innovation”
She is the Founder and Director of Carisma4U Educational Foundation, a social innovation enterprise that focuses on the transformation of the educational system especially STEM education in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. She has a B. Sc in Chemistry from Fordham University, New York, with a medal as the best student in Chemistry. She later went on to get a M.Sc in Chemical Engineering and another in Engineering Management from Syracuse University in New York. She is currently working on a PhD in Chemical Engineering with a specialty in Environmental Engineering.
Adetola worked for the City of New York Board of Education as well as taught in California, South Carolina and North Carolina respectively. She has taught a variety of students from pupils in the 6th grades to teaching at Fordham University as an Adjunct Lecturer. She is passionate about education (STEM education especially) and is an advocate for education reform globally most especially in Africa.
She is driven by the desire to help students in Africa become future ready and innovate for their own economic prosperity (using STEM Education-STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering Mathematics.) Tola shares her story in this motivating interview

Being aware of environmental issues from childhood
I was raised by academic parents- Professors who were dedicated to giving back to the community and held education in high esteem. They believed that service was what each human owed other humans. I joined Red Cross as a pre-teen because I wanted to ease the suffering of others and when I was in college, I continued to volunteer to shelters and work as a mentor to young children. I learned that it was better to focus upon serving others than dwell upon my own life’s issues.
As a teenager, I was aware of environmental issues impacting the planet because my parents were environmentalists and also when I stared at the blackish water of Bonny as a teen. I was angry and sad at the same time at the pervasive pollution that was been inflicted upon our environment. I took it hard because I loved the land of Bonny, her people are my people (on my grandmother’s side) and from my parents dedication to environmental causes and gleaning from the materials strewn about our home, I knew that the damage was extensive.
I realized that if something wasn’t done about cleaning up the soil and rivers, cleaning up the oil spills being my motivation for desiring to study Chemical engineering.
I began to think like an advocate from an early age looking back, I have always been drawn to helping the underdog or rooting for them in stories that I read.

Meet Me
I am a Global Educator, a Speaker, Author, Social Entrepreneur, Innovator, and an Advocate of STEM Education. I am driven to push the revamping of our learning sector because of the horrible experiences I had in the STEM subjects when I was a young child in Nigeria and the opposite experience I had when my family and I relocated to America. I had a severe fear of math in my teenage years due to the horrible conditions I was taught in and how STEM subjects were made boring. Passionate educators made the difference for me which I wrote about in my book, “Re-engineering minds for innovation.” A huge part of my dedication in remaining a STEM student was due to the support of my enlightened parents; both Intellectuals- world renowned academicians of high repute who taught me to strive for excellence. My mother, Dr (Mrs) O.A. Salau is a climatologist and environmentalist who taught me to love STEM subjects fervently through application and my father, Prof A.T. Salau was an environmentalist with the United Nations, New York. He was the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt.
I studied at Fordham University, New York, where I obtained a B.Sc in Chemistry with a medal as the best student in Chemistry. I went on to get a M.Sc in Chemical Engineering and another in Engineering Management from Syracuse University in New York. I am currently working on a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Inspiration behind Carisma4U Educational Foundation
Carisma4U Educational Foundation is a social innovation enterprise that focuses on the transformation of the educational sector especially STEM education in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
I founded Carisma4U educational foundation in 2015 to address this situation because I believe starting early in the educational system to create a lifelong love of STEM learning that will improve the probability that students will not become STEM adverse at the later stages of their tertiary education.
I am working on creating a new paradigm for the way we approach STEM education with a greater emphasis placed on practical real life application that will bridge the gap between theory and practical, so we can engage our youths in developing solutions to issues that plague us.
I am driven by the desire to help students in Africa become future ready and innovate for their own economic prosperity using STEM and I works towards the emergence of a strong vibrant Africa through the effective utilization of education.
We need to call for the promotion of STEM education in schools.

Challenges
The challenges are enormous! Raising money for our advocacy efforts can be daunting but we press on because we know how critical the work we are rooting for is essential to the economic development of Africa, especially for the future of our children. Obstacles by people in the status quo who like how things are and don’t want them to change. The biggest challenge is the reformatting the mindsets of our students, their parents and teachers from mediocrity to desiring excellence. Excellence is one of my core values because I have seen the difference it made to my life as an educator, scientist and engineer. I have seen excellence transform the destiny of nations from places that people looked down upon to being highly respected. I have written over ten books to aid in spreading the STEM revolution I desire for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Passion for STEM
STEM is an acronym that stands for Science Technology Engineering and Math.
Activities that are STEM-based integrate these four areas of learning. STEM is vital to our future—the future of our country, the future of our region and the future of our children. Besides, STEM is everywhere ; it shapes our everyday experiences.
Science is our natural world— sun, moon and stars…lands and oceans…weather, natural disasters, the diversity of nature, animals (large, small, microbial plants and food…the fuel that heats our homes and powers transportation…
Technology means computers and smartphones, but it goes back to television, radio, microscopes, telegraph, telescopes, the compass, and even the first wheel.
Engineering encompasses designing buildings, roads, and bridges, and tackling today’s challenges of transportation, global warming and environment friendly machines, appliances and systems.
Mathematics is everywhere at the retail store, the bank, on tax forms, in dealing with investments and the family budget. Math is the mother of all the other STEM subjects because they depend on it. STEM is critical because it permeates all aspects of our lives.
Now how does STEM affect our children; their future readiness? STEM is their future—the technological era in which they live, their best career options lie around it. STEM Education encourages and bolsters future readiness. Students learn to problem solve as they research and follow processes for investigations. Whether it’s the Engineering Design Process, the Design-Thinking Process, or the Scientific Method, our students learn to collaborate with others; asking pertinent questions; assume leadership roles periodically; and try out lots of ideas to reach a solution.

Benefit of STEM to Nigerian students
STEM Education is of vital to our Nigerian students because;
There’s a shortage of STEM Job Professionals for a Rapidly increasing STEM Job Market. There is huge gap between jobs that are in high demand and the skills required to fill them – and the gap is only going to get worse grow if we keep doing nothing to stem it (excuse the pun.)
Also, Innovation will revitalize our economy. We all see the technological boom happening around us and it’s sweeping all of us in it’s wave. There are constantly new gadgets being designed every minute it seems and it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends. Yet, these trends are essential for the economy; jobs are created and money flows in circulation
STEM careers are truly “helping” professions that build communities and transform nations.

Other project and activities
We had STEM Day awareness outreaches last year and ran a STEM Bootcamp in August 2017. We are running the STEM Bootcamp again on the mainland of Lagos. We will be having a larger program in August 2018 for 100 children and it will integrate a lot of amazing, fun activities for our children in Lagos. On April 21st 2018, we will be having our first Annual conference- STEM Power where our ultimate goal is to enhance teachers’ interest and performance in teaching STEM courses while fostering STEM skills for their students that are important prerequisites for engineering, medical, science and computer science careers. The main activities of our social enterprise is i) Advocacy on STEM education ii) Training of Teachers iii) Development of STEM learning iv)STEM Kits procurement v)STEM Curriculum development vi) Educational Technology programs vii)STEM Bootcamps viii) STEM workshops/conferences ix) Carisma4U STEM Innovators Club and x) Mentoring of students

Reward
The greatest reward I receive for what I do is when children approach me and tell me that I made STEM fun for them after their teacher made it loathsome to them.
Carisma4u in five years
Carisma4U will be positioned as innovative and reliable educational resource born out of dedicated and diligent approach for shaping the future intellectual human capital; aligning to emerging global trends and aspirations.
We are working in phases; first phase will influence the system by activism and awareness for priming it to create a favorable disposition for the adoption of the concept. In the second phase the much needed support and resources for the concept is to be accumulated for the implementation of the concept. In the third phase the actors to the concept will be influenced for the adoption of the concept.

Giving up
My tag line or personal motto is “Nuquam Cede” it means Never give up in Latin. Giving up isn’t an option that I give myself. I might need a break or encouragement in whatever form that it appears, but I don’t allow myself to think of resignation.

I add value, I am a Woman of Rubies
A woman of rubies is a woman who adds value to her family, her community and nation at large. She is concerned about the wellbeing of others and works tirelessly to contribute her quota to making the world a better place. I am tenacious about this being a driving tenet in my life; to make a difference with the gifts that I have been bestowed with. To help our children have a better world than the one that we currently inhabit.

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MEET THE SOUTH AFRICAN LADY CREATING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH RUNNING

South African, Zanele Hlatshwayo is creating awareness for mental health through running

After losing her father to suicide, Hlatshwayo cried a lot. The mourning process got so close to affecting her mental health that she started looking for ways to deal with her emotions. Eventually, running turned out to be her coping mechanism.

Speaking with IOL, she said:

“When I started, I was running away from the situation. I didn’t want to deal with it anymore but the more I ran, the more I realized it is helping me deal with it.”

It’s been more than 10 years since she started road running and she’s still going strong. Now she’s taking it up a notch by running 18 races around South Africa in just seven months!

To show she means business, Hlatshwayo has already completed seven races since January. With 11 to go, she has partnered with the crowd-funding platform, BackaBuddy to raise R180,000 (more than N5 million) for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).

Explaining how running relates to mental health, she said:

“Running also signifies pain that people who are depressed go through because in many instances, when you run…there’s a lot that you go through, physically and emotionally. It’s a similar process for those who suffer from depression.”

Hlatshwayo will cap off this feat with a 180km race in the Eastern Cape by the end of July.

Source: konbini.com

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THE AMAZING STORY OF ALHAJA ASIATA ONIKOYI WHO HAS LIVED WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA FOR 93 YEARS

Alhaja Ashiata Abike Onikoyi-Laguda will be 94 years old October 2018 and she still lives a robust life though she has the highly feared SS genotype.

Alhaja Laguda, as she is popularly called, said during an interview with The Nation, that she stopped having Sickle Cell attacks since she turned 40, though her genotype is still the same.

Here are a few things she said:

On being sickly

“Doctors see me and wonder what a miracle I am.

She recalled that being sickly was tougher at the time she was growing up because nobody knew about sickle cell anemia. She was always sick to the point that in a whole year, she may attend school only about three months of the entire annual school calendar while she spent the other months sick and at home. She was given all sorts of concoctions to cure her illness due to the ignorance surrounding the ailment.

“I was taken to the hospital; then they still brought all sorts of concoction from the Igbo tribe, from Yoruba people and from Hausa part of the country, because it was a very serious sickness. I just took everything that they gave me. They would cut me on every part of my body but I gave myself to them because I wanted to live.”

When the illness attacked her hands, she recalled that she would not be able to use them for anything – not even to eat. When it attacked her legs, she would not be able to walk, and whenever she was at home, she must be by the fire-side, to keep her warm.

On shame and insults

“They called me ‘abiku’ and several other names, but thank God things have changed today. Also, the government is doing everything within its power to enlighten the people about the disease.”

On how her father cared for her

She said her father pampered her because he feared he could lose her at any moment. So he mostly kept her away from school.

She said: “If he didn’t die, I probably wouldn’t have been educated because he said I should be left at home so that they can watch over me every time.

“He insisted that because of my nature, no teacher should beat me. He would say I should be left at home even when I was not having any attacks; but when he died I had no choice because my mum insisted I went to school. That, in a nutshell, was how it became possible for me to go to school.”

Before she took a fall

Before I fell, I used to walk from my house here in Ilasamaja, Lagos to Mushin and Oshodi market as a form of exercise because I believe walking is the best exercise one can engage in. I walked like that until I was 90 when I fell and had to stop.”

Prior to her fall, Alhaja Laguda used to go to hospitals to talk to people living with Sickle Cell anemia, lecture them, and encourage them.

On raising sickle cell children

She called on parents with children suffering from sickle cell anemia to take care of the children very well, feed them well and show them lots of love.

“This will make it easier for them to live with the disease. When it is cold, keep them warm; don’t keep them at home because they are always sick; let them go to school, it is very important,” she said.

On if she wants to live longer

She said she hopes to leave this earth soon, adding: “I want to go but God has not killed me, so I have no choice but live.”

 

Credit: The Nation, Fab Woman

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MEET SALMA AL-MAJIDI, THE FIRST ARAB AND SUDANESE WOMAN TO COACH A MEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM

In 2012, Sudan’s Islamic Fiqh Council issued a religious banning the formation of a national women’s football team in the country. Their reason? It’s an ‘immoral act’. While the order has made most Sudanese women abandon their dreams of becoming professional footballers, Salma al-Majidi has gone around it by becoming a football coach instead – and her players are all men!

Acknowledged by FIFA as the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach a men’s football team, al-Majidi started dreaming about a career in football at the age of 16. Confident that what a man can do a woman can also do, she approached a coach in charge of a boys’ team and asked to work with him.

Speaking with AFP, she said:

“At the end of every training session, I discussed with him the techniques he used to coach the boys. He saw I had a knack for coaching and gave me a chance to work with him.”

From there, she started coaching under-13 and under-16 teams. Now at 27, not only does she have the CAF “B” badge – meaning she can coach any first league team across the continent – she has coached four Sudanese men’s clubs so far. Two of the clubs even topped local leagues under her coaching.

Determined to succeed, al-Majidi looks forward to coaching an international team someday.

 

Culled from konbini.com

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“I WAS IN JUNIOR CLASS WHEN I TOLD MY MUM I WANTED TO LEARN FASHION DESGINING”- ANIMASHAUN AMINAT ADERAYO

Animashaun Aminat Aderayo is the CEO of Switt fashion and leather works which is a Nigerian company founded in 2012. A Company make use of quality leather and fabrics such as Ankara, Aso-ofi, silk and satin to produce handmade shoes with matching bags and accessories for women, as well as high quality leather footwear for men. she created the brand name ” De’rayo” and launched her vocational institute “De’rayo vocational Limited” which is into training of youths and youth corp members to be experts in a field of their choice in the fashion industry.

She had her Diploma in marketing from Olabisi Onabanjo university, studied French and have Delf certificate in French,studied B.sc. Entrepreneurial and business administration at Nigeria National Open University.

She also studied Entrepreneurial Development at Enterprise Development Center, Lagos Business School. Derayo is also the co-founder of Prospects for Girls Foundation, an NGO that train and empower young girls in Africa. The young entrepreneur who believes Nigeria will be great again shares her inspiring story in this exclusive interview.

Childhood Influence

When I was at age 6, what I do most times is to stitch fabrics together. I remember vividly when I was in JSS 2, I told my Mum I wanted to learn fashion designing at her friends’ shop which I resume there after school each day instead of going to extra lesson. I did not know then I would become an entrepreneur. All I noticed at a tender age is that I enjoy marketing. I can market a product I don’t have with word of mouth and people will demand for it. I started out selling book stands, scarf and fashion accessories among others.
I enjoy marketing which I later studied at Olabisi Onabanjo University at 2004.

Meet Me

I am Animashaun Aminat Aderayo the creative director and CEO of Switt Fashion and Leather Works based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The company was founded in the year 2012. The company makes use of quality leather and fabrics such as Ankara, Adire, and Aso-Ofi to produce handmade shoes, with matching bags and accessories for women, as well as high quality leather footwear for men.

I created the brand name “De’rayo”. I’m also the CEO of “De’rayo Vocational Limited” which is into training of youths to be an expert in a field in Fashion Industry. I studied Diploma in marketing from Olabisi Onabanjo University, studied French and have a Delf Certificate in French; I studied B. Sc. Entrepreneurial and business administration at Nigeria National Open University.

I also studied Entrepreneurial Management at Enterprise Development Center, Lagos Business School. I’m the co-founder of prospects for girls foundation, an NGO that train and Empower young girls in Africa.

Inspiration behind Switt Fashion and Leather Works
Switt Fashion and Leather Works is a manufacturing company that is into production of Shoes, Bags and Accessories with quality leather and fabrics such as Aso-Ofi, Ankara and Adire.

We produce for other brands both locally and internationally. We produce for 18 Forever a London base brand and Redefine Africa in Pennsylvania USA and brands in Nigeria.

The inspiration behind Switt Fashion is to see quality products produce here in Nigeria by us for us to the world and for the fact that I want to reduce the rate of unemployment which I known setting up a factory will help to employ certain number of youths and the factory success can also be a source of motivation to Nigeria Youths, that it can work here in Nigeria against all odds.

Challenges

The challenges are enormous, but have confirmed that greatest opportunities are gotten from greatest challenges. Firstly is acting as the Creative Director and CEO at the same time is not sustainable, inadequate power supply

Empowering Youths and Corpers
Empowering Youths and Corpers is our company Corporate Social Responsibilities CSR and it is actual one of my core passion to see lots of youths create jobs for others, so we can all reduce the rate of unemployment that is alarming, and the best place to catch them is during NYSC, I also visit orphanage homes to train orphans on Ankara craft and the company also gives out scholarship to youths with interest by training them for free. I want to change the narratives; I am a shoemaker with a difference. I want to groom young entrepreneurs that value culture, education and also produce quality products to the world.

Tell us about your other project and activities

De’rayo Vocational Limited is a provider of fashion and craft education to all levels. We balance the know-how of design production with an international vision. We offer training on shoemaking designing, bag making designing, texture designing, fashion accessory designing, fashion business, fashion marketing and merchandizing. We offer diploma certificate in all our courses. We provide state of the art learning facilities, equipped practical rooms our vocational center is located at 61, Adesam Plaza Dikat, Ring Road, Ibadan. We also do online training which you can enroll on our website: www.dvi.institute.

Reward
I got a scholarship from World Bank (women x) extraordinary women where I was trained at Lagos business school, enterprise development centre for free. I was also awarded personality of month by JCI (Jimson Chambers International) Oluyole Chapter, Ibadan, Nigeria. I have participated in many exhibition and conference.

My brand in the next five years
We would have our stores nationwide and export to other countries. Expansion of our factory which we will be able to employ (50) fifty people and turn our vocational limited into a conventional universities where we produce certified shoemakers, bag makers and curtisam.

Giving up

No, not at all, there are ups and downs which I believe every profession has. I enjoy what I do a lot that is why it is difficult for me to turn my back at it. My burning passion boosts my moral sometimes when I’m down.

Who and what inspire you to be better

My Mentor – Mrs. Atinuke Fadahunsi Smith, (Datina Designs) she supports me and my mother Mrs. Aderonke Animashaun. I learn from afar my role model as well Mrs. Sola Babatunde (OSC College of Fashion). My inspiration comes from seeing quality products made in Nigeria and promoting our culture to the world. Our traditions and culture is very rich which we need to tell our stories through them, our designs celebrates Africa culture and tradition.

Being a Woman of Rubies

I am a woman of rubies because I nurture the next generation of creative leaders and thinkers, I nurture my God given abilities. I dream and yearn for a better Nigeria which I am doing my part to make Nigeria great. I believe in making sure everyone wins which reflects in all my daily activities. I support all women businesses and mentor aspiring youths to become an entrepreneur.

Final word for women all over the world

The expert in anything was once a beginner.Do not let anything stand in your starting, start something, start somewhere, just start, follow your dream and passion. Don’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream, you’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.

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“NEVER ALLOW YOURSELLF FEEL LIKE YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING” – BOLA BANWO

Bolanle Banwo is a brand Identity designer from Lagos, Nigeria. She helps brands tell compelling stories via creative designs. Much of her work is centered around helping small and medium businesses create smart impressions and build strong identities via good communication designs. Bolanle is the Founder and Lead Creative at the Female Designer Movement, an initiative she launched with a mission to train and equip women with design skillset and thereby help increase the number of women in the Nigerian Technology ecosystem. She shares her story and the inspiration behind her initiative in this interview.

Growing Up
I have always loved Art and Art related subjects right from nursery school. I found myself always illustrating on paper and anything I could find. I drew so much all my school notes were filled with drawings from the back. For me drawing came naturally and it was a way to ease myself. I think all those experiences contributed in preparing me for today.

Meet Me
I’m Banwo Omobolanle , a Brand Identity, User Interface / User experience designer, Illustrator and Animator. I am the Founder and Lead Creative at The Female Designer Movement, an initiative borne out of my desire to see more women actively involved in the Nigerian Technology / Design ecosystem.
I’m also a lover of good food and I hope to travel to china soon to have a plate of their locally made noodles in spicy soup.

Being a Brand Identity designer
Basically, I help brands tell compelling visual stories through intelligent design, illustrations and animations. Every brand has a unique identity and message that they would like to convey to their audience. My job entails coming up with creative visual content.

Challenges
People say Nigeria is beginning to embrace Art, But I think even if we are…It’s not fast enough. We need more initiatives in place to protect Art and everything related to it. My dream is to see people confidently take up Design as a profession without fear of not earning enough.

Inspiration behind Female Designer Movement
The Female Designer Movement is an initiative I launched to equip women with design skillset. I have nursed the idea in my heart for a while and decided to go ahead and launch it this year. Our first meetup held on the third of March while the other was held on March 10th. We had over 150 ladies who registered for the sessions. The response has been awesome and exciting, and we’ve only just started.
The ultimate goal is to increase the number of women in the Design and Tech industry. I desire to see more and more women get technical skillsets and take on important roles on tech companies and work on interesting projects in the industry. We intend to reach more females in secondary schools and keep training and creating opportunities for more and more of them across the country and then we’ll to other African countries eventually. It’s a huge project and I’m excited at the interesting journey that lies ahead of us. We plan to go even bigger, to reach out to more women around Nigeria. We can only achieve this by getting the support we need. So we are open to partnerships and support from individuals and organisations.


Reward
As regards TFDM, my greatest reward is the genuine joy and satisfaction displayed on the faces of the people we trained. Knowing that what I do or did helped add tangible value to their lives, which will go on to affect their careers…it’s a priceless feeling.
I think it’s about the same thing with my other works with brands that I create designs for. The satisfaction they show at the work I deliver, and knowing how important it is to them is actually very encouraging. I like to do work that matters and being able to achieve that is the greatest reward anyone can hope for.

Where I see my brand in 5 years
I see us becoming the most recognized training institute for women in Nigeria. I also see us making immeasurable impact in other African countries as well.

Giving up
Definitely, there were times I felt like just leaving this profession to do something completely different. I held on because of the genuine love I have for design. I place fulfilment above everything other thing.

Who and what inspire me to be better
I have a couple of people who have inspired me over time. Paula Scher and Chris Do are some of these people. I am inspired by the work that they do and the impact that they make.

Being a Woman of Rubies
Over time, I have had to be strong, focused and relentless. I have seen myself grow into becoming the woman I am now. I have not allowed obstacles stop me from doing what I love.

Final word for young women all over the world
I would like to encourage every young woman not to give up on themselves and on their dreams, Don’t look down on yourself and never allow yourself feel like you can’t do anything. Learn, develop yourself, your skill and of course tell God your plans so he can show you the best way to achieve it. You can be anything. You can do anything.

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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SWEARS IN FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT

Eight years after the country’s first female Prime Minister was elected, Trinidad and Tobago witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of the country’s first female President, Paula-Mae Weekes.

Following her swearing in, President Weekes said that citizens have to make the choice to fight the ‘darkness’ threatening the nation.

“Our destinies are inextricably linked. Many experts beset us with dismal stories, they tell us Trinidad and Tobago is perilously close to the point of no return….that we will soon be a failed state….so what are we to do?”

“As I see it, we have two choices; we can lament, blame, criticize and allow a miasma of despair to overwhelm us, or we can consciously choose the alternative…not dream about the alternatives but mobilize our resources to step out boldly and make Trinidad and Tobago a better place for us and our children…all the while understanding that although faith is a necessity, without action it is useless.”

“Confront the darkness and declare that it will not take over…good things are indeed possible for Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.

She urged citizens to create doable short-term plans to help assist their communities.

“I ask all of you to find ways to make a positive difference in whatever your sphere of influence…practicable, doable projects, the results of which can be seen and measures in the short term.”

“Many organizations have been asking to meet with me, but let’s not meet just for meeting sake. Come armed with your ideas, your feasible projects to improve the quality of life in our nation nothing will catch my eye faster than a man or woman with a plan,” she said.

She also urged citizens to consciously move away from violent thoughts, actions and speech.

“We speak about how violent we have become, but the climate of violence is not in overt acts, it’s embedded in everyday talk, schools, business places, rum shops, and worst of all in homes.”

She also urged citizens to join her and to help bring the country to greatness.

“Do not let me walk alone. By faith let us stand together side by side as we carry our nation to greatness.”

Weekes was put forward by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for the position in January 2018 and was elected on January 19, 2018.

 

 

 

Weekes is the sixth President of Trinidad and Tobago and carries on from former president Anthony Carmona.

Weekes, a former student of Bishop Anstey High School, attended the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree. She then went on to the Hugh Wooding Law School and was called to the Bar in 1982.

After graduation, she worked in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for 11 years, before going into private practice in 1993.

She was appointed to the judiciary in 1996 and to the Court of Appeals in 2005, where she served until her retirement in 2016.

In September 2016, Weekes was appointed to the appeals court in the Turks and Caicos.

 

 

Credit: www.looptt.com

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MEET ANDRIA ZAFIRAKOU, THE WORLD BEST TEACHER

A woman from North London, Andria Zafirakou has won the award for World’s Best Teacher.  Mrs Zafirakou ,who teaches art and textiles in a Brent secondary school was also given $1m along with her award.

The Prime Minister of UK Theresa May sent a video message commending Mrs Zafirakou and said great teachers needed “resilience, ingenuity and a generous heart”.

She was presented the award by His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum  the vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Racing driver Lewis Hamilton, Olympic champion Mo Farah, former US vice president Al Gore and former UK prime minister Tony Blair were part of the event honoring the north London teacher.

Image result for Andria Zafirakou wins worlds best teacher

 

In Her acceptance speech , she called for more support for the “power of the arts” in school, particularly for the “poorest communities”.

Mrs Zafirakou has been praised for making her pupils feel secure, working with the police to make sure they travel to and from school in safety.

Mrs Zafirakou is the first UK winner of the Global Teacher Prize, beating teachers nominated from more than 170 count.

 

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng

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“IF YOUR DREAM DOES NOT SCARE YOU, IT MEANS IT’S NOT BIG ENOUGH – UJU OKOYE

Uju Christy Okoye is a (Life Savvy) Lifesyle Entrepreneur who helps self Drive
​ individuals create their Niche and earn income online.​ ​The Ceo Jidekaijitv has a multi passionate personality, with a vision to touch and impact lives through mentoring and ​coaching,. She ​fe​lt ​ inferior ​while ​growing up because her dad wished she and her sisters came to the world as boys s​. Uju s​hares her story of self discovery in this interview

Growing up
I have grown past​ my pain​, ​my struggle and my presumed worth as a girl child when I was born the last child of 7 children 6 girls and a boy.I was expected to be a boy. I was just 5 years when my dad brought in a second wife and introduced to my mum, who had 7 children 6 girls and a boy. The only reason was he wanted more boys. I felt neglected l felt not worthy, I felt not up to standard on boy.

I kept asking why? Why the discrimination, Then, it effected my view on Marriage and life but not anymore.I am a woman a strong woman. It took me years after of self discovery and personal love and development to understand my worth. I’m a girl not different compare to boy.

Uju!
I’m multi passionate personality. (Life Savvy) Lifestyle Entrepreneur Helping self Driven individuals create their Niches doing what they love, what makes them happy.I am the Ceo of Jidekaijitv, Founder Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Hub, Coach/Mentor @Lifestyle mastery Academy an online Course. Travel consultant, Lifestyle Entrepreneur Influencer. Tele communication, reseller. Teens/Young Adult Advocate. Touching and impacting lives positively, branding, unveiling happiness, success not just our nation but around the globe, is very crucial to me. I have gotten an experienced in the uniqueness of cultural diversity from opportunity I got previous years to travel to at least four different countries,
My 2008-2018 journey of self discovery, young wife, then, young mother then personal and business development seminars workshop, trainings with like minded professionals in their various filled.
Struggle to understand Portuguese language in other to cope with good communication, trying to get clear details of who I really want to be my passion and vision getting more clarity on it, trying to perfect in my Lifestyle entrepreneur niche. Weeping and waiting upon the Lord for another child after traumatic miscarriage that almost take my life. I found solace in writing books which later become part of my success story today.

My 7 Intriguing, informative, inspiring, Books has a lot to say about Lifestyles daily events of life. Unveiling shocking secret in different angle of our life events. My favorite scripture ; Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me.

Tell us more about Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Hub?
Lifestyle Entrepreneur Hub is a group Where we brand, influence, Teach, Learn, impact and give values to great Leaders, extra ordinary Entrepreneur, We Learn/Teach everything that has to do with lifestyle, career, money, love, relationship’s, adventures The group is for all individual to Live a happy, successful, Lifestyles because you deserve. Life is a journey we got to be sure of where we going, enjoy the process no matter the bombs on the way we have to keep moving till we get to our final destination. Living our dream lives. Living outstanding legacy behind.

Jidekaijitv
JIDEKAJI It’s a TV show and Reality series, coming to WAP TV, African magic Igbò! and other like minded television channels! Our show offer a chances to showcase interested businesses/companies owners, if you’re Public figure or Not, You’re qualify if your Private business owners. You don’t have to be a celebrity before the world see your talents, brands, products. I know there are Many Extraordinary people doing extra ordinary things.. We believe that you all exist. Our priority is to help you showcase and Advertise your products/brands not just to Local potential clients/customers but also global and international limelight in all major Television channels,social media, our websites and cable Networks.

Let the world get to see what value you offer to your customers, what motivate/drives you. If you’re God fearing, inspiring, hard working business entrepreneurs with a vision to touch lives positively through your brands/ products and recommendations to your customers to put smile on their faces and get value for their money. We show up and take your business to global level to the glory of God.

Challenges
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, my line of work is huge, and its cost a lot, anyone that’s familiar in Media/Telecommunications business will agree with me, that it’s not walk in the park. It’s tough, expensive, and energetic.

My discrimination and emotional trauma experience
Yes The emotional trauma I went through while growing as a result of gender discrimination left me with some sort of fear of marriage, but my marriage to my husband is one of the best thing that happened to me, because he he proved to be totally different from my fear, He does not bother about gender, going through secondary infertility, after we had our daughter, he always assured me God will bless us again at His time, I will purposely ask him what if we have another girl, He will tell me baby, its God gift, whether girl or boy. Its give me great confidence that he understands. After Waiting for six years we welcomed our 2nd child a son. I have come to embrace the woman I am. I have come to love me for who I am.

Other Projects and Activities
We are currently running offline/online training, empowering self driving individual the need to make extra income doing what they are passionate about. Ranging from Media, Telecommunications, Entrepreneur, Networking, we are on digital world where we do a whole lot legitimately using our internet connected smart phone.

How I unwind
I listen to my body, as a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Living a healthy, happy adventurous life is a way of life to me, I know when to rest, when to go for Spa, and beauty treatment, when to travel for vacation, when to take time off work and relax have fun with my lovely family, my Adorable Extraordinary kids (Princess and prince) they know exactly how to make mummy happy and relaxing with them see new movie at cinema or just have a quite private moment listening to my favorite lyrics at home it’s one of best feelings

Greatest Reward
My Lovely Husband and my Adorable children are my greatest reward. Great supportive, my prayer warrior our mum, my Families/ friends, my Co-host (My Twinny) my Partners, & crews. God gave them to me for a divine purpose they always support me and be proud of me. To me its the best reward ever.

Where I see my brand in the next five years
Like the saying goes, if your dream does not scare you, it means it’s not big enough. I see JIDEKAIJI GLOBAL SERVICES In the next 5 years to become not just a household name for our nation but around the globe, just like our Name. Jidekaiji means (keep it up) We will keep up our great work globally touching, impacting, influencing, changing lives positively.

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#PROFILE| MEET PROF REMI SONAIYA, NIGERIA’S ONLY FEMALE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2015

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya is a Nigerian politician, educationalist and writer. She was Nigeria’s only female presidential candidate in the 2015 presidential election under the  KOWA Party , she has also declared her desire to run for president again in 2019 under the same party.

Oluremi Comfort Sonaiya was born March 2, 1955 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. She completed her primary and secondary school education at St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Ibadan, and St. Anne’s School, Ibadan.

In 1977, she graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she studied French.She later obtained a Master of Arts degree in French Literature from Cornell University in the United States, and another master’s degree in Linguistics from a university in Nigeria in 1984.

She returned to Cornell in 1988 to pursue a Ph.D. in Linguistics. After which she returned to continue lecturing in the Department of Foreign Languages of the Obafemi Awolowo University which she had joined in 1982 as an Assistant Lecturer. She became a professor of French Language and Applied Linguistics in 2001.

Political Career

In 2010, she retired from her position at Obafemi Awolowo University and became politically active, joining the KOWA Party where she was voted its National Public Relations Officer and went on to be the party’s candidate for the 2015 Presidential election.At the election, she received 13,076 votes and finished in 12th place.

Mrs. Sonaiya contributes regularly to Nigerian media discourse.  she is currently a columnist with The Niche, a weekly (Sunday) newspaper. She has published three books on the Nigerian (and African) condition: A Trust to Earn – Reflections on Life and Leadership in Nigeria (2010); Igniting Consciousness – Nigeria and Other Riddles (2013); and Daybreak Nigeria – This Nation Must Rise! (2014).

She also a recipient of various international research grants and fellowships, including the French Government Grant for Advanced Researchers and the German Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship and the first Nigerian to be appointed as the Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a position she occupied from 2008 to 2014.  In 1986 she received the American Association of University Women.

Mrs. Sonaiya is married to Babafunso Sonaiya, a professor of Animal Science, and they have two grown children and two grandsons.

 

 

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng

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