Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile May 6, 2017 By Women of Rubies

“TO BE GREAT IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE MOCKED, HATED AND MISUNDERSTOOD” – TOYIN ABRAHAM

Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has said that one has to be willing to be mocked, hated and misunderstood, if he or she wants to be great in life.

She made this known in a recent interview with PUNCH’s Saturday Beats. She also disclosed the kind of man she wants to be with.

“I want a man who is tall, hardworking, and loves his job. I would want to be with a man who does not chase women and would not constantly request for money from me. If he needs my help, I can do it. I don’t want to be with a short man. My man has to be taller than I am,” she said.

On her weightloss and whether she did that to find a partner:

“Why would I change my look because of any man when I have my job, my career, and people who look up to me? I love my new look because it has helped my career a lot. Now I get more roles even in the English speaking industry and most of the movies are in the cinemas. Also my clothes fit me well. My stylist does not have to go extra mile to make my clothes,” she said.

On why she changed her name from Toyin Aimakhu to Toyin Abraham:

Abraham is my father’s name and it was a family decision. I cannot be talking about my family online, it is my life. My brother who is also a famous dancer bears the name, David Abraham. That shows that it is my father’s name. At first I thought about my brand before changing the name but eventually, I had to change it. I did not want to change it but my business manager asked me to do so. I know the decision confused some of my fans but with time, they would get used to it. I am Toyin Abraham now and I am building a new brand.

On several controversies she’s been faced with in the course of her career:

I feel it is normal and comes with the territory of being an actress. Based on the fact that I am an actress, people will always tag me with something. It hurts when they say I was in a relationship with someone I never dated or when they write about things that I did not do and just put it out there. Sometimes I read such write-ups and begin to wonder if I ever did those things but what will I do?

To be great in life, you have to be willing to be mocked, hated and misunderstood. I don’t see criticism as anything and I am not bothered whenever I am being criticised by the public. I know that some people would love me and others would hate me, so I do not let that disturb me. Trust me, the criticism only makes me a better person, so when people say negative things about me, it makes me understand that I cannot be right every time. I thank God that I am now getting some things right.

Source: Bellanaija

In Interviews&profile May 6, 2017 By Women of Rubies

THE SATISFACTION OF SEEING ACTUAL CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BECAUSE OF OUR INITIATIVES IS GREATLY REWARDING – AJIMEGOR IKUENOBE

Ajimegor is a medical doctor, and public health professional with a special focus on Early Childhood Development . She always felt quite limited by the clinical practice of medicine in Nigeria, which conceived her passion to do whatever she can to make sure that every child (no matter the socio-economic status of family, or circumstances of birth), is given an equal opportunity to reach his/her full developmental potential She has been actively involved in health care, community service and development for over a decade and founded Lead Oak Women and Children Foundation, an NGO, where she leads a dynamic team to initiate, design and execute programs that tackle ECD related issues in Nigeria. Most recently selected as a 2017 Mandela Washington fellow, she shares her story in this interview.

Growing up in a large family

Growing up for me was very interesting, as my family was very large, multifaceted and fascinating. I was surrounded by much older adults who were all strong, often spirited, each extraordinary in their own way. As I look back however, two people stand out for me, in terms of shaping this woman that I am today; my mother, and my immediate elder sister.

My mother taught me to give of myself and my substance, to give and keep giving, even when you think you don’t have any more to give. I remember from a very young age that she would make us give out our nice clothes and other stuff which were no longer our size to people who could not afford to buy such for themselves. To celebrate festivities, she would often make us cook and join her in distributing food to homeless, disabled people. She was also a major influence in my decision to study medicine. She is a retired nurse and midwife herself, and at the time I was growing up, she ran a standard maternity home and was very passionate about the health of women and their babies. She became a national treasurer for NANNM (National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives), as well as a project co-ordinator for a John Snow International ‘Family Planning’ program. I read all her medical books, even though I could not understand most of what was in it, and as I grew older, I became her non-medical assistant. I loved every bit of it! Naturally, there seemed to be no other career suitable for me than medicine, when it was time to choose.

In retrospect, I can see that my childhood did prepare me for what I do now. Even though the experience was sometimes unpalatable, it was definitely worth it!

Meet Me

My name is Ajimegor Ikuenobe, I am a Christian, a wife, and a mother. I am also a medical doctor, and public health professional with a special focus on Early Childhood Development.

I have been actively involved in health care, community service and development for over a decade. I am the founder/executive director of Lead Oak Women and Children Foundation, an NGO, where I lead a dynamic team to initiate, design and execute initiatives that tackle issues surrounding ECD in Nigeria. Our programs have reached hundreds of vulnerable children and their mothers, providing nutritional, health, and educational support to the children, while building the capacity of their mothers to help them become self-reliant in a sustainable way.

I am also the co- founder of Convergence for Early Childhood Development in Africa (CECD Africa), a social enterprise promoting sustainable development and national progress through ECD programs; as well as the convener of the parental support workshop, ‘ECD FOR MUMS’, which was launched in the first quarter of this year in Lagos, Nigeria.

Most recently, I was selected by the U.S. State Department’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) as a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow.

I have always felt quite limited by the clinical practice of medicine in Nigeria, so my passion to do things more effectively, as I pursue my life’s purpose has led me down my unique path. I envision a world where every child (no matter the socio-economic status of family, or circumstances of birth), is given an equal opportunity to reach full developmental potential in life. Consequently, I have been actively engaging the hurdles confronting the Nigerian child today.

I am committed to challenging ineffective stereotypes and developing innovative, homegrown solutions to global health issues which are pragmatic and effective in the African context.

I have the privilege of being married to my teacher and mentor, and together we are blessed with three children.

Lead oak women and children organisation

As founder/executive director of Lead Oak Women and Children Organisation, I am responsible for creating and imparting the vision and mission of the organisation to all team members as well as the overall project coordination of the organisation’s Integrated Early Childhood Development Program. Our projects have reached hundreds of less privileged women and vulnerable children under five (5) years of age in Nigeria.I provide oversight function in the sustained implementation of the ‘Feed a Child’ project where children under five years of age are registered to receive ‘Nutrimeal’ (a specially formulated blend of maize, soya beans, and groundnuts for high impact nutrition) on a weekly basis with routine medical screening for the period of one year. The project has helped many vulnerable children receive free medical treatment, have their births registered, and vaccinated in response to the weekly health education programs.

Inspiration behind my work

I am consistently driven by a strong, insatiable, desire to fulfil the specific purpose for which I was created, and execute the assignment for which I am on earth. That is what keeps me going. I want my life here to count, to make a positive impact in the world around me, and leave this planet better than I met it, creating a better future for our children. This is what gets me up in the morning.

I started Lead Oak Foundation during my National Youth Service Program(NYSC). I worked as a medical officer in a primary health care centre in a semi-urban area of Edo State. I had no plans of starting a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) at the time, but I kept seeing alarming cases of malnutrition and its complications in very young children in the community where I worked. On further research, I found out that most of them were from families often without a source of income, no education, and no decent homes to live in. There were scores of uncompleted buildings in the locality where they lived with no doors, windows, or electricity. They literally felt that they had no hope for life and no reason to believe in a better future for their children. It was such a sad situation to see children with so much promise and potential waste away just because they were born into that kind of environment. They did not choose where or how to be born.

It became quite clear to me, after some time, that I needed to step up and do something about it. Something beyond the normal scope of my job and medical practice. I had to, in a sense attempt to be the solution! After accepting this challenge, I was also able to rally people around the vision that I saw and how we were going to achieve it.

With God’s help, I got so many amazing people to partner with me to begin this journey that I was humbled! Passionate volunteers, individuals and organisations supported this cause wholeheartedly. It would not have been possible without that kind of support.

Impact of Convergence for Early Childhood Development in Africa (CECD Africa)

CECD Africa is a social enterprise which I co-founded with my husband. It exists to promote sustainable development and national progress through Early Childhood development (ECD) programs. It serves as a backbone organisation in integrating multiple stakeholders using a collective impact approach, while leveraging on research and indigenous knowledge to provide solutions to ECD challenges. I lead our team to build solutions around issues plaguing Early Childhood Development in Nigeria.

CECD Africa organizes a series of parental knowledge and support workshops; ‘ECD FOR MUMS’ which was launched in Lagos, on the 1st of April 2017.These workshops are designed to be one-day learning get-away to exchange knowledge, share experience and improve the performance of parents & caregivers in the process of nurturing children to develop and reach full developmental potential. The program includes presentations by highly skilled ECD experts, it also includes lively, engaging interactive sessions where participants can freely ask questions and share their challenges in a relaxed, cosy, informal environment. They will be provided with critical, lifesaving knowledge and skills communicated in simple, clear terms which they can easily translate to lifestyle changes. This will in turn ensure maximum, sustainable impact on the life and well-being of their children, and ultimately, guarantee the growth & progress of our nation.

Reward

Results! The satisfaction of seeing actual change in the lives of people because of our initiatives, is greatly rewarding! When I see children, who were malnourished and sickly, metamorphose into strong healthy children, who can go to school, with their families now equipped with both the knowledge and source of income to help them thrive, and not just survive; It’s a reward that’s greater than any monetary remuneration.

Challenges

Some of the major challenges I have encountered include existing stereotypes, unfavourable cultural norms and outright resignation on the part of most people and communities to the prevalent situation around them. One of the most important elements necessary to bring about any kind of change is a mind-set change. I have continued to confront this head-on through persistent advocacy, rekindling hope and the ‘can-do’ attitude of the people in the communities where we work. In addition, the application of innovative solutions to constantly identify and fill the existing gaps have been invaluable in overcoming these challenges.

Projects and activities

ECD is an acronym for Early Childhood Development referring to the period from conception through birth to eight (8) years of age which is very critical to the cognitive, emotional, social and physical development of a child. It is in a sense a ‘make or break’ period in the life of every individual. My projects and activities are all centred around designing and executing programs targeted at addressing the challenges confronting ECD in my country. The objective of these programs is to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to reach full developmental potential, and grow up to become productive members of society, being the very best they can be.

These initiatives, most of which I have previously highlighted, include:

The ‘Feed a Child’, ‘Equip a Mother’, and ‘Educate a Child’ Initiatives which make up our Integrated Early Childhood Development Program targeted at vulnerable children and their mothers.

Giving Up

Most definitely! I think everyone who has ever dared challenge the status quo, in a bid to improving their world will encounter seemingly overwhelming challenges that make you want to throw in the towel, on a regular basis. What separates those who keep engaging from those who give up, is simply the decision to keep moving; to rise above the challenges and continue to make head way in the direction of your goals.

Personally, my belief in God is my main stay at such times. My God-given assignment is too important to give up. When I think about the purpose for which I was created, the impact I am designed to make, and the sheer number of people whose lives literally depend on the work that I am involved in; I simply must keep moving. I do not have much of a choice about this. It is a cause much greater than I.

View on early childhood development in the Nigerian context

To answer this question correctly, please allow me to paint a picture of our current situation as it relates to ECD in Nigeria, based on facts;

According to UNICEF, Nigeria currently ranks low on most of the early childhood development indices in comparison with other countries worldwide: 2,300 children aged 5 years and below as well as 145 women of child bearing age die every single day (this makes Nigeria the second largest contributor to under-5 mortality and maternal mortality worldwide). 41% of children under five (5) years are stunted. Less than 20% of children under five (5) have access to any form of childcare programs or preschool education, with a 14% pre-primary enrolment rate. Birth registration is still less than 30%.

In addition, we have more young children being exposed to sustained toxic stress, due to violence, displacement from their homes, loss of their parents, and hunger, among so many other things. They are at risk, now more than ever due to the insurgency in some parts of the North. Consequently, we observe a further worsening of what was already alarming, with regards to our ECD indicators. As Anthony Lake, ED UNICEF put it aptly referring to plight of the children in north-eastern Nigeria, ”What is already a crisis can become a catastrophe!”

A lot of work has been done, and is still being done, but this is an emergency on our hands and all relevant stakeholders will need to come together to collaborate, to make the kind of aggressive progress needed to salvage this situation. We need to be more daring and innovative to design ECD policies and programs, working together nation-wide, to determine what is actually effective in our present context. As it is, we cannot afford to make the usual ‘steady progress’! We must leap-frog our progress in this area to cope with the present challenges confronting ECD in Nigeria.

Too many of us are working in isolation. To greatly improve impact and sustainability, we must build all-inclusive stakeholder platform, using a collective impact approach to address challenges surrounding Early Childhood Development in Nigeria, and Africa at large.

If we do not, by 2030 when Nigeria is predicted to double in population, we will have an alarming number of adults who cannot be productive members of society, hence they will either be totally dependent for survival, or negative elements who are easy targets for perpetrators of terrorism and violence.

We must equip our children to thrive and not just survive. They are the future of any nation.

Being a woman of rubies

In all honesty, I must say I am just a woman in pursuit of purpose. If in doing that, some aspect of my story can inspire someone else to believe that they can be their best self yet, step out of their comfort zone, and overcome obstacles to make a positive difference in our world; then, I will be honoured to be a woman of rubies.

Final words for women

Pursue purpose – What is that thing that gets your juices flowing, that makes you very angry to observe or very excited to do? What is it you would do if you have no fear whatsoever? Something you would gladly do for free, or better still even pay someone to allow you to do it? Examine it carefully, because your purpose is in that vicinity. I believe were all made for a purpose. Find yours and pursue it with all that you have got!

Set your priorities right -This is very important especially as women, because we often find ourselves juggling so many balls at the same time. Trust me, Life does not have to be so complicated! Have an honest conversation with yourself and articulate what really means the most to you, in order of importance. Write it down. Each time a choice confronts you, simply make a choice based on your current priorities, until they change, then you can adjust them. There are different seasons in a woman’s life. Be sensitive to this and let your choices reflect them.

Live deliberately – Make every day count. Decide how you want your life to be and begin to create it, even when it seems like such a long shot. Let all your little, day to day choices add up to the future you want to live.

Compete against your best self ONLY – You are not in competition with anyone. In this world, you have no mates! Be a life-long learner, daily seeking to become the best you that you have the potential to be; for yourself, your world and your God.

In Interviews&profile May 5, 2017 By Women of Rubies

RUKE ASAGBA , THE YOUNG WOMAN USING HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION TO CATER TO AFRICANS IN NEED

Four years ago, Ruke Asagba established CAIN (Catering to Africans in need) – a non-profit organization that seeks to improve healthcare in Africa and alleviate poverty by creating better educational opportunities.

Born out of a strong need for tangible development in Africa, Ruke’s main target areas are healthcareand education – because at the heart of her foundation is the belief that “education is the key to development while healthcare is the key to longevity.”

In her words:

“The vision for CAIN was born during my final year in high school when I was testing and interviewing high school graduates and OND holders for a minimum wage job.

I was bothered by the inability of many candidates to write and think coherently despite their qualifications.

I decided that one of my future goals would be helping less privileged children access quality education.”

“In my opinion, this was outright injustice because I strongly believe quality education is a right and not a privilege.

This experience coupled with my immense passion for health care influenced the mission of CAIN, which is to improve the quality of education and healthcare received by the less privileged in impoverished African societies.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLM28PIgXit/

Since it’s establishment CAIN has been involved in a bunch of projects like donating books, mounting whiteboards and providing markers to community schoools.

CAIN also helped build a healthcare clinic in Jeida, a small village on the outskirts of Abuja, and recently purchased a building for creating a multi-purpose learning centre.

You can learn more about CAIN on their website

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

MEET THE TWO NIGERIAN SISTERS WHO CREATED SUNSCREEN TARGETED SPECIFICALLY AT PROTECTING BLACK SKIN

Nigerian sisters Chinelo Chidozie and Ndidi Obidoa, are very familiar with this struggle. So they started beauty line, Bolden, to help expand the beauty options available to women of color, and support communities that produce shea nuts (which they use in their products) in Burkina Faso. Chinelo and Ndidi used shea butter a lot growing up, so it was only natural that it would play a huge part in their beauty product line.

When their customers started complaining about hyperpigmentation—or, the discoloration of darker skin due to sun exposure, they started investigating why sunblock leaves a white residue on darker skin – one of the reasons why people of color don’t use it.

In an interview with OkayAfrica, Chinelo says:

“A lot of black people don’t wear sunblock because they don’t see the damage immediately. There’s an issue with education around sunscreen in the black community.

Even though skin cancer doesn’t affect people of color as much as it affects people with white skin, that makes it more dangerous because it’s often not caught until it’s in an advanced stage.

[When buying beauty products] I always ask myself, ‘Is this a product that will leave a white cast on me?’ and then I realize, whoever made the sunblock probably didn’t have me in mind. As consumers, we’re so used to trying products to see if they’ll work. In 2017, that’s not okay.”

(Photo: OkayAfrica/Bolden)

Bolden was created to fill the obvious gap in the beauty product market for people of color, the sunscreen is developed with a formula that acts more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen; it’s a cream-colored serum that dries clear on the skin. Chinelo says:

“We’ve tested it on ourselves and a wide spectrum of skin tones, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Folks are very excited that we are increasing the number of product options that work really well for their skin concerns.”

The sisters are on a mission to make sure that consumers don’t have to settle one-style-fits-all products that don’t suit their needs.

(Photo: OkayAfrica/Bolden)

Source: Konbini.com

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

I’VE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO BEING A BUSINESSWOMAN – SHADE OKOYA

Wearing minimal make-up and with her long, dark hair loose, Shade, who has made sure her life was never a round of dinner parties and social engagements and visits to clothiers and jewellers, says, “since I assumed office as MD of Eleganza Industrial City, I have repositioned the company positively. Eleganza Industries Limited had suffered a major setback in the past, but because my husband, Chief Rasak Okoya, has a passion for the industry, the company came back on board again, bigger and better as Eleganza Industrial City Limited and the new direction is moving towards being a foremost producer of chairs, tables, coolers, baby diapers sanitary pads, luggage, pet bottles, soaps spanning over not just West Africa, but its product will also be exported all over the world.”

She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company, which started operation in 2012 situated on over 35 hectares expanse of land along the Lekki Epe Expressway.

She gestures to one of her staff to bring a catalogue containing the company’s work, and says softly, “my business acumen and encouragement from my husband has always placed me on my feet. I also thank God for the good health, because without sound health I can’t do anything or plan.”

Born in Lagos on April 25, 1977, into the family of the late Alhaji Taju and Alhaja Nimota Adeleye, from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Folashade had her early education in Lagos, where she grew up. She read Banking and Finance at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo, where she bagged an Ordinary National Diploma (OND). She later studied Sociology at the University of Lagos.

“I grew up in a family, where discipline was the watchword, a family that did not compromise on respect, irrespective of your age. When I grew up under those circumstances, I had no difficulty taking after my grandmother. She was everything to me. May her soul rest in peace,” she says.

The University of Lagos-trained sociologist giggles, “though, people would say that a child brought up by granny would be spoilt, mine was strict.”

The sixth of seven children confesses: “I had a strict, but loving upbringing. My childhood memories are still very fresh. My grandmother was very strict and apart from that, she was a businesswoman. I learnt part of that from her. Majorly, I was determined that I wanted to be a businesswoman when I grow up and make money for myself.”

She says, shrugging slightly, “my grandmother was there for us. I can still remember, in most cases, when I come back from school, my granny will go through my books to ensure that they are complete. Though she was not educated, she embraced education and watched me grow educationally from the cradle. She taught me how to tidy up the house, wash clothes clean and dress neatly.”

According to the lady, “what my grandmother was for us is what my mother is doing for my children. They know their parents are there, but the person the get to see most is their granny.”

She recalls with a wry smile, “my experiences in school were mixed, but I had always been moved by my grandmother to embrace education, remain focused and be prayerful. However, knowing and getting married to my husband catapulted me to my greatness today.”

Best known for her ebullient personality, Shade, who has been bestowed with traditional titles such as, Bewaji of Lagos, Otun Aare Iyalaje of Ajiranland, Yeye Oge of Epe Land and Ajisewa of Oke Ona Egba, has interest in many areas of business. Currently, she is the Managing Director of Eleganza Fashion Products Limited, Eleganza Cruise & Travels Limited, as well as a member Board of Eleganza Group and RAO Investment Property Company Limited.

“One of the greatest challenges of doing business in Nigeria is energy to power the industries, instability of FOREX and the importation of goods that are being produced locally and of high quality. When we were planning all these lines of our business, we never knew Forex was going to be an issue, but we are already in it. We thank God that we are surviving,” she says.

The company has over 2,000 workers thereby providing employment to the citizens of Lagos State and its environs. “Our vision is to be the foremost producer of various household items in Nigeria within the next two years. We also intend to commence the exportation of household items to other African countries.”

She insists, “with good policies on the ground, the business environment will blossom and the economy will improve.” You ask, what has been the greatest challenge of being Mrs Okoya? She says, “I have no challenge being Mrs Okoya. The challenge I have is working in Eleganza as the MD. Things are really difficult in the country now. The economy is not what it used to be. The challenge I have now is being MD of Eleganza Industrial City Company and running it day-to-day.”

She, however, adds: “At the initial stage of our married life, when I looked into the future of the business empire of my husband, but he taught me how to make use of every minute and today, I’m singing another song of success got from hard work and dedication to duties.”

She adds: “I’ve always looked forward to being a businesswoman. Being married to my husband has added to that. I don’t believe in failing. I get a little bit shy of failure. I don’t want to fail in whatever I tried to do. It’s a is a no-go area for me.”

Being married to the industrialist and businessman, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya CON, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Eleganza Group of Companies, however, will pale to insignificance, if she is not a hard worker.

“These days, young people think that to get married to a wealthy man is to eat, spend money and be laid back. I don’t believe in the phrase ‘be pretty, sit down and enjoy.’ My husband made it very clear to me that he was not going to get married to a lazy person. So, I got my priorities right from the day one,” Shade enthuses.

Was it love at first sight for her and her husband?
“It wasn’t love at first sight because I was really young then. He didn’t pretend about the whole thing when he met me. He saw and liked me. He told me he wanted to marry me. I don’t know for him, but for me, it wasn’t love at first sight. I liked him as a person and he was really generous. Those were the qualities and attributes that contributed to where we are now,” the mother of four beautiful children says.

Both of them got married 18 years ago and every day has been love, love and love. She explains, “I met him at a really young age and he liked me and we both respected each other. He is generous to a fault and always very caring. I thank God for my life and it has been 18 years all along. I wish that he would be around for many more years in good health. He is my chairman and I work under him, he gives me my daily bread and thousands of others. I love working for him. Apart from the fact that when I finish from work, I have a wonderful home to go to, I have a happy family. My husband is amiable, full of fun and loving. There is never a dull moment being with him. I must confess that I’m fortunate to have my husband; he is very loving, caring and understanding. My advice to young ladies is to pray to God to lead them to the love of their heart.”

The hardworking wife has not allowed her busy schedules to affect the home, being a parent and her responsibility to domestic obligations. Shade jokes and chats with her children, while simultaneously tidying up, cooking a meal and checking their homework before going to bed.

Just like what my grandmother did for me, that’s what my mother is doing for my children.
“I create time for my family,” she says.

Is she an extrovert or introvert?
She draws a long laugh and says, “I don’t know. I’m both. I’m reserved and also an extrovert. I’m shy to a fault and people take my shyness to mean arrogance. I’m social, accommodative, and I hate to keep words in my mind. I believe that postponed issues remain inconclusive. With this practice, I trash issue and move forward.”

She enjoys attending parties and social functions. She also likes dressing fine, “because I’m a fashionista and a role model for other upcoming female entrepreneurs and high flyers.”

Gossips don’t get to Folashade. She says, “it’s only idle minds that gossip. I know what I do and I believe that people close to me know who I am. Gossips don’t get to me in any way.”

For Mrs. Okoya, “Nigerians are very lovely people, who are ready to render helping hands at times of needs. Very respectful and beautiful people. But I dislike the young ones taking the short route to riches, killing of innocent souls, stealing, fighting and quarrelling. I hate the corruption, fraud and the get-money-quickly spirit.”

On her beauty routine, she has this to say: “I don’t spend time on making myself up, let me correct that impression. I work in the factory, and our offices are still being constructed. I spend about 10 hours here on a daily basis, so, what kind of beauty routine do you expect other than getting home and hitting the bed. I’m a housewife and mother; so, I have to cook for the family. The kind of work I do here trims me naturally. I don’t have to go to the gym for anything else. I don’t compromise on what I want to eat. I’m particular about my food. If you eat right, you will look right.”

Shade Okoya’s hobbies include, cooking – and she loves everything about beans. “I used to eat a lot beans – gardening and travelling. Her best destination is Las Vegas.

The fashionable woman, highly sociable and generous, is also a renowned philanthropist and she is very supportive of her members of staff. She has also built a commendable bridge of good relationship not just with her family but also across the society.

She has been bestowed with awards such as, Most Valuable Business Executive of the Year, in 2014, conferred on her by the board of trustees and Advisory Council of International Centre for Corporative Leadership for African and Blacks in Diaspora, Accolades International Magazine Limited Glamour Woman of the Year Award in 2016 by the Association of Media Woman Rewarding Excellence Women and Change Ambassador by Centre of Change in Community Development & Public Awareness – Dr Joe Odumakin Partnership programmes with United Nation.

She was also given a Lifetime Achievement Merit Award 2015 by Intern Center for Comparative Leadership for African Blacks in Diaspora Newline Communication and Style Personality of the Year 2012 by the Glams ‘n’ Essence. She is also that Patron of FADAN Association of Nigeria and has a Doctor of Science DSC (Honoris Causa) in Business Management and Corporate leadership by the senate of European American University.

Source: Guardian

In Interviews&profile May 2, 2017 By Women of Rubies

MEET ASANDIA BASSEY HOGAN, FIRST FEMALE CHAIRPERSON OF CALABAR MUNICIPALITY

Asandia Hogan is poised to become the first female chairperson of Calabar Municipality. She is the first woman to ever vie for this position.

Born on August 25, 1981, Asandia Bassey Asuquo Hogan is a mother, wife and businesswoman from Ikot Nsisuk, Ward 6 of Calabar Municipality, who was able to carve out a niche for herself in the fashion industry.

According to a popular social analyst, Asandia brings a fresh outlook to the politics of Calabar municipality and Cross River as a whole. Her youthfulness, and background in both the private and public sector for the past 20 years comes to bear. Her boisterous ideologies about life could be that fresh breath that Calabar municipality needs.

Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is the tourism capital of Nigeria. Administratively, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South LGAs. Everyone knows there is something about Calabar. They just can’t really place it, but they know it. There is something about the people and their food. Asandia is a true-to-type Calabar woman.

Asandia’s bold bid to take the reins of Calabar politics has prompted questions from different quarters. How thick is the line between fashion and politics? Doesn’t she look out of place at the corridors of power? Wouldn’t her swing to politics destroy what friends, fans and family have always known her to be? Could she possible bring some style to the government quarters owing to her background in fashion designing?

She did not just find herself in politics, as many would assume. She has been a member of The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since 2008 after she came back from studying Marketing and Public Relations (BA) in England. Her mother has a political history of her own too; she was the PDP Deputy Woman Leader South-South political zone till her death in 2001.

Social analysts believe that her strength lies in her being an astute business woman, wife and mother. These roles she juggles effortlessly, lends credence to her suitability for the job. As the first woman to ever vie for this political seat, she has garnered the support of feminists, humanists, rights groups, the youth and other similar groups. This has already become evident in the kind of support she has been getting across different social and political platforms.

In Interviews&profile May 2, 2017 By Women of Rubies

EARNIEWHINE; A NEW PHENOMENON IN THE MEDIA WORLD

Eniola Lawal popularly known as Earniewhine is a young, smart and vibrant fast rising TV personality.

Rockstargirl as she likes to call herself is one of the very few that finds their purpose in life very early and hers is MEDIA.

Embarked in the media at age 18, she set out tp prove to the world that ‘age, education, situation, background or anything for that matter shoud not be a reason to not get it right’ and that has always kept her focused on ‘getting it right’.

She has never for once stood down since she ventured into Print media as a columnist in 2012, her insatiable zeal took her from there to becoming a contributing blogger & vlogger at www.romancemeetslife.com and a radio co-host on Unilag fm afterwards.

In 2015, she joined the Rave Tv channel team as a presenter and segment producer.

Presently she hosts MUSE ON TV alongside two other media personalities on AIT, STV & PLANET TV.

Earniewhine is not an exception of the saying that every big dream starts small, she is set to launch her first project as a media entrepreneur in the second quarter of the year under her media company, a content production outfit.

Earniewhine worked in a real-estate firm for couple of years and also served as a Red-bull energy drink brand ambassador.

Meet Earniewhine, the sweet-sassy modern-day hustler who is set to take the media by storm.

In Interviews&profile May 1, 2017 By Women of Rubies

MEET STEPHANIE OFORKA, THE EX BEAUTY QUEEN TURNED ENTREPRENEUR

She won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Universe pageant in 2008 and proceeded to represent Nigeria at the prestigious Miss Universe hosted by Donald Trump in Vietnam, as then Stephanie Oforka.

Stephanie registered her company in 2010 and launched her beauty and wellness brand in 2016. Her company was born out of a desire to help people feel confident in their bodies through an all-inclusive regime involving fitness trainings, healthy meal plans and skin rejuvenation products.

From her struggle with cystic acne, hormonal changes and weight gain after pregnancy, she was inspired to launch her venture to help other women.

Today, Stephanie has completely figured out holistic ways to tackle these issues and is sharing them via her company. Her vision is to create a space where she can help people become the best version of themselves.

A graduate of Geology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria, the ex-beauty queen went on to marry footballer Kalu Uche in 2011 and they are blessed with two children.

Source: Guardian

In Interviews&profile May 1, 2017 By Women of Rubies

INSPIRING! MEET IFETAYO ALI-LANDING , THE 14-YEAR-OLD PRODIGY TAKING OVER CLASSICAL MUSIC

When she was three years old, Ifetayo Ali-Landing, a Nigerian-American cellist, switched from playing the violin to playing the cello. So even before she was three, Ifetayo was busy being a classical music master.

Now 14 years old, she’s a student at the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute in Chicago; and she’s a competitive musician who recently won the Junior Division 1st Place Laureate prize at the 2017 Annual Sphinx Competition for her solo performance of Lalo’s Concerto in D Minor with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra in Detroit.

(Photo: YouTube)

The prize came with a $10,000 cash prize and the opportunity to feature as a soloist with major orchestras, perform with the all black and Latino Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and appear on the prestigious and widely broadcasted talent showcase, From the Top.

She has won numerous awards numerous awards and performed in many showcases including the 2013 Friends of the IPO (Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra) Rising Stars Showcase where at age 10, she recorded the 1st movement of the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor. The performance went viral with over 53,000 YouTube views and 8 million Facebook views.

Ifetayo is definitely on her way to being one of the all time classical music greats!

In Interviews&profile May 1, 2017 By Women of Rubies

GLORY EDOZIEN : MEET THE TOP 11 FEMALE LAWYERS IN NIGERIA FOR 2017

In a profession largely dominated by men, it is often very rare to see women excel and reach the pinnacle of the law profession. Many of them have over the years demystified this enchantment and have soared higher than even some of their male contemporaries.

They hold highly exalted positions and command respects and they are always a sight to behold. The number of notable female lawyers in Nigeria is steadily rising and over the past years, the “men in skirt” constitute the largest number of new wigs in the country.

In ranking the ten lawyers, law repository takes a look at their pedigree, their position, year of practice and landmarks they’ve achieved in arriving at the final list. This list contains the most prominent and top female lawyers in Nigeria

We present to you the top 11 female lawyers in Nigeria in no particular order.

Here are the top 11 lawyers you need to know.

1. Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke SAN
2. Funke Adekoya SAN
3. Funke Agbor SAN
4. Kofo Dosekun SAN
5. Mrs. Funmi Falana
6. Funmi Roberts
7. Doyin Rhodes Vivour
8. Victoria Awomolo SAN
9. Myma Belo-Osagie
10. Hauwa Ibrahim
11. Boma Oziona OON

Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke – A woman of many first, Mrs. Solanke is the first female lawyer to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in March 1981. She was awarded the International Woman of the Year in 2012 by the International Federation of Women Lawyers.

Funke Adekoya SAN – she is a partner at AELEX, one of the largest law firms in Nigeria. Mrs. Adekoya was appointed notary public in 1986 and elevated to the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001 becoming only the 5th woman to be so elevated. She has been a life bencher since march 2007. According to data pulled from her law firms website, she is a litigator and represents clients regularly before the Nigerian courts at all levels and has provided expert opinions and appeared as an expert witness on Nigerian law issues before the courts of England, united states and turkey.

Funke Agbor SAN – she is a partner in the law firm of Adepetun Caston Martins Agbor and Segun. She is an expert in shipping and litigation. She is based in Lagos and recognized as an elite “leading individual in shipping and transport. She has been described by Chambers Global as “a respected maritime lawyer and a key member of the firms (ACAS) dispute resolution practice”.

Kofo Dosekun SAN– she is the managing partner and head of transactions at Aluko and Oyebode, one of the largest and most respected law firms in Nigeria. Kofo Dosekun is experienced in large, cross-border transactions. She is well respected in the market, with sources remarking: “If I were making a recommendation, I would point them to her.”

Funmi Falana – she is the wife of renown legal giant Femi Falana. She is a women right activist. She is the current national director of women empowerment and legal aid (WELA), a non-governmental organization that defends the right of women and children.

Funmi Roberts – she is a dispute resolution expert. She is also a highly respected litigator. She is the principal partner in a law firm she founded, Funmi Roberts and co

Doyin Rhodes Vivour – she is the managing partner at Doyin Rhodes Vivour & co. she specializes in commercial transactions, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. She sits as an arbitrator and represents parties as counsel in arbitration proceedings. She is passionate at promoting the benefits of ADR and she is a leading light in this area.

Victoria Awomolo SAN – she is the managing partner in the law firm of Adegboyega Awomolo & Associates. She was conferred with the rank of senior advocate in 2013. She is a good litigator and is involved in active legal practice.

Myma Belo-Osagie – Dr. Myma is a university of Ghana graduate and also a graduate of Harvard Law School. She is a specialist in Nigerian petroleum regulations and environmental law. She is currently a managing partner at the law firm of Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie. She heads the telecommunications and oil and gas teams. She played a key role in the drafting of the Nigerian Communications Act in 2003 and she is a member of the New York, Ghana and Nigerian Bar.

Hauwa Ibrahim – she is hailed as one of the top defenders of women’s rights in Nigeria. She is most known for her pro bono work defending people condemned under Islamic sharia laws in northern Nigeria. She is the founder and senior partner at Aries law firm in Abuja. She is the recipient of three honorary doctorates and is currently a visiting lecturer at Harvard university.

Boma Ozobia OON – Mrs. Boma has over 25 years experience in commercial practice and was the president, Commonwealth Lawyers Association from 2011-2013. She was also the Chairwoman, Association of Women Solicitors, England and Wales from 2005-2006. She is one of the best female lawyers in the country.