Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile March 22, 2018 By Women of Rubies

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.

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

In Interviews&profile March 17, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“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 felt inferior while growing up because her dad wished she and her sisters came to the world as boys s. Uju shares 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.

In Interviews&profile March 13, 2018 By Women of Rubies

#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

In Interviews&profile March 10, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“AS A MINISTER OF GOD AND A PREACHER, ONE MAJOR CHALLENGE HAVE FACED IS GENDER ISSUE” – PASTOR FUNMI DANIELS

Pastor Funmi Daniels is the Founder of the unveiled woman network, a ministry with the mandate to help women rediscover their true worth and value in Christ Jesus thereby becoming true kingdom ambassadors, through the unveiled woman network, she holds yearly conferences for Ladies.
She is an associate pastor at Covenant light Church, pastoring alongside her husband. She has been actively involved in various church planting projects and evangelistic outreaches.
She has a passion to see people rise from the lowest points of their lives to a life of purpose and significance. She has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and has been involved in several trainings.She is happily married to her husband Mr Ovie Daniels and together they reside in the city of Lagos Nigeria.
In commemoration of the International Women’s day, I bring you the inspiring story of a woman who hit rock bottom several times in her life but today she is helping other women rediscover their true worth and value and also Press for Progress.

Childhood Influence
I would say yes though it wasn’t directly. Childhood was a bit bumpy and I faced quite a lot of issues that young girls face today. I battled low self-esteem, I never felt I was pretty, I didn’t believe in myself and I constantly felt others were better than me. Whenever anyone complemented me about something, I always saw it as flattery rather than a complement. This went on for a while which made me extremely vulnerable during my teenage years. It affected my academics as well because I never saw the possibility of being top of my class. When I became of age, with the mentorship of the wonderful people in my life I began to develop a stronger self-confidence. I no longer defined myself by other people’s standards. I saw myself the way God sees me, and I began to believe in myself all over again. Seeing the negative impact those wrong mindsets had on me, I felt pulled towards helping ladies who are presently faced with what I faced. The passion to help women rediscover their true worth and value in Christ Jesus became stronger and that’s what led to the start of the Unveiled Woman Network, a ministry that is focused on helping women rediscover their true worth and value. To a large extent I would say my childhood played a major role in what I am about today. The passion to make an impact in lives and mentor ladies who rise up to be bold, confident and courageous is right at the pinnacle of my heart.

Meet Me
My name is Funmi Daniels. I’m a mass communication graduate. I’m married to my darling, wonderful and amazing husband Ovie Daniels and together we are associate pastors at Covenant light Church. Asides being a pastor, I run my own organisation called the Unveiled Woman Network and through that platform we organise yearly conferences both in the city of Lagos and on campuses. The organisation has been running now for 5yrs. Alongside I organise a mentorship class for women of purpose who want to live significant lives.

Inspiration behind the Unveiled Woman Network
The Unveiled Woman Network is a ministry with a mandate to help women rediscover their true worth and value in Christ Jesus thereby becoming true kingdom ambassadors. Our Core values Dignity, courage, character, love & spirituality.
Our Mission is to build a network of women with a strong Christ consciousness who represent God’s kingdom in various spheres of life and reach out to abused and emotionally broken women with the message of God’s love and grace
Passion to see people rise from their lowest to a life of purpose
As earlier stated, my personal experiences fueled most of what I do today. I was a lady who though loved God dearly but was confused about life and an emotional wreck. In my life’s journey I hit rock bottom on several occasions, but God in His love reached out to me and made me into who I am today. So based on how far I have come, I am committed to helping ladies who feel their lives would never amount to anything, to see their true and authentic self. And not just ladies but men as well because I pastor men too. When a person discovers the inherent potentials he/she carries, there is a stronger motivation for such a one to rise and live the life of significance he/she has been called to live.

Challenges
As a minister of the gospel and a preacher, one major challenge I’ve faced is the gender issue. Due to our culture and tradition, men (though not all men) don’t find it easy receiving from a female minister or be pastored by one. Though I lead men but often times the ‘ego thing’ always shows up. Some men are already coming to terms with the knowledge that when it comes to God working through human vessels, He can choose to work through either the man or woman. There is neither male nor female with God. So basically, this is the major challenge I’ve had to face and like every other challenge, it’s an hurdle you have to learn to jump over if you want to remain relevant and fulfil purpose.

Pastoring alongside my Husband
Pastoring in Covenant light Church has been an amazing journey. A prayer everyone should pray is to have a pastor who is personally committed to your growth and development. My pastor – Pastor Nuel Manufor is one man of God has used to sharpen me into the person I am today. In my crude form, he saw the treasures in me and constantly empowered me to rise above the limiting beliefs in my mind. He constantly gave me assignments that were way beyond me, so I can stretch and reach for more. He never looked at the fact that I was a lady….he believes a woman can also carry out tasks that men are involved in. Growing under his tutelage has been an adventure and it was his mentorship that made me decide I won’t settle for anything less than God’s best for my life in marriage. When I met my husband, He wasn’t a member of my church. He was a campus pastor in another church when we met so there was the little concern on my part on how I will leave my church to join him as the custom is. I chose to pray about it and I allowed God’s will to be done.

Other Project and Activities
There are books presently being worked on which will be published soonest. In the month of May, we will be having an online campaign called the #Hergracestory campaign. It’s a campaign where different women will post their grace stories on social media with the #Hergracestory. We had one last year and a lot of lives were positively impacted through it. It’s all about Real Women! Real Stories and Real Victories!

Greatest Reward
My greatest reward is the testimonies of transformed lives. I’ve seen prostitutes become purposeful and successful business women. I’ve seen abused ladies become mentors to other ladies. I’ve seen single moms pick up the pieces of their lives and make significant progress. I’ve seen bitter women become channels of joy to others. I’ve seen the worst of people become better and that for me makes a whole lot of difference. It’s a privilege God gave me and I’m forever grateful. When someone sends me a text message about how his or her life is better because of my involvement, it touches my heart. That for me is the greatest reward anyone can give me.

Unveiled Woman Network in the next five years
I see Unveiled Woman Network becoming a household name with global recognition due to its impact in lives both within the country and across the continents. We have plans to engage in projects like helping sex workers have a chance at a better life, community outreaches and global conferences to empower the millennial woman. As for me I see myself with a larger sphere of influence and a wider global coverage for more impact. My joy is to keep touching lives.

Giving up
Several times! I’ve passed on several opportunities to quit especially times when the going was tough. Times when I had my personal struggles but yet had to stay committed to the set goals. Times when it felt like things weren’t moving as fast as it should. I remember in 2012 when I had my very first unveiled woman meeting. It was supposed to be a gathering of about 50 people but it ended up being a gathering of 8. I felt so discouraged that I wasn’t excited about taking pictures. Some people I shared the vision with back then weren’t excited about it. I literally felt the ministry won’t see the light of day. I was so discouraged that I did nothing about the vision till 2014. God surrounded me with people who fired me on in the pursuit of the vision. I planned another conference with the goal of having about 150people but at the end we were about 60 people in attendance. The discouragement wanted to set in again, but God used the people around me to help me see the brighter side of things. Today the network has reached about two thousand ladies via its online groups and onsite meetings. I look at what God is doing now through the network and I’m elated. If I had quit, I won’t be here having this interview. *smiles*
Who Inspire you to be better
My Mum

Unveiled woman Conference
The Unveiled Woman is organizing the third edition of its Valued, Treasured and Loved Conference on Good Friday 30th Mar, 2018. We have an amazing line up of speakers like Rev Jumoke Adeyemi, Pastor Mildred Okonkwo, Pastor Folashade Fadeyi, Pastor Lola Tewe and my humble self. It’s a FREE conference and it would be my joy to have everyone there. The theme for the conference is LIMITLESS. The goal is for everyone who will be present at the conference to leave with a better and higher version of themselves. There is much more to us than we know…we just need to reach deeper and not stay within our comfort zones.

Being a Woman of Rubies
My desire to help women see the gem within them. Every woman is a walking treasure and as many as I come across, I’m committed to helping them see that.

Final word for Women all over the world
Be your authentic self. Don’t try to be like anyone else. God has made you unique with potentials that when harnessed will be a blessing to lives. Don’t be caught in the competition-game. The only person you should be better than today is the person you were yesterday. Make Christ your anchor and follow every of His leading. As long as you don’t stop or quit, you will get ‘there’.

In Interviews&profile March 7, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET 19 YEARS OLD ENIOLA ABORO, THE FIRST NIGERIAN MODEL TO MAKE AN INTERNATIONAL DEBUT FOR PRADA

19 years old Eniola Abioro, a finalists at the Few Model Management maiden competition, has become the First Nigerian to make an international debut for Prada during the Milan Fashion Week!

Eniola was discovered by the director of Few Models director, Bolajo Fawenhimi, in 2017 while working as an intern in a private primary school in Lagos. She was convinced to participate at the maiden edition of Few’s Next Face where she emerged as one of the top 5 finalists.

The young model has also made appearances on top fashion runways around the world since her Prada debut, at Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Feragammo, Yves Saint Laurent, Paco Rabanne and Loewe. She was recently named by Vogue as “one of the strongest new faces on the runway”

In Interviews&profile March 3, 2018 By Women of Rubies

NEVER STOP BUILDING UNTIL THAT PURPOSE COMES TO FRUITION – IFUNANYA IGWE

Ifunanya Igwe is a radio presenter and voice over artiste popularly known for hosting “The Midday Show With Ify” on Lagos Talks 91.3. Born and raised in Nigeria, Ify attended Corona Secondary school and graduated from The University of Capecoast in Ghana with a degree in psychology,She took a break from the world of science to focus on her interest in media. One of her major goals as a broadcaster is to raise the bar for women in the broadcasting industry by empowering women through her work.

With her zeal to inspire the world, she began a project called Inspiration To Live (@inspirationtolive_ng) where she sends out a weekly podcast With inspirational words to touch lives.

She was one of the presenters for the live broadcast of the largest gospel concert in the world, “The Experience” In her words “I seek to leave an outstanding legacy in the world and help as many women as I can, by challenging them to be more and accepting the fact that they are enough. She shares her story in this interview.

Growing Up
I believe everyone’s past prepares them for their future whether directly or indirectly. I would say mine was the later, certain experiences and encounters shaped my interests and led to me to pursue my current career path. Getting into broadcasting wasn’t just about me talking or being in front of the camera, although all that is nice. There are specific areas I am passionate about that I have chosen to lend my voice to using my broadcasting platform and I believe all this was as a result of my childhood, teenage years and part of my adult years.

Ify!
I was born on the 11th of November, I’m the last born of 5 children, a graduate of psychology from the University of Cape Coast and a food lover.I grew up enjoying the best of both worlds, starting from a not so silver spoon to a beautiful life my parents worked so hard for my siblings and I to have.
I call myself a creative because I’m constantly creating and looking for avenues to create and my creativity isn’t limited to a particular area, it cuts across different spheres. My satisfaction in life comes from the joy of others and I always strive to ensure that I’m a source of joy because that’s what my heart feeds off.

Taking a break from science to focus on Media
I have a couple of interests and I believe they all have their set times to be explored. The four years I spent in Cape Coast, Ghana was to focus on my interest in psychology afterwards I delved into the broadcasting path because of my interest in it and very soon I will be exploring others interests. Now this is not to say that I’d abandon psychology and broadcasting, rather eventually in the nearest future I’d strike a balance between these interests and figure out how to bring them under one umbrella to function simultaneously.

Trying to keep my head up in a competitive industry
The first challenge was knowing that I had a huge responsibility on my shoulders speaking to people everyday and understanding that my words could change the lives of people. This made me question if I was cut out for such a huge responsibility, however as time went by I was able to grow in confidence and strength. Another challenge was that this industry is quite saturated and competitive which is not so much of a negative thing because it constantly puts me at the edge to keep growing and improving. Also, getting into this industry I realised that brands were more focused on working with specific personalities who had been in the industry for a while and so it was difficult for newbies like me to explore certain terrains. This actually made me understand the importance of building my brand to the very best it can be.

Motivation behind my programme “Inspiration To Live”….
I’ve always had a passion for inspiring and transforming lives. There was a period I was just interning at the company which I currently work, hoping they were going to hire me however, time kept passing by and I wasn’t really getting feedback about being retained.
Due to this uncertainty, there were times I’d wake up and not be motivated to carry on because life wasn’t just going the way I wanted it to go, then I’d listen to some sermons to elevate me which helped.
So I woke up one morning thinking about other people like me that would wake up and not have the motivation to keep moving. I started recording some inspirational words on my phone which sounded pretty nice then I decided to add some music in the background which made it even nicer. I later spent some time on YouTube learning how to edit audio recordings in order for the podcasts to be of good quality.That’s how Inspiration To Live was birthed. Words to inspire people to live everyday.

Other project and activities?
Most of the projects I’m working on now, I can’t really say much about them but what I can say is that I’m transitioning to TV and I’d be doing that alongside my radio job.

Changing lives…my greatest reward
Hmmm! My utmost desire is, changing lives for the best because I believe there is nothing more beautiful than being the reason someone’s life is transformed. I’ve received several emails and calls on air with people telling me how much of an inspiration I’ve been to them through my show. For me, that is absolutely beautiful.

Also, I had an instance where someone called my show saying that he was about to take his own life. At that moment I was in so much shock but I had to put myself together, speak to him, then called the Lagos State Emergency numbers and I also reached out to an initiative that deals with such cases. Today that man is alive, getting better and he sent me an email appreciating me for everything. To me, that was priceless.

In five years
I see my brand expanding and exploring international terrains.

Giving up isn’t an option
There were times and I’m sure there’re still times that I’d want to give up, that’s just how life is. It has its ups and downs and during those downs, one of the most common things is having those moments when something I like doing. I believe my job is pivotal in changing not just the lives of people but my country Nigeria and because of this knowledge, I know giving up is not an option. I always have to remind myself that all this is not about me, it’s much greater than me and there’s a lot of work to be done.
One key thing that I never try to do is to do it on my own because I know God brought me here and rather than lean on my own strength and understanding which will eventually fail me, I lean on Him because I know He’d always see me through.

Who and what inspires me to be better
It’s the lives that need to be transformed, it’s the current state of our country and it’s the knowledge of greater possibilities that inspire me.
Knowing that people depend on the words that I speak on air to navigate their way through their businesses, relationships, spirituality and life in general, that keeps me pushing to better myself. Also knowing that there is so much more that can be achieved, and with me being an inquisitive young woman, I keep pushing the mark to see how far I can go and how better I can become.

I am a Woman of Rubies
It’s those experiences that have broken me, built me and transformed me into the woman I am today that seeks to bring hope, Love, beauty and change to my generation.
It’s the time I’ve spent in God’s presence and listening to all He says I am and all He has called me to be that has made me realise all that I have within me and as a result, I have become the woman I am today.
So, My Experiences + My God have made me this woman!

Final word for young women all over the world
Listen, you are so much more than your past and your current status.
Always remember that there was a specific purpose in which you were brought into this earth for, never stop building until that purpose comes to fruition.
A wise woman once said; “The goal is not to live forever but to create something that will”.

In Career Gems February 27, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET FEMALE CYCLIST, HUANG SHUANG WHO RODE FROM MOROCCO TO LAGOS

A Chinese female cyclist, Huang Shuang, has cycled from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria, within five months.

Huang, also known as CICI, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that she was inspired to embark on ‘`cycling around the world’’ after riding around her country.

The cyclist said that her experience in China motivated her to begin global cycling in America where she covered about 5,500 km in two months.

“I am glad that I have also been able to ride from Morocco to Lagos, Nigeria.

“ This is an indication that irrespective of our sex, we can achieve anything we set out to do.

“The whole idea about my cycling started when, one day, I decided to embark on a cycling trip around my country, China.

“After the trip around China, I was motivated to take my first cycling around the world to America, where I covered about 5,500km in two months.

“Now, I am in Lagos from Morocco, after I flew from America to France, where I cycled around Europe for four months, before taking ferry from Spain to Morocco,’’ she said.

Huang said that she always travelled with money, noodles, tent, sleeping bag, clothes and bicycle repair accessories.

The cyclist, who left Morocco for Lagos on Sept. 6, 2017, said that her trip was fascinating though she experienced tiredness, robbery, accidents and sleeping under bridges and in gas stations.

Huang told NAN that she crossed the desert within six days and was well received by many African villages.

The cyclist said that, sometimes, she happily ate local meals made by the villagers.

”I have happily sung and danced with children in different African villages and communities where I passed the nights or stopped to cook.

“I have seen the most beautiful sunset, the most stunning mountain views, breath-taking lakes and virgin forests across Africa.

”My trip has also exposed me to many African children still living in poverty, hunger, without education and basic amenities,’’ she said.

The Chinese said that she would be cycling to about 33 countries in the next three years, adding that she would continue her cycling from Lagos to Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, East Africa and some other countries.

Huang said that her cycling was also informed by her desire to interact with children in African communities before inaugurating a free lunch for them in 2018.

The cyclists said that she hoped to raise some money for the benefit to about 2,000 children.

Source: Pulse

In Interviews&profile February 26, 2018 By Women of Rubies

IBIDUNNI IGHODALO OPENS UP ON HER INFERTILITY JOURNEY AND HER FOUNDATION IN NEW INTERVIEW

In the interview, Ibidunni opened up about her own fertility journey which led to the birth of her foundation. From personally going through IVF 11 times, the societal pressure from in-laws and friends, to finding happiness in the joys of women who passed through her foundation as well as in her daughter Keke, Ibidunni’s interview is emotional and so powerful.

We have a few excerpts of the interview below

On her journey leading to the birth of her foundation

It was born out of pain. When you’ve waited… when you get married you expect to just have children and everything just works out fine for you. But, when you start to wait… First year you’re not pregnant. I honestly thought, first six months I would be pregnant. I just thought, ‘ok, ok, it will come it will come’. I waited a year, two years and then I started getting worried.

On if her husband was worried

No he wasn’t. He still isn’t. He keeps saying, ‘God is going to do it and whatever God is going to do, let it be left undone’. So I held onto that.

On feeling the pressure to take action

You know as a woman you never want to sit down and not do anything. So I started… I got worried, I’d go to the hospital, and I’ve been on this journey for 11 years now. It’s been tough. Especially because, in our society, they don’t spare you. They. Society. I mean, in-laws, friends. Sometimes it’s not intentional. It’s not on purpose.

But when you are waiting on God for a child, you’re so sensitive that the little things that people do gets to you. They might not even know that it’s getting to you. And everybody is running around, doing school runs… your friends that you got married together, you guys are together, their kids are coming to yours and you get back home at night and it’s just you alone.

On still waiting for her bundle of joy

Yes. (Adesuwa: But you’ve forgotten the waiting). Oh, totally. I’m not waiting anymore. I’m a mother of many. My foundation has twins… I have three kids from my foundation, I have a daughter, a beautiful daughter God has blessed me with. (Adesuwa: So you adopted a daughter). Yes. My goodness she’s a gift. She’s beautiful.

On the desire for a family

It gets to a point where you just really want children. You want company. I mean your husband is your friend, he’s your best friend, but you guys go to work together, you guys come back… After a while you want to plan a family. You just want people. You want kids around you.

On starting up a foundation to help other couples

Like I said, it was out of pain. After going through IVF 11 times. 11 times is not a joke when you’re doing IVF and I just woke up one morning on my birthday (I usually have this thing I do on my birthdays, I sit down, I pray, I have a conversation with God… ‘Last year of my life, I achieved this, I’ll love this to happen’… I write things down and we talk) and I said to him, ‘You know what, I am not doing this IVF again. How you’re going to do it, I do not know and I do not care but I am trusting you completely. And I heard something, ‘In the meantime, just go ahead and help as many people as you can’.

I thought I didn’t hear properly and I thought to myself, ‘I should help other people while I wait’ and honestly, I felt life. I felt like, this is why I was born. And the meaning of my name is Ibi dunni, “sweet to give birth”, “sweet to have” and for the first time it was as though my life was playing in front of me. And I said ‘ok, I will obey this voice’.

And I didn’t know how I was gonna do it, I didn’t have a clue, it’s never been done before, so I just said to God, ‘I’m trusting you on this journey, and I’m going to obey you completely and totally. You have to promise me something, that every single woman and every single couple that walks through this foundation, mentions this foundation, sees this foundation, you must give them a child’.”

Watch the full interview below

In Interviews&profile February 24, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING OTHER BUSINESSES GROW – ACHENEYO HELEN ASIMEGBE

Achenyo Helen Asimegbe is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Stylemark Mall, a retailer of high-quality children’s clothing and accessories. She is also the CEO of Stylemark Pro Enterprise (Capacity Development Centre), which trains Entrepreneurs, small business owners and start-ups.

With a strong background in banking and a MBA, Helen continues to add to her learning through a number of local and international certificate training programmes, including courses at the University of Leeds, University

Helen is a partner in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative and is currently contributing to Goal 2- Zero Hunger, by coordinating regular supply of food and other materials to orphanages and Camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja.
In pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, Helen has mentored over 3,000 men & women and also encouraged them to start businesses ,of which most of them are doing excellently well .

She was selected as the Networker of the year at the EDC organized Market Access 2017 in Abuja and the most inspiring/influential entrepreneur (Worldbank Womenx CEM 14 2016).
She wss an Observer at the 20th session of The Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters, New York (2017). The former banker turned mentor and business coach shares her success story in this educative interview.

Early Preparation

I had an amazing childhood, my Dad ensured I got quality education and was selfless enough to put me in really great schools. So with that even from a tender age I was really focused, my goals where clearly defined, like I will always tell my mom, I wanted to be a banker, because she was at one time a banker, and I admired her. So even from being little, I dreaded failing exams, so I always gave my best shot in everything I do, and I kept reminding myself, that to be this ‘’banker’’ that I wanted to be ‘’good grades good grades’’.
So having a very good foundation, by attending great schools, and having people around me that I could look up to/admire really helped in giving me a clear vision of where I wanted to be and the profession I wanted for myself.
So yes, my every moment from my childhood was part of the preparation process.

Meet Helen
I am a serial entrepreneur and the MD/CEO of Stylemark Mall, Stylemark ProEnterprise Hub/founder of SME Springboard.
I have 5 years experience in Banking, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, I am a certified Entrepreneurial Manager, I am an Advocate for the UN SDGs, am currently contributing to SDGs Goal 8-Decent Work and Economic growth, I also advocate for Goal 2:Zero Hunger, I have over the past couple of months (from 2017 till now) been lending my voice by taking supply of food stuff and other items to orphanages and Camps for Internally displaced persons in Abuja/Nigeria, to show love and give support.

I devote a lot of time to self development, by taking courses both from institutions in my homeland, and overseas, such as University of Leeds, University of London & London Business School (Coursera), Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) Of the Pan Atlantic University.

I never miss an opportunity to attend networking events/conferences anytime I get the opportunity to, as it gives me a unique opportunity to meet brilliant minds like myself, such events that have made a lasting impact on me, are;SME Springboard, Youth Assembly at the United Nations,AU ECOSOCC Youth Stakeholders Summit, Conference for Emerging Entrepreneurs-U.S Consulate General Lagos, Access Bank W-Academy-Seminar for Women Entrepreneurs, Unido & HP Learning Initiative For Entrepreneurs(LIFE).

I am very passionate about helping other businesses grow, I am a Mentor to quite a number of startups in my community, and I took it a step further by creating a Facebook group called SME Springboard, which is a platform I use to connect with millennials from all over the world, and I share contents on Entrepreneurship, various opportunities, and things to inspire them.

Stylemark Mall and Stylemark Pro Enterprise
At Stylemark Mall, we retail high-quality children’s clothing and accessories. And Stylemark Pro Enterprise Hub, is a capacity development centre, which trains Entrepreneurs, small business owners and start-ups.

The products of Stylemark ProEnterprise Hub are SME Springboard, and Stylemark Ads Space

Vision to locally manufacture and export children’s clothes
Yes, I have a vision to locally manufacture and export children’s cloth, I want to launch my own clothing line, proudly made in Nigeria, to be sold locally, and to be exported to other countries in Africa. Am working on it, and am praying all my plans fall in place.

Challenges
Well as an entrepreneur, there are lots of hurdles, from knowing which idea exactly to work with, and then the thought of how to start marketing, then to shortage of cash most of the time as a startup, to seeking knowledge of how to really start and run a business, then looking at customer retainership etc.
I have been through quite a lot, and it’s just normal, for every small business to face some of these challenges, the most important thing is to find ways to solve each one that springs up, and keep moving letting nothing at all stop you.

My experience as a Business mentor
Oh yes, I have been a mentor on the TEEP program from 2016 coming, my role as Mentor to startups that where peered with me, was for me to provide guidance and support, and have a genuine commitment towards making the relationship work and supporting the growth and development of the Mentee.
It’s been an awesome experience there is nothing more fulfilling like lending a helping hand to someone who probably is currently faced with something you went through at some point in life.

Other Projects and Activities
I coordinate a ‘business networking group’ on Facebook named SME SPRINGBOARD which i use as a platform to inspire as many millennials as i can globally and help them transform their ideas into profitable businesses thereby adding to their respective nations’ GDP.
I partner in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative and am currently contributing to Goal 2- Zero Hunger, by coordinating regular supply of food and other materials to orphanages and Camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

On January 1st 2018, I selected 10 young female startups for a Startup Give Back Program I put together, as a way of giving back to society.
These ladies have gone through an extensive two weeks online training, and they have all been assigned Mentors to help guide them in their entrepreneurship journey.

I hosted a GEW event/SME Springboard (conference) in 2016 and 2017. SME Springboard is an MSME-focused event where start-ups and other entrepreneurs benefit from Capacity Building, Mentoring, Access to finance, Markets’ access and business networking.
I am a member of Toastmasters International Club-Where leaders are made.

Greatest Reward
There is no form of reward that can ever be as great as having the privilege to impact other lives, and having a platform to share your story. For me, that’s the highest form of reward and I would keep lending my voice.

Giving up
Good question! I must confess a couple of times I felt like giving it all up, but you see, I still didn’t give up, its why I can share my story. I wake up every day and have to be a cheerleader to myself because I don’t have an option, I have to keep going, and then I sing it in my head that it will get better. So lately I had to force myself to the point of admitting that I don’t even know what the word give up means!

Who and what inspire you to be better!
I have friends and family, who are my biggest motivation, I keep going because they’ve got my back, and they constantly reaffirm their support to me, and this helps me a lot in my journey.
I also have very excellent role models that I admire and learn from, Michelle Obama,Oprah Winfrey, Mo Abudu,and a lot more.

What makes you a woman of Rubies
I am, bold and beautiful, highly innovative, ambitious, consistent, confident, empathetic, and a goal getter.

Dear Woman….
No matter how badly you feel like giving up, do not throw in the Entrepreneurship White Towel

In Interviews&profile February 22, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET DOCTOR CHIMDIUTO OPARAJI, THE OVERALL BEST GRADUATING STUDENT FROM MADONNA UNIVERSITY

Instagram user and medical doctor, Chimdiuto Oparaji has graduated as the Overall best graduating student from Madonna university, and she has been Inducted into the Nigerian medical association today.

She took home prizes for the following: ‘Best in pediatrics, Best in obstetrics gynecology, Best in internal medicine and Best in community medicine.

The excited doctor went ahead to share series of photos from the ceremony acknowledging that it was only God’s grace that brought her this far.

See her Instagram post below

Source: fabwoman.ng

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