Interviews&profile Archives

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

GIVING BACK AND TOUCHING LIVES ARE TWO OF MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMNTS IN LIFE – MARILYN OMA ANONA, PHILANTROPIST & TV HOST

Marilyn Oma Anona is a multimedia and social entrepreneur. She is a gifted writer, actor, public speaker and the host/producer of the phenomenal talk show “Omaliving Show “.
She is the CEO of Poshmarilyn Media and also run an humanitarian outfit known as THE RIGHT STAGE PROJECT, that seeks to empower and provide lasting solutions to nagging issues in the society and also focused on young people in public schools , school drop outs , vulnerable women and less privileged in the society.
Marilyn has also led several campaigns aimed at making our society better, especially on sexual assault and jungle justice. She is currently working on developing her own TV platform, publishing a book and producing a feature film. The multi-award winning philanthropist and TV girl shares her passion and why she believes so much in the power of giving back, in this mind blowing interview.

My Childhood shaped me
My childhood was a beautiful one. I had parents that will go to any length to provide for my siblings and I with what we need and want. We wore the best clothes and went to the best schools. I had a very resourceful mother so even with little, she came up with things that made us appear as though we were from super rich homes. So I grew up lacking nothing.
My childhood and upbringing no doubt shaped me, nurtured me in ways that make people who have come in contact with me, eager to see my parents. The strong values which I hold on to today were instilled into me by my parents. Things like Love, compassion, hard work, integrity, charity, humility and honesty were instilled into me by my parents. I got charity, love and compassion from my mother while I got hard work, humility, honesty from my father.
My dad believes so much in honesty and hard work. One of the things I grew up hearing him say is; “TO WORK IS TO PRAY”… not to bore you.

Who is Marilyn!
My name is Marilyn Oma Anona. I am a young Nigerian woman from Abagana, Anambra state. The first in a family of 7 kids. I am left handed which was something I had some difficulties with while growing up. I attended Federal government girls’ college Ibusa and had my university education at Anambra state university. My initial plan was to study medicine and surgery. Everyone expected me to become a doctor but I knew it was not my calling. Even as a teenager, I always told my mother I wanted to be on TV, talk while people listen, be a lecturer or something. When my dad got home one day to announce happily that Madonna university had given me admission to study medicine… I blurted our; “Daddy, what if I don’t want to be a doctor?” He was pained and told me I am sick and his enemies had bewitched me(laughs)
I am happy I am not a doctor now because I would have made a bad one practice wise. Right now I am on the path that gives me joy and ample fulfillment and I pray daily to God to help me become the best in my chosen field.

Inspiration behind THE RIGHT STAGE PROJECT….
The Right Stage is something that was born out of the natural zeal to really make impact and help the needy. It was not instituted for money making. When Omaliving Show (my talk show) started and was being aired on AIT, I watched a couple of the episodes. The buzz was enormous. People were happy but I felt so ordinary. I was not so satisfied. I said to myself; “Marilyn, how can you just be doing same old thing that everyone is doing? You claim to want to inspire people to be at their best, discover themselves. So what of those who don’t have access to the TV? How do they benefit?”
It was in 2015 in the month of March. I got to the office and called my PA (Late Augustina Enechile Abraham) to my office. I told her, “Nne need to be able to reach these people who fit into the target audience of the Omaliving Show but don’t have access to the TV or the social media. I want a platform that can reach them”. We did a slight brainstorming and right there, I chose the name ‘The Right Stage’.
Our first target became the public schools in Nigeria. We started with the FCT on May 5th 2015. 10 public schools benefitted from this. Scholarship, school items were given to the students. We took them on excursions and also got them involved in activities all aimed at self discovery and inspiration. We have been able to visit 3 other states; “Nasarawa, Niger and Benue” and we are preparing to do more. As time passed, we expanded to community outreach projects and so far, the impact has been so overwhelming.
This new year, we already have programs lined up with the aim of empowering our beneficiaries who are young children and the less privileged generally.
So what inspired THE RIGHT STAGE is the knack for real impact. To develop our human capital. To inspire and touch lives.

Challenges
Challenges are part of life and as such I know that every field of endeavor is faced with its unique issue. On a personal level as a young entrepreneur and business person, the major challenge I have is lack of support, sponsorship for my TV talk show and of course, my Foundation.When you don’t have the adequate support, it feels like you don’t know what to do. I remember after the production of OMALIVING SHOW season 1, we started scouting for the corporate sponsors. There was no corporate head office of any reputable company I didn’t enter in Lagos. Promises and promises and nothing done even when you have a very good product. At the end of the day, the ones who claimed to be interested asked for the show to get to say 3 seasons or more on air to ensure continuity etc.
The major challenge in this line is lack of sponsorship and manpower.

My phenomenal talk show “Omaliving Show “…
Omaliving Show has inspiration as its major theme. The show is all about inspiring young people to be better and this is achieved by helping them discover themselves, inculcating values into them, treating nagging issues, and lots more.
Another unique aspect of the show is, while other shows are all about interviewing “celebrities” Omaliving show seeks to bring unsung heroes to the limelight so it is not your regular show. We have been off the cable TV for over a year now, but we have been on YouTube. Part of our plans is to get back on conventional TV this year 2018.

Other project and activities
Marilyn Oma Anona is involved in a lot actually. I am very multitalented. But to avoid choking myself, I draw a plan and goals per time.We have been able to do quite a lot. Campaigns such as; Campaign against jungle justice, Campaign against sexual assault, Seminar against rape, Campaign against domestic violence, March against societal vices, etc.
I have also produced a series. And in this year 2018, I have about three movie projects lined up. Apart from being a TV talk show host and humanitarian, I am a public speaker, event host, actor, writer, producer and social activist.

Greatest reward
I have not reached any peak and have not received any reward yet. My greatest reward is yet to come. Though I have 9 awards of recognition for the things I have been doing, done and still doing… but that is not the greatest! The brand has not touched as many lives as I want. It has not sunk into the lips and minds of people in my country Nigeria, it has not gone global, it has not done enough. I am not talking rewards yet because the work I am sent to do is barely done.

My brand in the next five years…
In the next five years, Oma as a brand would be a global one. One reputed for helping young Africans discover themselves, attain success while still maintaining positive values. A lot of campaigns and massive empowerment projects would have taken place and we would have an institute that takes care of national orientation and empowerment of young Africans.
My multimedia company would have grown and a TV channel on the best cable TV too. These are some of the dreams and goals and by God they will be on ground in five years time.

On giving up
Give up? No! To be honest, I have never felt like giving up but I know I have been in situations and tough times where I felt so bad that I am yet to see the results of my hard work. Sometimes I feel like I need a person to direct me because I don’t know it all but I have never thought of giving up. I am very certain it will all be worth it in the end.
Who and what inspire me to be better
The people who look up to me…the fact that I am seen as a role model, people have seen worse and today are strong pillars, the fact that I have been mocked and laughed at, my father and siblings, my unborn children, also because I want to leave a strong legacy. These are some of the things that inspire me to be better.

I am a Woman of Rubies
I am a Woman of Rubies because I hold on to positive values while aspiring to be a big force. I have not allowed negative circumstances to change the person I am.

Final word for young women all over the world
Be you…You are enough to be felt! Challenges will come…It’s ok to cry but never stop looking up and striving! Be a positive role model…Be mindful of the things you consume! Be classy…Be a good woman!

In Interviews&profile February 16, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET 19-YEAR-OLD SABRINA SIMADER, KENYA’S FIRST FEMALE ALPINE SKIER AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS

A record number of eight African countries are taking part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Out of all the 12 African athletes there, Kenya has one representative: 19-year-old Sabrina Simader who’s the first female alpine skier out of the country to compete in the Olympic Games.

(Photo: AFP/JIJI)

Like most African athletes at the games, Simader grew up overseas in Austria – a country with some of the best winter destinations in the world. She took advantage of her environment, got herself through training and eventually qualified for the Winter Olympics last February.

Although her father is Austrian, she decided to represent Kenya instead. But it was a bit of a challenge for her. According to her, skiing isn’t well-known in Kenya and this rubbed off badly on her organization. Yet, she pulled through, thanks to the support from her extended family.

Carrying the Kenyan flag at the opening ceremony of the Games last Friday, Simander was accompanied by Philip Boit, the first Kenyan to take part in the Winter Olympics.

UN Environment recently appointed her as the UN’s first Mountain Hero, to help draw attention to emerging environmental issues in mountain regions such as climate change, waste and loss of biodiversity.

Credit: konbini.com

In Interviews&profile February 12, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET 14-YR-OLD FALMATA WHO ESCAPED BOKO HARAM SUICIDE MISSION TWICE AFTER ABDUCTION

14-year-old Falmata has narrated how she escaped death after she was sent on two separate suicide missions by two different sects of deadly Boko Haram.

Falmata narrated how she was first abducted by the insurgents at age 13 and escaped while she was on a suicide mission but ended up in the hands of another sect group after which she was sent on a fresh suicide mission again.

Falmata said she was 13 when the insurgents abducted her and took her to a makeshift camp, where she also met other girls her age.

“The young girls were put in the tents. There were nine in mine and we had to sleep on big mats.

“At first I wanted to escape but there was no chance,” she said.

Continuing she said: “We were scared that soldiers would storm the camp at any time and not spare us, the women, because they would think we were the fighters’ wives,” Falmata said.

Falmata said she was presented with two options: marry a fighter, or go on a mission but she had opted for the mission.

Her first mission

Falmata narrated that during her stay in the camp of her first abductors, she was approached by armed men who instructed her to prepare herself for an important task.

“All I was thinking was, ‘Is it for marriage or what?’ But you can’t ask why you’re getting this done. Instead friends just console you and tell you to be patient.”

The survivor said she had a bomb strapped around her waist with an instruction to go and kill non-believers and go straight to paradise.

“I was so scared that I started crying. But they kept telling me to be patient, to accept that this is what life is about.

“(They said) that on reaching paradise, everything would be better,” she said.

Falmata said she alongside two other girls were strapped to explosives and were taken to the outskirts of a village.

She further said while armed with homemade detonators, she and the other girls were ordered to walk towards the busy areas for the mission.

The first escape

Falmata narrated that while on their way to her first suicide mission, she and the two other girls had decided against the attack and fled for safety.

The teenager said she and the two other girls asked a stranger to help her remove the belt, and subsequently went off down a dusty road.

However she ran out of luck few hours after.

Her second abduction

Female suicide bomber (File Photo)

(Onobello)

Further sharing her experience, Falmata said she ran out of luck while trying to escape the first suicide mission as she met with two men, who belonged to another sect of Boko Haram.

She was subsequently abducted again by the insurgents.

The survivor explained that at the second camp, life was much similar to the previous one with the same routine, same ideology and same fate.

After about a month, Falmata was again presented with a choice – marriage or mission.

And again, she told the fighters she would go for the mission and shortly after they left her, Falmata successfully escaped.

“I met some farmers and asked them to help me remove the belt. I told them I was being forced to carry out a mission, but that I didn’t want to do it,” she said.

Falmata said the farmers helped her get rid of the belt and she later joined a group of hunters who allowed her to travel with them across the woods.

Falmata’s journey home

Trying to find her way back to Maiduguri, Borno state capital, and to her family, Falmata narrated how she and the group of hunters were ambushed by the men of Boko Haram.

Luckily, Falmata managed to slip away into the forest.

Narrating her experience in the forest she said: “I didn’t know the forest. Every little sound would scare me, so I kept moving. I’d sleep on trees when I could.

“I think I spent a whole week without food. I would drink stagnated water and also use this water to wash my hands and feet when praying.

“I would pray two or three times a day whenever I could find water. I was so scared, but God helped me and I reached a town.”

She said a local family later gave her shelter for a few days and also helped her return to her family in Maiduguri.

Source: Pulse News

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

“I STAND FOR EVERYONE WHO IS UNABLE TO LIVE BEYOND THEIR PAIN” – EDEN ADAOBI ONWUKA

Cancer Survivor and life coach Eden Adaobi Onwuka shocked many when she revealed her ordeal with the dreadful disease few weeks ago. On January 7th 2017 , Eden was diiagnosed with cancer and for eleven months she went through intense treatment while also still trying to keep up with her daily activity. In her gripping memoir, I am More Than Body Parts, Eden writes of her experience in real time, right in the middle of her Cancer diagnosis and progression. She shares her daunting journey and how the mindset of being an overcomer has kept her spirit-woman at ease. Eden believes it is possible to be ‘Cancer-ed’ and not cancelled, and like any negative experience life brings, the response of the human spirit plays a pivotal role in restoration.
In her words “After a year of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, physical therapy, hormonal therapy, countless needle pokes, hospital visits, side effects etc, I realize that daily choosing Joy kept me sane. Empowering others even as I fought the biggest battle of my life has revealed to me the unbreakable strength of the human spirit.
In commemoration of the world cancer month, I bring you the inspiring and life changing story of Courage in despair and Hope in adversity.

My Childhood
It was a beautiful closely knit family with brothers and sisters, born to parents who placed a high premium on education. Dad worked for Unilever, while Mum was an Educationist. Typical post colonial middled class family in Lagos State. I recall Fun trips to the Bar Beach, Amusement park and Trade fair. Then boarding school in a Federal Government Girls College in Kwara/Niger state.

Eden!
I am the middle child in a family of seven, I have a twin sister and I pretty much love to read, travel and volunteer. I’m easy going and friendly but love my quiet times, that is where I refuel as a creative person. I like to describe myself this way; I am from the East, born in the West, schooled in the North and served in the South, and i now live Western. Funny, but true plot twins. I begun my career with a brief stint at Shell Petroleum and have about 15 years corporate experience in financial services and consulting. Currently with a fortune 500 company and have my own Coaching business, having been certified by John C Maxwell.

The Cancer Journey
On January 7, 2017 I got a phone call which changed many things.
“We’re sorry to inform you that your Biopsy came back for Cancer…”
Cancer.
One word that was very alien to me. With no previous family history of cancer, and being relatively healthy, I was very surprised. I was a new Twin mum, my twin babies were just nine months when I had noticed a Lump and went to the for a routine check-up. A series of consultations later, then the shocking results. Can-cer? I was totally blindsided. Then angry, then sad, then confused. I honestly didn’t see this coming.
“Dear Lord, Why me?”
I let myself internalize this and it didn’t feel good. What do you do with a news like this? When the reality you see as a Positive person has no iota of Positivity in it?
After a few weeks I encouraged myself. I said Eden, ” Your perspective determines your narrative. What you magnify grows, what you simplify goes”. I asked God for strength to help me ‘find’ a Purpose in it. I remained focused on my assignment, hard as the next phases of my life was, I was going to walk in integrity before God regardless.
Today, I stand in awe of God’s grace, strength and power. I stand for everyone who was unable to live beyond their pain. For everyone fighting a secret battle, for everyone shamed by their scars, for everyone overwhelmed by sickness, for everyone silenced by affliction, for every warrior who gained (untimely) heavenly wings.

I decided to write about my journey in REAL-TIME, while going through an intense treatment (Tough): To show through my Story how finding and focusing on Purpose, helped me overcome. And to lend a voice to demystify the stigma attached to any cancer or breast cancer. Because anyone can write after they’re out of a storm, only revelation will make you write in the storm. I wrote to encourage you that you can feel helpless sometimes BUT you must never be hopeless.
After a year of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, physical therapy, hormonal therapy, countless needle pokes, hospital visits, side effects etc, I realize that daily choosing Joy kept me sane. Empowering others even as I fought the biggest battle of my life has revealed to me the unbreakable strength of the human spirit.

Living and Thriving…
Restoration is a process, so some things take time. I humourosly say, it takes a while to put humpty dumpty back together again. Seriously though, I still have a few residual side effects from treatment like intermittent fatigue, hot flashes, born aches now and then. Then for any survivor of anything not necessarily cancer, surviving is the first aspect, living and thriving is the most important next phase. You grapple with one of the biggest ongoing mental battles, like Joyce Meyer calls it the ‘Battlefield of the mind’. It is in those silent moments when negative thoughts creep in or the enemy whispers to you that you’ll never be whole or pain free or have a full abundant life, that’s when you cant be silent. Therein lies the greatest battle- To embrace a ‘New normal’, and refuse to call it abnormal. Because after you survive, you gotta Thrive!

Inspiration behind my “tell it all” book
So after I received my shocking diagnosis from Kelsey Siebold hospital in Kingwood Texas, I got a second opinion from MD Anderson Cancer center Woodlands Texas, and the reality of it all dawned on me. I started looking for resources, like a book on this journey. Not just the medical info, that was everywhere on the internet, all kinds of fearful info. I was looking for encouragement from someone like me-African, Nigerian who had gone through it and at the time I didn’t find any. Some people blogged about their experiences, others mostly told their stories after everything had become perfect or cancer FREE and they were mostly non Africans like Tiffani Rose and Makosi Musanbasi. I decided to become the answer to a need I had which I believe countless others have or will have. In the early moments of adversity, after their diagnosis, for them to have a resource from someone who understands their journey and is connected to the similitude of their pain. Not theories but a lived experience. A book that peaks to the emotional aspect of this journey that is often ignored: how the mindset of an Overcomer can play a strong role in restoration. That is the why of the book. And i wrote it while going through treatment and battling cancer, when all i had was faith that I would prevail. The title came from a low moment in the beginning of the cancer treatment when the oncologist and surgeons has discussed the possibility that certain genetic results may mean bilateral mastectomy or double boob loss. I had a discouraging moment in the shower where in response to a negative voice of fear I boldly declared “I am more than Body Parts!” Which was based of the scripture that says ” man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God, I kept saying to myself, I am more than boobies, I am more than my hair etc. And I believe that we all must get to the place in our identity where nothing external, additional defines us. Our identity must become based on who God already says we are, in alignment to our Purpose regardless. We must work it from inside out. An unbroken spirit, a vibrant soul and hopefully a healthy body. Any other thing is an accessory. Eventually, genetic results were negative and the treatment plan didn’t require a bilateral so we had a segmental mastectomy.

Greatest Reward
Changed lives. People who try again after they had given up before. In the past 12 months, I have received inbox messages or private calls from four people who changed their minds about ending their lives because they read my Book, or a write up or listened to me speak. Precisely on my last birthday, a lady I haven’t even had the privilege to meet all the way from Nigeria wrote to me, in her words ” Eden, you talked me out of suicide”. That for me is the most compelling reason why I pour into people, coach, mentor or write.

Giving Up
I’ve experienced delays. After youth service 16 years ago waiting for a dream job that didn’t come for 2 years, waiting for a good man when i was in my thirties and the immediate prospects seemed like a joke. Being tempted to adjust my ambitions because of cultural pressure for marriage, thankfully I didn’t. I went abroad for my MBA which has been a long time personal goal, and in a stroke of God’s grace and serendipity my husband met, courted and married me towards the end of my post graduate program, exactly the kind of person I desired who got attracted to the very thing (goal getting/ambition) I had felt pressured to tone down. Last year, I almost ended my treatment when the side effects were uncomfortable. The temptation to give up is part of life. But we never give up because generations are tied to our rising.

Women who inspire me
I have a few, my mum Lady Oby Ike-Udemgba would be number one. Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, Bimbo Awosika, The women at Wimbiz and many others who are breaking frontiers in their industry’s. Joyce Meyer and Sherly Sandberg are people whose messages connect with my soul. I recommend them.

I am a Woman of Rubies
A rubies woman is anyone who uses the very things that was meant disempower her, to empower others. One whose confidence comes from a cause greater than herself.

To every woman going through same ordeal…..
Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t tone down your strengths, don’t make it easy for the glass ceilings or age old barriers to stick, you can have it all, it may require patience, unpopular decisions but walk in the truth of your beliefs. If you fall, get up, if your heart breaks, break boundaries. Whatever happens don’t stay down. Remember, no one can ‘use’ you without your consent, use what used you by learning from it, and growing imspite of it. Cancer survivors or those in the journey, I salute you, stay the course, your purpose is Greater, well beyond your pain. Ladies, please don’t ignore your bodies and mammograms, be proactive about health check ups.

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

READ HOW AJAK DENG ROSE FROM BEING A REFUGEE TO BECOME A TOP MODEL

Born in Sudan, raised in Australia and now living in New York, top model Ajak Deng broke into the modelling world about a decade ago, when she was scouted while still in secondary school.

She made her runway debut at Melbourne Fashion Week, and has since stormed the runway for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Growing up was no walk in the park for her, as her family fell victim to the civil war in South Sudan which led them to flee to a refugee camp in Kenya where they spent three years. After losing her mother to malaria, the Australian government moved her family out to Melbourne when she was 11 years old, and that was the beginning of her runway fate.

Although given her sculpted physique, stunning skin tone and striking features, you’d think a career in modelling was predestined for her, however her initial dream was to fight in the army.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald about becoming a model, Ajak said:

“I wanted to join the army but my teachers at Kurunjang Secondary College told me no, that it wouldn’t be for me.

They knew I loved to travel and had a thing for fashion and suggested modelling, and since then I haven’t looked back.”

Ajak is very hard to miss, and you’ve probably noticed her in a magazine editorial or storming the runway during fashion week. Despite this, as per usual in any industry, her race poses a problem as she doesn’t get booked as much as other white models do. To protest this, in February 2016, the model announced in a now deleted Instagram post saying:

“I am happy to announce that I am officially done with the fashion industry, I will be moving back to Australia in order to live the life that I fully deserved, which is real life. I can no longer deal with the fakes and the lies… My life is too short for this dramatic life.”

We need more models like this shaking the table so that black models get their coins for their good and hard work!!

Credit: konbini.com

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

MEET GLORIA OLORUNTOBI, POPULARLY KNOWN AS MARAJI ON INSTAGRAM

Gloria Oloruntobi, popularly known as Maraji on Instagram gained fame after series of her funny videos went viral on social media. . She has earned more than 650,000 followers creating skits about everything from friendship to gossip to film and television.

Here are some things to know about her:

1. She was born on the 6th of February 1997

2. She studied international relations at Covenant University.

3. Born in Edo State, Nigeria, she has one sister and two brothers.

4. In addition to her Instagram account, she has also been known to create lip sync videos for her maraji_ musical.ly account.

5. Maraji’s consistency in delivering highly entertaining content via instagram saw her reach hundreds of thousands of followers and engage with millions in little over 12 months.

6. It was at university she started making lip sync videos out of boredom.

7. Her greatest fear would be to lose her mum and to lose her spirituality.

8. Her biggest achievement is the ability to make herself a public figure because she never used to be one.

Credit: fabwoman.ng

In Inspiration February 3, 2018 By Women of Rubies

GROWING UP AS A REJECTED CHILD FROM BOTH PARENT WAS A BIG LIFE CHALLENGE FOR ME – DEBORAH FUNMI MUPAPA

Deborah Funmi Mupapa was abused physically and sexually abused by her step father at the age of 12, after years of emotional healing and redefined life purpose she founded “Empowerment of African women” a branch D&Ks foundation, based in Finland , DRC Congo and Nigeria. She has a strong desire to help other women in Africa that are undergoing similar experiences and are not able to speak out. The Inspirational speaker, author, gospel singer and entrepreneur is passionate about providing a secure future to the needy especially in Africa.

For Deborah, it has been an incredible journey. She narrates how she feels when she sees her reflection in the mirror which is a feeling of success despite her previous life experiences. She also goes ahead to tell of how one cannot appreciate good health if one has never been seriously ill, neither appreciate the food if one has never faced a famine or even appreciate peace if one has never been at war.

Growing up as a rejected child

My childhood prepared me to do what am doing without looking back No matter what I will come across on the journey. I do understand when a woman cries to me and…Deborah i was abuse or someone is going through life challenges of nothing to eat

Growing up as a rejected child from both parent was a big life challenge for me.
My mother left me at a tender age of 2yrs due to her second marriage issues, with this I couldn’t enjoy my childhood. I was left with my grandma whom I came to refer to as my mum. Back then my growing was not very rosy, later at the age of 7 years I lost my grandma. This made me lose hope in life since my grandma was like an angel to me and losing her left an empty feeling within me. From then on my life started to turn to the worse and the whole experience started feeling like a movie.

When my grandma died, I was with her in a sleeping room for more than 2days.I never knew that I was sleeping with a dead body, I had no meaning of death at that time, I just woke up each morning played outside and later come back to sleep by her side. This was until people around the village came to check on her because she had not been seen for a couple of days and found her dead. People started crying but I couldn’t get the meaning of that, I just knew she was sick that’s all. I still remember her last words to me was that, Deborah try to share with others whatever God gives you as much as you can, she also said that I should know that God is in my heart as He is in heaven. I never understood the meaning of those words until I grew up and found myself in a real world.

After death had dealt a cruel blow by snatching my grandma, family members from different places had to come so that they could decide who would take care of me. Despite all these meetings no one was ready to take me in thus I had to be placed under some temporary care by an unknown family. While under this care the search for my mother continued. However while living with these families I faced serious challenges because I was used as a housemaid whereby I slept in stores where they kept their firewood and sheep. Sometimes I would experience severe beating and also sometimes I had to eat leftovers and stay without food, as far as I can remember there was a time I have to eat the dog leftover food.

Women are faced with many responsibilities and are also faced with a lot of problems such as discrimination and domestic violence, why? Because the role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades. However, people now share a different perspective of women and their role in society today. This has been achieved through empowering young girls and women.

The D&K foundation of Empowerment of African women is a non-profit organization which is in the forefront to ensure that women have restored their rightful and dignified status in the society.

Our mission is to empower women thorough micro-enterprise, education, jobs and skills acquisition e.t.c. We are also currently working on certain projects which will help solve problems which in one way or another affect women and young girls thus preventing them to fully exploit their potential and abilities, some of these projects include:

Abused by my step dad at the age of 12 & how I healed

I was united with my biological mother at the age of 12, however my stepfather didn’t want me in their house and my mother was powerless to change that course. This brought more and more suffering even in my mother’s house since I was physically and sexually abused by my stepfather at 12 years old. I was so humiliated, and kept asking why I had to experience all this and who can take these pains away from me. I felt like I couldn’t make it any more in life, I felt less of a woman and thought that no man could ever look at me because of all what I have been through in my life. I was told to keep within me..which kill me within every single day of my at that time
Loneliness, pain and despair started to take a toll on me. I thought all my dreams were gone and wondered: why I was here at the first place?

Those were very painful moments, but the very moment I realized that the point of every failure is to make me move on; I realized that each day of my life would always present a new chance.

With this I have been able to move on and be happy I have also learnt not to look back but always focus on what to come. I also believe I have a mission to show the world how important women are.

Education also proved to be my only way of my hope and I had to sell boiled eggs and yam to be able to pay my school fees. That was the only thing I had to do, since my step father hated me and he was not ready to pay for my school fees. Thus I had to do everything to make sure I finished my polytechnic in business Admin.

What and who inspire you….

God is my Power: There is beauty in my broken heart since I was able to identify who I am and I know that all what I went through and whatever I will face is never my battle, they all are process to another opportunities to the next level.. All I need is to find a way to pray and to look for His grace to be able to listen to what God is about to tell me for that very situation or Direction. Because I know in life, I have to break to be able to be through.

Though I learnt a lot from Oprah Winfey she INSPIRED me, I missed to meet her during WOMEN IN WORLD Conference. I have learnt to pick up my broken pieces to build my plan B, which became amazing. I have leant that I am here for a reason and that is bigger than my imagination, my thinking…Which I have to go deeper with God and able to move in real me.

Success story of our organization

The success stories D&Ksuomi foundation EOAW since 2008 is that today we can see the smile on the faces of women and children around in our field.
we have been able fight for the space that most of our young girls and women have been lacking by providing and ensuring women to get the opportunities they deserve.

Greatest Reward

My greatest reward is when I saw women and children were happy and sent video message of what God has used me for. I am so grateful and I felt like I am on my way to my goal..That is what I was called to do.

Where I see our Organisation in 5 years

In the next five years D&Ksuomi Foundation of Empowerment Of African Women..Between now and five years, we will be able to accomplished our goal on eradicating poverty throughout Africa with the plan of BlackGirlsLand which would be free education Centre for Africa girls and we will as well reach a Lange amount of women for the micro loan business.

Do you think women in the advocacy and development sector are appreciated enough?

I will say yes. Women in advocacy are less appreciated due to the disregard of their efforts, by saying women are not capable of the work that is required to be at Top
As a woman we need to believe in our self as pillar to build a solid foundation and to embrace the power in us can make a change. We need to let go of what the world is painting women that Women are not capable of doing the work that is required at the top.Women do not have the desire to be at the top,the change we need in our society is not require gender , These are structural preventing women from reaching the top and women in advocacy need to be appreciate more in our society.

Other projects and activities

BlackGirlsLand is one the programme that DKsuomi Foundation is working on. BlackGirlsLand is a mentorship program that works to improve the lives of Black women and girls in our communities, mostly throughout the Africa.
The main mission is to improve girls’ perspective towards education and Increasing girls’ sense of worth, giving encouragement to girls and provide support by helping Black girls to become self-sufficient in all areas.

Also, The pen is my power, Permission to heal; a sister to sister healing process for women going through abusive life , the D&Ksuom Humanitarian awards and the annual international conference which will be held in Nigeria this year.

Any plans to come back home and contribute to Nation building

I cry for my Nation, that is where I come from, it is my Image…my work is base there.We have a land in Nigeria to build the BLACKGIRLSLAND center. The micro business loan that will start in March 2018 is to support women and children of Africa. I calL STAR, they are my HIDDEN HEROS because I believe in them and the inner talents are hidden within them . Also, I am working towards my Cosmetics lines in Nigeria.

Giving hope makes me a Woman of Rubies

What makes me a woman of Rubies hmm, living a life of giving Hope for people in need, been the voice for the voiceless is Doing what i was called to do, to secure life for women and children Because the role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades and i am bless to be part of the solution.

Final word for a woman or girl out there who is presently going through abuse and keeping silent…

I want you all to know that we cannot keep silent than to break the silent, Breaking the silence is a big medication to your healing process and you have to let go your past and embrace the new you. Pick up your pieces and reform it to build a new you. There is power in all your broken heart; you have the power to change your life. Its written in there. All you have to do is to identify who you are, and remember before you can have a breakthrough in life, you have to break to be able to be through.

If I can make it….you can do better.

In Career Gems February 1, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET ABBY AJAYI, THE SECOND NIGERIAN WRITER ON ‘HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER’

Almost a year ago, we gushed about the talented Morenike Balogun, the Nigerian writer and actress, who writes for the Viola Davis-led, Emmy-winning ABC drama, How To Get Away With Murder.

Well, it turns out she is not the only Nigerian writer on the hit show’s crew. For the past two seasons, Balogun has been working alongside British-Nigerian filmmaker, Abby Ajayi, to help deliver one of our favourite shows on television.

Viola Davis on ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ (Photo: ABC)

Ajayi, who wrote the third season’s eleventh episode and the fourth season’s ninth episode, has served as a story editor for the show’s stellar fourth season. She works closely with Balogun, who is currently the executive story editor for the season.

While filmmaking was never Ajayi’s plan for her career, she’s been killing it. She started out as a Law student at Oxford, but as it turns out, her love for literature and the skills she picked up at Law school — strong writing and critical reading — made her into quite a solid screenwriter.

Prior to working on How To Get Away With Murder, Ajayi had already racked up writing credits on some of the UK’s longest-running dramas — EastEnders, Casualtyand Doctors — and created projects, from short films to TV movies, that portrayed blackness in a positive light.

Speaking with FilmDoo about the portrayal of black women she saw on TV, she said:

“Representation is narrow and limited and I don’t see many black women on screen and not much aspiration in the lives shown.”

Well, Ajayi can be proud that she is one of the writers delivering TV’s most dynamic and complex black woman: Annalise Keating. It’s not every day we get to see a black, queer and powerful antiheroine grace our screens. We honestly can’t wait to see what the talented Ajayi does next.

Credit: konbini.com

In Interviews&profile February 1, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET 26-YEAR-OLD NIGERIAN PHOTOGRAPHER WHO JUST WON AN AWARD BY GETTY IMAGES

Nigerian documentary photographer, Yagazie Emezi, has announced the exciting news of being awarded the Inaugural Creative Bursary Award by Getty Images.

The 26-year-old is among the six recipients selected by an industry-leading panel of the international photo curating platform to get amounts between $2000 and $5000.

For the selection, participants were asked to submit a project proposal and visual brief in support of their creative idea. Awardees were selected from the pool of entries.

The annual $40,000 Bursary will enable them to realise commercial photographic projects which, without funding, they might not have otherwise been able to pursue.

Below are a few things to know about her:

1. Yagazie hails from Abia State and she was born in 1992

2. The Vlogger is a graduate of Cultural Anthropology and African Studies from the University of New Mexico.

3. She came into limelight for her continuous project ‘Another Tale by Moonlight’.

4. She began her journey as a self-taught photographer in early 2015 and has been doing well ever since.

5. The young lady has been commissioned by Al-Jazeera, New York Times, Vogue, Refinery29, Everyday Projects, and UNFPA.

6. In 2017, she was a participant in the World Press Photo Masterclass West Africa and is a contributor to Everyday Africa.

7. Emezi has worked on several projects including ‘Felaberation’ and the Lagos Fashion Week.

8. She is a photographer that focuses primarily on documentary, fashion and travel across the African continent

Her Instagram post is below

Culled from fabwoman.ng

In Interviews&profile January 30, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET TENNIS PLAYER CAROLINE WOZNIACKI, WHO WINS FIRST GRAND SLAM TITLE AFTER SEVERAL TRIALS

Perseverance is what will best describe tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.

Caroline Wozniacki has a lot to be happy about especially with her Grand Slam title win in the recently concluded 2018 Australian Open.

The Danish beauty shows that it is better not to give up your dreams, no matter how many years it takes to get that prize.

Wozniacki has played other winning games and coming in as runner up in the big tournaments but never winning a grand slam title.

Things are sure to look up for the tennis player with a turn in her career. Here are 7 things you didn’t know about her.

1. Caroline Wozniacki was born 11 July 1990 in Odense, Denmark

2. Wozniacki has played different professional sports including volleyball, football and made it to the national teams, showing that she is a versatile woman.

3. Wozniacki speaks Danish, English and Polish fluently and knows Russian.

4. On February 14, 2017, Valentine’s Day, Wozniacki revealed on her social media accounts that she was in a relationship with former NBA champion David Lee. The couple got engaged on November 2, 2017.

5. Wozniacki has won several trophies like in 2004, she won the Osaka Mayor’s Cup singles title. She went on to win other prestigious junior events, including the 2005 Orange Bowl and the 2006 Wimbledon girls’ singles title.

6.She is also close friends with Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwańska and Angelique Kerber who are also her rivals.

7. Since She won the Grand Slam for the 2018 Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki has taken back her spot as No. 1 in the female ranking.

Credit: Fab Woman

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