Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile June 12, 2017 By Esther Ijewere

#PROFILE| MEET VALENTINA TERESHKOVA, THE FIRST WOMAN TO FLY TO SPACE

Valentina Tershkova was born on 6 March 1937. She is a retired Russian cosmonaut and politician. She is the first woman to have flown in space having been selected from more than 400 applicants and five finalists to pilot Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. She completed 48 orbits of the Earth in her three days in space.

She was born in the village of Maslennikovo in Tutayevsky District, in central Russia. She went to school in 1945 at the age 8; however, she left school in 1953 and continued her education by correspondence courses.

She became interested in parachuting from a young age, and trained in skydiving at the local Aeroclub, making her first jump at age 22 on 21 May 1959; at the time, she was employed as a textile worker in a local factory. It was her expertise in skydiving that led to her selection as a cosmonaut. In 1961, she became Secretary of the local Komsomol (Young Communist League) and later joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

In order to join the Cosmonaut Corps, Tereshkova was honorarily inducted into the Soviet Air Force and thus she also became the first civilian to fly in space.

Before her recruitment as a cosmonaut, Tereshkova was a textile-factory assembly worker and an amateur skydiver. After the dissolution of the first group of female cosmonauts in 1969, she became a prominent member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, holding various political offices.

Even though there were plans for further flights by women, it took 19 years until the second woman, Svetlana Savitskaya, flew into space. None of the other four in Tereshkova’s early group flew, and, in October 1969, the pioneering female cosmonaut group was dissolved.

In Interviews&profile June 10, 2017 By Esther Ijewere

#INTERVIEW: “FIREFIGHTING IS A PERSONAL CALL FOR ME” -DOOSHIMA DENNIS, FEMALE FIREFIGHTER

You must have seen her by now, the female fire fighter whose picture went viral few months ago, Many people were in doubt when they came across her picture on social media but she is very real and also passionate about her job. Dooshima Dennis studied Mass communication but got motivated to join the fire service after her cousin got burnt to death due to carelessness. She has been in this business for over two years and loves her job passionately, the native of Tiv Benue State shares her story in this exclusive interview.

Inspiration

I’ve always wanted to do something out of the ordinary with myself , something challenging. In fact helping people connect with work and play that makes them happy is a key reason why I do my work with passion. Humanitarian service

Full nature of my job

A typical day for me is quite challenging because no event of fire is identical immediately we receive a distress call and turn out from our station headed towards the scene of incidence and while people are running out of the building we are running in. It’s not an easy job to do, but once you put your mind to it, trust me you can.

My parents’ stand concerning my choice of career

As a young girl, my method of helping others step away from stress was humor , I believe my Angels parent will be proud of what am doing.

Challenges

This can usually be the tragic effects of a bad situation or event that you strive to prevent or make better ……. and sometimes can’t despite our best efforts, not being able to avert or alleviate people’s suffering at that point in time saddens my heart. Sometimes I just imagine the faces of those I love in the faces of the people we are trying to help ,as I pray to God that my family and loved ones will never be placed in such situation

Doing a job which many people consider as exclusive to men

“The risk firemen go through is extremely high so there’s this belief it’s a man’s occupation (dangerous). Also, there’s a tendency to often think that women’s physique or psychology hasn’t quite gotten what it (takes) to be on the front line.”

Greatest reward

For me it is the fact that I am able to become a small link in helping people who are in deplorable conditions and to be able to see the joy in their eyes when they receive aid – especially children, women and men. It brings tears to my eyes. I am happy to be a helping link. They were in a bad situation and because of an intervention they are now able to be in a different situation and that is most rewarding.

Loving my Job

The best part of the job for me is knowing I’m doing my part to make a difference. With all the negatives people tend to attach to us, we’re on the ground to do some good. Whether paid or volunteer, that’s what this job is all about. There will never be a better feeling than knowing you did your part in saving someone’s life, possessions, or home. Thanks to all of the fellow brothers and sisters for doing your part.”

On whether Nigerians are sensitized on how to avoid and manage fire outbreaks

Awareness is on yet a lot of people don’t seem to take heed when it comes to issues of safety as compared to security. So many houses in Nigeria don’t get to meet up safety standards or fire prevention and protection system of a building, yet when there is an incidence of fire we blame the fire services for what’s not. A building should have an alternative exit door, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, fire blankets etc. Every fire starts small except for an explosion and reaction of highly flammable liquids and gases. However, if a fire does break out in a building it is necessary for someone to use the fire extinguishing media to prevent fire spread or extinguish the fire while it’s just developing while u call the fire service. But most people just blame firefighters for what’s not. what’s your line of defence against fire in your house?? Does your house have emergency plan?? Do you have fire service no?? Are there alternative sources of water in your premises/area such as reservoir, hydrants etc. to enable firefighters refill their fire trucks in case they run out of water? Remember every fire starts small and can be prevented if you adhere strictly to safety instructions like, having fire extinguisher, good housekeeping and so on. SAFETY SHOULD BE OUR WATCHWORD and it starts with YOU!!!! A big mansion worth millions or a small bungalow just for you to rest your head after the hectic day at work shouldn’t be neglected in terms of provision of fire safety and prevention gadgets. As it goes prevention is not just better but also cheaper. Awareness is on and we’ll not rest on our oars until we expunge the scourge and manage call fire.

Other projects and activities

As a child I said if one day I can support and help others, I will do it. It was a personal call. Being a humanitarian provides me with the opportunity to exert all effort possible (physical and intellectual) to save lives and give hope to burn victims -affected populations

Who and what inspires me

So often in life, it is hard to feel like we are making any real impact. Doing a good deed is always nice, returning a lost phone to a stranger, buying a homeless person a plate of food, helping an elderly person up or visiting orphanages , these acts all help somebody and make you feel good. But, what if your impact wasn’t just a temporary thing, what if it not only changed somebody’s day, but changed their life?

How I unwind

I work 5 days a week – I like to watch movies, read, visit with family and friends, go shopping and travel. Basically anything that keeps me occupied and that I enjoy doing.

Final word for women who aspire to go into my line of work

Be yourself, stay out of trouble and stay healthy. Be open minded and flexible, willing to try new things and listen to new ideas.

In Interviews&profile June 3, 2017 By Women of Rubies

I NEVER KNEW ABOUT ACID ATTACKS UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME – HANIFA NAKRIYOWA, ACID ATTACK SURVIOVOR & ADVOCATE

Hanifa Nakriyowa had escaped an abusive marriage just three months earlier before she became scarred for life, she had gone to her estranged husband home one Sunday evening to pick up their daughters when a man dressed as a security guard poured acid on her face. She remembers screaming in pain as the corrosive liquid burned her skin. By the time neighbors rushed her to the Hospital, doctors could do little more than keep her comfortable and give her seared skin time to heal. “I was literally raw and faceless she said, my nose had fallen off”. I had lost one eye, the scarring had disfigured my entire face but I had a voice says Hanifa . In 2012 she formed Centre for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Acids and Burns Violence (CERESAV) , to raise awareness about acid violence in Uganda and to give survivors a place where they felt belonged. Hanifa shares her very inspiring story in this interview.

Growing Up

Being the firstborn in the family, I was raised and trained to take care of my siblings, trained to take on values that will be exemplary to my siblings and expected to take on family values as a girl child. While in school, I always demonstrated maturity in whatever I did, which as you may know is a common feature with all firstborns in our African society especially girls. This maturity always led me leadership roles from my earliest school years. As a student in leadership role, I was expected to take good care of the little kids in school. I was also expected to demonstrate good character, be clean, handle myself with respect and be smart in class to be a good role model to the kids I took care of. If I failed to observe good character, then I would be punished in front of the school parade which would of course be an embarrassment that no one wants to go through. There are days I would blunder of course as a child and get my dose of it. Such blunders would help me get more careful. I had to work harder to save myself of the likely embarrassments. I would say all this must have prepared me to be the person I am today.

My Acid Attack Experience changed me

I never knew about acid attacks until it occurred to me. at first I didn’t know what consequences it would have on my life. I had ever seen any survivor of acid attacks in Uganda all my life. Until one month after my attack, while still in hospital, I was visited by a young girl in her 20s who had been had survived the attack at 18 years. Seeing how the acid had disfigured her, listening to her share my story, I broke down and cried. I sobbed for her. I felt so much pain for her that I even forgot all about mine. I could not imagine how someone could be so cruel to ruin such a young girls’ life. Then I saw many other acid attack patients come in each new day. I got so overwhelmed and wondered how this could be happening in our society and many of us have no idea. That was my turning point. I focused on how best I could use y personal experience to raise the awareness of the problem.

Inspiration behind “CERESAV”

My personal experience and my encounters with other survivors. The shock that my attack brought with it to me, my children, my family and friends. The rate at which acid attacks patients were brought into the hospital while I was there. Then when I came out of the hospital, the condemnation I suffered, the ostracism, socioeconomic discrimination and stigma that I experienced firsthand. The public perception and the fear that it brings especially associated with the injustices. The trauma that it brought with it on me and especially my children. “At least if I never knew, others should know and run for their lives. My daughters will not have to go through the same lifecycle. I just cannot sit back and do nothing. I cannot continue to hide these scars. Women cannot continue to hide their burned faces. We have to break the silence. Something has to be done and if I don’t do it, who will?”. These are the kind of statements that ran in my head each time I cleaned my maimed face.

Being the only organization in Uganda advocating for victims of burns

That has changed recently, thanks to the power of sensitization and lobbying. But while it was still the only organization advocating for acid attack survivors, it always got overwhelming trying to meet needs of the survivors in the face of limited resources. These are people whose dreams have been almost shuttered, majority of them do not have any level of education to compete favorably in the labor market, even for those with some education, they face social and economic stigma and discrimination, many would not want to employ a person with a maimed face. Appearance play a very central role in the labor market politics. As a result, survivors’ expectations were exponentially higher than the organization could meet. As far as policy challenges are concerned, the organization advocates for social justice to address and end acid attack violence, which, to many is a “drop in the ocean” as far as statistics are concerned in relation to other “pertinent issues” like HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Rebel wars among others. But every life matters. Acid attacks have spillover effects from the direct victim, to their children, families, relatives, friends and anyone they come across. The effects of acid attacks leave lasting scars on anyone’s memory. It is the most horrendous form of violence. We cannot look at it quantitatively. Its qualitative effects are just way too devastating.

Other project and activities?

I am involved in activities aimed at empowering women and girls especially through sensitization seminars and lectures. This I do during my free time since I spend most of the time in school working on my assignments and school projects. Plus, I have a full time job taking care of my two daughters.

My greatest reward

Seeing a ray of hope shining across faces of four children. These four children were left homeless in December 2012 when their mother died after an acid attack by their father. Helpless and hopeless, the family cried out to me for help. But I could not take up the responsibility. It broke my heart. Each time I came back home to my children, my heart bled for the other four children who no longer had a mother to run to. I am the one they ran to and called mom each time I went to them. I reached out to a journalist friend who agreed to feature an appeal I made to the public in the newspaper. The article was read by one amazing lady who runs a children’s home. She took in the four children on the Christmas eve of 2012. I felt that was the best Christmas gift these children could ever get in life.

Most Memorable Moments and Awards

My most memorable award is my scholarship to attend graduate school after my acid attack. This gave me an opportunity to redefine and re-strategize my life and my career. After my attack, everything seemed to get out of place. I was working for the UNICEF program on a contract which would end. I had no idea what next I would do with my life after my contract ended. Everything I did for the organization largely depended on my salary. I saw myself in the middle of nowhere after my UNICEF contract. I wanted to go back to school but there was no success with all the applications I made. I continued unceasingly because I knew I needed to go back to school and redefine my career path. Finally, I was accepted into the university of Pittsburgh graduate school of public and international affairs to pursue a master’s degree in international development and human security studies

On Africans not well informed on the danger of acid attack

I do not think so. It is not just African, but this is a global gap. I don’t even think that the perpetrators actually know the dangers of their actions when they are plotting such attacks. Otherwise no human being in their human sense would think of such inhumane act on humanity. I have encountered many people from different parts of the world who question what acid attacks are and what the dangers are. Many people ask me how I cope with it. This is the very reason I continue to be actively involved in sensitization activities. Many people including the perpetrators need to know the dangers of such attacks. Many people need to know that it is not a problem of the poor, or the unlearned, or the informed. Just anyone is vulnerable to such attacks. In recent years acid attacks are no longer a problem of poor Africa, or poor Asia, or poor south America. It has now become a problem of rich Europe and America. This has to stop. People need to know. Everyone needs to get involved before it knocks on their doors.

Who and what inspire you to be better?

My daughters. They are the strongest, most resilient human beings I know. They give me countless reasons to stand tall in the midst of storms and darkest days. Then my faith in God keeps me going. I don’t know how I would deal with a maimed face if I had no God. I cannot even imagine or picture what that life without God would be for me. Maybe I would not be here. For every move I make successfully, I know it is God at work behind the scenes. He has held my hand so firmly and tenderly that in most cases I even forget I have no face. Leave alone the face you see today after over 36 surgeries, ranging from scar releases and skin grafts, to complete nose reconstructions from nothing left except one eye.

Being an overcomer make me a woman of Rubies

I am an overcomer. I have been trampled on, picked up the pieces and stood up tall and moved on even more determined to do better than I would ever do my entire life.

Inspiring word for women all over the world

Women are created to move the world. We are shakers of this world, that is why the world is so afraid of strong women. If you are being oppressed or intimidated or abused, then you have a strength your oppressor/abuser/intimidator cannot stand. If you have the chance to tap into your inner strength, do not wait until it is too late. Because we are the most resilient of humans, we tend to cave in and build resilience to tolerate all the negative forces. You are not all the negative things you have been told you are. I never thought I was this strong. I had to be pushed to the edge to tap into my inner strength. You do not have to wait. If you are not comfortable in your skin because of what you have been told, you are not where you should be. Search for yourself from within.

In Interviews&profile May 31, 2017 By Women of Rubies

ANGEL ADELAJA IS GROWING PLANTS WITH NO SOIL AND LITTLE WATER

For better or worse, our world keeps evolving without our permission – and we keep scrambling to keep up, especially in the area of agriculture.

Sure, we’re producing more food than ever before, but our current model is unsustainable, and as the world’s population grows and climate change becomes more unforgiving, we will need a radical transformation to keep up.

This is where innovative new solutions like vertical farming – growing food in vertically stacked layers – and hydroponics – growing plants with no soil and little water – come into play.

Combining these two innovative solutions, Angel Adelaja has created a revolutionary stackable container farm, using shipping containers, that is the most affordable in the world – and just one container can do about an acre and a half of vegetable production.

Born out of the need to make urban farming accessible to everyone, Angel co-founded We Farm Africa, and founded Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services, a social enterprise that has pioneered hydroponic agriculture in Nigeria.

Angel Adelaja (Photo: Fresh Direct)

Speaking with The Way Women Work about what inspired the containers, Angel said:

“When we started Fresh Direct, we realized that new technology could make the difference that African agriculture needed.

Unfortunately, we needed to import the technology and it was too expensive. So we decided to innovate and create our own technology from indigenous materials.”

Fresh Direct Nigeria has multiple active divisions, so they don’t just farm, they create low-tech affordable technologies, like the stackable container farm, to simplify agriculture in Nigeria – and eventually, the world.

Source: Konbini.com

In Interviews&profile May 30, 2017 By Women of Rubies

MEET MARGOT LEE SHETTERLY , THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MOVIE “HIDDEN FIGURES”

Of course, by now you know the amazing movie on everyone’s lips: Hidden Figures. It has turned out to be one movie that is transforming the way young girls view themselves and helping them know that anything that has a name is achievable. Much more, it has out women in the best light, and has brought a long-overdue honour to the heroines whose lives were portrayed in the film.

Well someone helped to make all of this possible right in her head. For that, we can boldly say we love Margot Lee Shetterly the author of the 2016 book adapted into film.

Margot is a non-fictional African-American writer. Interestingly, Hidden Figures was her debut novel, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. Prior to nonfictional publications, Margot worked as a content marketing and editorial consultant to the Mexican tourism industry.

At present, Margot’s passion is bringing to the limelight more icons unknown icons who have shaped history in one way or the other.

We can’t wait!

Source: Leadinladies Africa

In Interviews&profile May 29, 2017 By Esther Ijewere

#PROFILE | MEET MILDRED JEFFERSON, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO GRADUATE FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

After graduating from medical school, she did a surgical internship at Boston City Hospital, becoming the first woman to do so. She was also the first female doctor at the former Boston University Medical Center. She would later become the first woman to become a member of the Boston Surgical Society.

In 1970, Jefferson became one of the founders of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. She later helped found the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC). In 1971, she became a member of the NRLC board of directors. She became the vice president of the National Right to Life Committee in 1973 and then was elected as chairman of the board the following year. Mildred then was elected as president of NRLC in 1975 until 1978.

In 1980, she helped NRLC start a political action committee because she believed it was important to lobby and support pro-Life candidates for office. While a Republican, she helped democrat Ellen McCormack run for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1976. Apart from NRLC, she served on boards of directors of more than 30 pro-life organizations.

She is also noted for changing Ronald Reagan’s stance on abortion from pro-choice to pro-life. He wrote to her in a letter, “You have made it irrefutably clear that an abortion is the taking of a human life, I am grateful to you.”

Jefferson was a self-described “Lincoln Republican” and served on the 1980 Massachusetts Reagan for President Campaign.

Mildred Fay Jefferson died on October 15, 2010.

In Interviews&profile May 27, 2017 By Women of Rubies

WOMEN NEED TO PLACE A PREMIUM ON SELF DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN VANITY-BUYINGS – TEMI AJIBEWA

Temi Ajibewa is a foremost home business coach in Nigeria focused on helping women who are stay-at-home mums or housewives to start, grow and profit from their home businesses by helping them open their minds to opportunities around and within them, especially their God-given potentials. Her passion to empower housewives came about when she herself began a home business that propelled her into 7 figures from the comfort of her home within four short months. Hence, she became an evangelist and mentor, helping more women to achieve this feat.

She is the founder of The Millionaire Wife Business Academy, an online hub with over 10,000 membership strength, for women who are looking to build profitable businesses. Temi shares her story in this interview.

Growing Up

To a large extent, yes. I grew up with a very entrepreneurial single mother as an only child. My mum was an opportunistic business woman in the sense that she practically conjures money-making ideas from needs around her. By the time I was age 10, I had known my mum to have ran about 5 businesses successfully. At age 9, I hawked plantain chips before heading to the secondary school. By the time I was in the University, I just couldn’t resist making money off people’s needs. From laundry to registration processing, to selling bread, pure water, noodles, etc to catering breakfasts for corporate events. I did just about anything to make money and it wasn’t because I was starving or needed to make a living for myself per se. I found out that I just always had the knack for seeing wealth in problems. I see opportunities in needs and until I meet those needs, I don’t rest.

I can say, I got this from no one but my mum and this, to a very large extent is what I coach other women to do now. I teach them to take advantage of opportunities around and especially within them (such as their passions and God-given talents) by meeting needs and getting paid for the solutions they provide.

Meet Me

I was born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria as an only child of my single mum.I schooled in Lagos for the most part of my educational life. I studied English language at Lagos State University and went on to University of Lagos the same year I graduated from LASU.I’m happily married to the most supportive man there is with 2 children.I’d say I’m a pretty passionate woman with so much fire to help people discover themselves and their potentials especially as it relates to financial freedom. I hate to hear or see lack around me and so I do my best to empower individuals with information on how they can fish themselves rather than always give them fish to eat. One word that describes me is ‘tenacity’ which makes me incurably optimistic. No matter what happens to me, I do my best never to cry over split milk. This makes dogged with a life-long belief in the saying ‘where there is a will, there is a way.’

The Millionaire Wife Business Academy

Sometime in late 2014, I started a small telecommunications business with N10,000 from the comfort of my home on my mobile phone while I nursed my new-born son and under 6 months, grew the business to over a million naira. This was a great feat for me and from there, I began to train other stay-at-home mums how they could do the same and that was how I got The Millionaire Housewife title actually. From there, other home business opportunities began to open to me and I taught even more women in closed BBM and WhatsApp groups.

Then I began to teach financial management. I had to get more trainings and coaching, one of which was Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) where I became a certified Results Coach, Performance Consultant and Practitioner of Neuro-linguistic programming. Things got bigger my mid 2016 and the need to actually have a support/mentoring group for the women who had gone through and those who would like to go through my trainings came up.

Facebook group as a solution

The Millionaire Wife Business Academy started out as as a result of this in order to be an online business support group for housewives who wanted to start and grow their own home/online businesses from the comfort of their homes but has gone on to grow far beyond that to now empower women (professionals and business owners likewise) who want to start and build highly profitable and fulfilling businesses around their areas of expertise, experience, passions and God-given abilities.

What and who inspires you?

What inspires me is this deep knowledge that the world needs me. I don’t know where, when or how I came about that knowledge but there is just this thing inside me that gets restless whenever I know I have a message or a service I need to deliver to someone that will either liberate them or propel them to the next level of their financial freedom. Another thing that inspires me is the transformation I see people go through after encountering me.There is this glow that burns deep within me when I hear someone say because of me, something positive happened to them.

At the very beginning of my life, my mother was a great inspiration to me. Her hardwork and doggedness is second to none. Having to take care and train me by herself since she was pregnant with me till she passed away when I was just 21 years old. The several great women who have risen against all odds inspire me as well. First of who is Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija. Then I have Mrs. Ibukun Awosika and Mrs. Tara Fela-Durotoye both of whom I’ve been privileged to meet and been mentored by.

Challenges

Personally, having to juggle family life and business hasn’t always been easy for me even though I work from home (hey, I’m the millionaire housewife). Sometimes, I get so consumed with work that I neglect my home duties and only have to rush through them at die minutes (soft laugh) while some other times, I just lazy about the house with no energy to do any work.However, specifically in doing what I do, my major challenge is the mindset of majority of women.

Another level of challenge I face as a business coach is the mindset of ‘get-rich quick’. Most people who at least try to start a business are often in a hurry to start making money from it and to make matters worse, rather than work hard at the business and nurture it to maturity, they give up too easily. I find this very very challenging than anything else.

Projects and Activities?

As a trained lawyer with flair for corporate law, I do a lot of Corporate Affairs Commission registrations and compliance consulting. As a serial entrepreneur, I’m involved in real estate, network marketing and several online businesses.

As a results coach, I help people move from being frustrated to being fulfilled no matter the area of their lives concerned. I do this by taking them through my 5-step formula which I call the ‘Fulfilment Formula’ – mind work, vision-work, daily-work, net-work and capacity-work.

For charity, I’m involved in back-to-school projects for the less-priviledged children and also start-up contributions for women.

I’m also involved in public speaking, consulting, writing and facilitating corporate trainings.

No giving up

Severally. But only at the beginning. After a while, all the hardwork began to pay off and I just began to tell myself ‘you were born to do this, Temi.’ So now, I can say giving up is not an option. There’s too much at stake. (Laughs)

What makes you a woman of Rubies?

I think the fact that I do not only do well in my businesses but also help other women do the same makes me phenomenal.

Final word for women all over the world

I’d say women need to know and constantly live in the consciousness that we are the pillars of the society. We are the mainframe that holds it all together and the earlier we start living in that consciousness, the better for us. We can do so much than we can and there is no point hiding all that awesomeness from the world.

Our fears are not real and if only we would face these fears and receive the help available to us, we would live a more optimised life.

Women also need to place a premium on self a development rather than vanity-buyings. With the aid of the internet, anything is learnable right from our mobile devices. We should give premium to developing our minds through the use of available information online.

As the pillar of the home, we need to raise our children to become the best of themselves and there is no better way to do this that to show these kids how we are becoming the best of ourselves daily.

Finally, there is no point in being competitive with one another. Rather let’s collaborate and support one another so that the womenfolk will progress.

In Interviews&profile May 26, 2017 By Women of Rubies

PEOPLE STILL SEE ME AS A KID SINGER, NOT A WOMAN — BENITA OKOJIE-ADEYINKA

Childhood

I am from Edo State and I grew up in a loving family. I didn’t know that I was going to become a professional musician. My mum used to sing a lot and I loved to sound like her. In fact, she was my first motivation for doing music. There was a day she was supposed to sing in church but she lost her voice. Because of that, I had to stand in for her. Our pastor heard me sing and he advised me to do something with my voice because it sounded beautiful. That’s when my dad decided that he would work with me and take it to the next level.

Education

I had my elementary education at Starfield Nursery and Primary School. For my post-elementary education, I attended Cayley College. I studied English Language at Redeemers University.

Stardom

I don’t feel like I became famous too early. If I didn’t start singing when I did, I may never have taken singing as a profession. I had a bit of preferential treatment when I was in school; there were times that I had to go for shows and the authorities were understanding. Sometimes, classes and tests were rescheduled for me. My experience also taught me that when I have my own kids, I need to encourage them to go after their dreams at an early age.

Transition

I don’t agree that I wasn’t able to transform from a child star to an adult one. I took a break at a point because when I got into the university, a lot of things changed. I went to a private school and their curriculum was different from what I was accustomed to. I decided to focus on my education and give it all my time.

Music

I’m a gospel artiste and I’m working on gospel songs, which is what I will be putting out there. As a gospel artiste, there are lots of messages that I can share through my music.

Father’s influence

My late dad was my manager and he was the one who discovered and nurtured my talent. He had worked with great musicians such as Onyeka Onwenu, Felix Libarty, Chris Okotie and Sunny Okosuns, among others. It is definitely not an easy thing to lose someone who believed so much in my gift and ministry. I cannot tell you that I’m fine now but I’m glad that he managed me. He had such a strong impact in my life that I would never forget. I will continue to sing gospel music because it is something my dad was very passionate about. A song like Osemudiamen, which remains my biggest, was co-produced, marketed and distributed by him. He did all the legwork and he did not rest until the single became popular. I will also miss the plans and strategies he always had for every song that I released. More importantly, I miss a father who believed in all his children and nurtured them to greatness. Before he died, he made sure that all his offsprings were settled in their respective careers. I’m working with a new management now but I don’t know if anyone would be able to fill his shoes.

Role models

Vocally, I admired Whitney Houston because of the powerful way she sang. I also love Cece Winnans, Marvin Sapp, Tasha Cobbs, Jekalyn Carr, and a host of others. I appreciate diversity in music.

Challenges

A lot of people still see me as a kid singer. Though it is cute and sweet, I wonder why some people cannot see me as a woman now. Another challenge is that gospel artistes don’t get as much support as secular ones. It could be discouraging at times. We need more people to support gospel music because of the life-changing messages that we preach.

Marriage

Marriage has been beautiful and I thank God for that. I am especially thankful that my dad was alive to walk me down the aisle and give his blessings. I also thank God for the man He has blessed me with and we’re both learning every step of our marital journey. Most importantly, we have God as our foundation and it helps us to be more committed to each other; it couldn’t be more beautiful. My husband is a media entrepreneur.

Memorable experiences

One of my most memorable experiences was when I was invited to the Presidential Villa to sing at Nigeria’s 40th independence anniversary at Aso Rock in Abuja. I was invited by a former first lady, Stella Obasanjo. I was also very excited to perform at FIFA Under-21 World Cup (Nigeria 99). I was thrilled to sing before thousands of people at an international event and I’ve never forgotten that experience. Being the face of Caprisonne was also a big deal for me and it afforded me the opportunity to travel a lot outside the country. There are also times that I would go to buy things and the seller would give me for free because they are glad to meet me. These and some other experiences are memories that I will always cherish.

Relaxation

I listen to music a lot and I play the keyboard. I also visit cinemas with my husband. I hang out a lot with my siblings and I love to travel.

Fashion

I like outfits that are decent, simple, classy, comfortable, and not over-the- top.

Source: Punch

In Interviews&profile May 25, 2017 By Women of Rubies

MEET IRE ADERINOKUN, NIGERIA’S FIRST FEMALE GOOGLE DEVELOPER EXPERT

There are only three Google Developer Experts in Nigeria, and Ire is one of them.

Ire Aderinokun is a Frontend Developer and User Interface designer. In simple terms, she is a website developer.

Not just that, Ire also runs a blog called bitsofcode, where she breaks down coding tips to other developers. She mainly shares findings from her research so that other developers can learn from them.

She started the blog in 2015 and has written scores of weekly articles which has not only put her name out there as she desired, but also made her one of the leading voices in web development in Nigeria.

Ire, a self-taught developer built her first website (although she called it awful) at age 13 as part of her Neopets (an online game) obsession.

Around that time (circa 2005), she knew she liked making websites, but it was not a viable career then, so she was talked out of it by her parents.

After her secondary education in Nigeria, she proceeded to the University of Bristol in the UK, and bagged a Bachelors degree in Experimental Psychology, albeit still making small graphic designs here and there.

Her interest rekindled when she met a friend who was pursuing a Computer Science degree in the UK. This was while she was in the middle of her Masters degree in Law.

She joined Codecademy (an online platform for intending developers) and continued to learn how to code as she pursued her Masters.

She bagged her Law degree and also completed her course on Codecademy. She also completed other web development courses at that time.

She went on to build several websites and started her blog to share her knowledge.

She was Head of Technology and Design at Big Cabal Media between 2015 and 2017.

Ire is adept at technical writing and breaking down complex concepts to be easily understood at all levels and loves to share her knowledge through her blog and speaking engagements all over the world.

Well done Ire!

In Interviews&profile May 24, 2017 By Women of Rubies

DIANE ISIBOR, NIGERIAN LADY WHO GRADUATED WITH 1ST CLASS IN THE US WITH MANY AWARDS

wenty year-old Nigerian-born Diane Isibor, on Saturday, went home with two prestigious awards during the 223rd convocation ceremony of Valdosta State University, United States.

They are the Spring 2017 President’s/Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence (for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration) and Annie Power Hopper Award.

The President’s award was bestowed on Isibor, a student from Abavo in the Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, during the institution’s 223rd convocation held on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6.

Isibor graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a first class and Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4 over 4, not dropping a point from her first to final year

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to the graduating student with the highest grade point average in each of VSU’s five Colleges – College of Arts and Sciences, College of the Arts, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, and James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services.

The Chairman, Academic Honours and Awards Committee, VSU, Abigail Heuss, in a letter addressed to her, said people with highest levels of academic excellence were considered for Annie Power Hopper Award.

She said, “Only those few students who best exemplify the traditions of the university, the character, dignity, and charm associated with the memory of Annie P. Hopper, and who have achieved highest levels of academic excellence, are considered.

“I am happy to report that out of our finalists, you have been chosen as this year’s Annie Power Hopper Award winner, recognised by faculty from across Valdotsa State University as embodying the very best that the university seeks to cultivate in its students. On behalf of the rest of the committee, I congratulate you on this important achievement and look forward to seeing you at this year’s Honours Night dinner.”

Isibor served as the official banner carrier for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration during the undergraduate graduation ceremony on the VSU Front Lawn.

“I am highly honoured to be considered for this award. This honour is evidence that hard work pays. I am elated to lead my fellow graduates into the commencement area. My ultimate goal is to be a leader in business. The Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration has been instrumental in helping me prepare to achieve this goal,” said the daughter of Eyitemi and Desmond Isibor.

During her time as a student at VSU, Isibor regularly achieved the Dean’s List status, served as a university ambassador and a Wiley PLUS student partner, and earned a spot in the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honours Society and the Mu Zeta chapter of Beta Alpha Psi Accounting and Finance Honours Society, where she served as the treasurer.

She was actively involved in the Society of International Students, where she served as the vice president and treasurer; the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the VSU chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, where she served as the director of plant tours and events and was featured in the organisation’s Campus Connection newsletter.

According to the institution, Isibor’s commitment to academic and service excellence, resulted in her earning many laurels, including the 2016 VSU President’s Choice Scholarship, 2016 Georgia Gulf Sulfur Scholarship and 2016 Institute of Management Accountants Memorial Education Fund Award.

She plans to work as a financial analyst in Atlanta, while pursuing the professional designations typical of individuals working in the accounting and finance career fields.

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