Interviews&profile Archives

In Interviews&profile December 25, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

14-YEAR-OLD SPELMAN STUDENT WHO MADE HEADLINES MAKES DEAN’S LIST IN HER FIRST SEMESTER

The culture cheered for 14-year-old Sydney Wilson earlier this year when she made headlines for being one of the youngest students admitted to Spelman. Now we’re celebrating the successful completion of her first semester.

Wilson has a full course load filled with classes like Population Biology, Big Questions Colloquia and African Diaspora & The World, but she’s managing it all. She’s ending the semester on the Dean’s list with a 3.76 GPA, a huge accomplishment for any college student, much less one just entering their teenage years.

Wilson’s parents first noticed her superb academic abilities when she was in the second grade. By the time she was 10-years-old, she was enrolled in high school and by 13-years-old she had officially applied to Spelman.

She began courses at the elite historically Black college and university this fall, living on campus just like any other college student. She majored in biology, a career path she hopes will lead to being able to cure illness in humans. And now, she’s finished her first semester with flying colors.

Wilson spoke to Because of Them We Can about how she’s been able to manage it all saying, “There have definitely been some ups and downs but the ups certainly outweigh the downs. It was a little hard in the beginning being away from my family but luckily I got to see them often. I am now able to see how the semester has impacted my life, refined my character and gifted me the ability to see things from different perspectives.”

She said she’s really looking forward to next semester now that she’s more settled in. And we’re looking forward to continue cheering her on!

Congratulations Sydney! Keep reaching for the stars!

In Editor's Choice December 21, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

BOLI LA’N TA WAS INSPIRED BY MY LOVE FOR ROASTED PLANTAIN- OMOLOLA KAYODE

Omolola Olanrewaju Kayode was born on June 17th 1995, an only child her late dad who died in 2010 but the last born for of her mother .

Omolola’s journey is one of resilience, determination and doggedness, From struggling to attend school from her young age to sleeping in Ketu garage for 11months with her parents at the age of 6 . Her mum sold drinks at the entrance of Ketu Demurin bus park, which exposed her to brutality of all kinds, from being pursued by armed Mopols with whips, to them carting away with her goods. Lola’s mum raised her through this livelihood and this in no little way made Lola more determined to make something our of her life against all odds.

After her education, she started working as an auxiliary nurse to earn a living, but she thought to do something on the side to give back, and this informed her decision to go into the Roasted plantain business, populary known as “Boli”, a popular roadside snack in Nigeria, where the Plantain is roasted and sold with groundnut, and displayed stylishly on the local burner.

However, Lola decided to take her vision a step higher by creating a full business venture called “Boli la’ n ta” , a wonderful snack eaten by both high and low income earners, by packaging the plantain with stew and other delicious condiments , selling to corporate workers and residents of high brow areas across Lagos, she also caters at parties and big events in Lagos.

Her story went viral on Facebook few weeks ago when several Nigerian celebrities posted their photos of them with Lola’s signature roasted plantain, this in no little gave her business and edge and made her motivated to keep pushing.

The wonderful budding entrepreneur who is hopeful her business will make more impact,and passion for animals and humanitarian work with me in this interview.

Childhood Influence

My childhood was a mix of love, fun, trials, hustles and strength. My mum carried me for 13months and 2weeks before finally being able to deliver me at a TBA’s facility, I never tasted breast milk because of how sick she got after my birth for a stretch of 6months as I was told. At the age of 5 we got homeless and the only choice of shelter we had was my Mum’s sales space at Ketu Garage , I would be laid to sleep in the counter while my dad and mum would take turns to watch on the bench and once it’s 4am ,mum starts displaying her wares and dad takes me to the public bathroom to freshen me up for school . After 8months my parents were able to save up enough money for an apartment. I was born in a highly competitive environment; everyone wants to be ahead of the other and with such setting you can’t afford to slow down. My mum wakes up at 3:30 and sets out at 4a.m to Ketu market where she has a sales space and there are almost 10 people around her selling the same products, the earlier you resume the better for your business. I grew knowing that you must keep surviving no matter what odds comes your way .

Inspiration behind her business Boli La’n ta

Boli La’n Ta was inspired by my love for roasted plantain and the ringing mentality of growth. There was a day I was coming from Oshodi with some of my friends and we were hungry and needed to eat something, so I suggested we go for boli. We approached a woman selling it and she selected the ones we wanted, which she gave us with groundnut. “As she was selling, an idea dropped in me and I asked her, ‘Why can’t you sell ponmo and fish together with the boli?’ She responded she wouldn’t be able to do that as it would not attract buyers. At home, I woke up at about 2am and the only thing that kept coming into my mind was how to prepare and package boli differently.

My first pack of boli, earned me N700; the second with croaker fish fetched her N2,500. The orders starting going up from that moment.

Feedback since I started

The positive feedbacks and extreme support towards my business made me feel indescribably happy and more determined to sharpen my skills. Also, I make my customers understand my plantain is not carbonized, I visit the main plantain market to buy it but when I have a big order, I buy outside Lagos.

Challenges

Transportation and the market unexpected uprise.

Other passion

I am always happy whenever there’s an avenue for me to assist humans or animals, I believe a purposeful life is that lived by making others happy. My inquisition made me love animals as I see all as pets, seeing beyond the physical features and carefully studying the works of God in them amuses me a lot . I also do a lot of humanitarian work with several notable Ngo’s, helping hopeless women and giving hope to street kids.

Advice to young female budding entrepreneurs

They mustn’t give up on their vision as no one would see those dreams come to life except they themselves. Contribute maximum strength focus and persistence towards the determination for success. They should channel all their energy towards standing out in their field of choice and not shiver from like brand’s pressure instead dare to be indomitable.

In Editor's Choice December 14, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

“THE PERSON YOU MARRY HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE OR DISRUPT YOUR JOURNEY”- AMAKA CHIBUZO-OBI

They say Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds the true friend in his wife. This is one of things Amaka Chibuzo-Obi’s organization wivesroundtable advocates for.

An organisation dedicated to using media to empower women with valuable information, tools and resources to help them live wholesomely.

Amaka who is also the founder of The Wivesroundtable Foundation ; dedicated to improving the lives of indigent, low income women in her community, using entrepreneurship and education, is also an NLP and results certified coach, a Family Life practitioner and a certified Positive Psychology practitioner.

A graduate of Computer Science from the University of Calabar with an MBA from Lagos State University, Amaka Chibuzo-Obi is passionate about women development and empowerment having coached many women to fulfill their dreams. The beautiful wife and mom of three is also an event compere, having hosted many high brow events with glowing testimonials

Childhood Influence

I had an interesting life growing up. I was an only child to a woman who was mother to many. My mom was that woman who opened her doors and her heart to everyone who needed help. I saw generosity, empathy and the desire to make a difference, first hand in my mother. She died when I was just 8 years old (God keep resting her beautiful soul) So growing up, I always knew I wanted to change people’s lives for good. I had no idea how, what path I will take or what vehicle will lead me there but I just knew I was going to do something that will cause major impact in lives and in my world. Even though I battled low self-esteem and acute shyness at one point in my life, this desire to positively affect my world helped me overcome all that and keep the focus. So yes, my childhood kind of prepared me for what I do now.

Inspiration behind Wivesroundtable franchise

Like I said, I had always wanted to make a mark in my world, to positively affect lives and impact people. I just didn’t know how. I grew up watching Oprah Winfrey and loved how she used media to make a difference. I wanted to be like her. I dreamed I would one day rule the screens like Oprah. I kept that dream in the coolers as I faced the realities of life. After youth service, I came to Lagos in search of a better life. I took up a job in a media independent agency. In the years I worked there, I got married. I remember coming back from that break after the wedding to my colleagues who warmly welcomed me, especially the married ones. Shouts of “welcome to the club” filled the air. One welcome actually played a huge part in changing the trajectory of my life. A good friend (or so I thought), someone with whom I had shared so many things in confidence, walked up and after welcoming me, she said “Ehen, Amaka, now I can really talk to you. Because now you are married, you will understand me better”. This got me thinking deeply. I realized 2 very important things as I thought about this remark. (1) That married women felt more comfortable discussing with other married women on issues important to them (2) That married women didn’t have a lot of avenues to vent. So, years later, in 2011, Wivesroundtable was created. And it started as an online platform for married women to anonymously relate with one another, share their stories, experiences, concerns and challenges and get suggestions and encouragement from each other. This later morphed into the Wivesroundtable radio show which started airing every Thursday evening 8pm on 92.3 Inspiration FM Lagos in April 2013.

To further meet our objective of being an agent of positive change in the lives of women, The Wivesroundtable Foundation was born in 2019. This foundation’s objective is to empower poor and vulnerable women through entrepreneurship and financial literacy. We set them up in business and then train them for several months after, so they can learn the basic skills required to effectively and successfully run their businesses

Being a certified computer scientist, but tilting my tent in the Coaching sector

Let me be very honest with you, when I filled in “Computer science” on my JAMB form back in the day, even I knew that I wasn’t going to go on that path! I only did the sciences to prove to my father that he had an intelligent daughter. LOL. You know how it was back then with the science Vs Arts dichotomy. Because of my desire to directly and intimately affect people’s lives positively, especially women, coaching was the most logical way to go. So, after I had satisfied myself in the paid employment industry and left to start Wivesroundtable, I started empowering myself with knowledge, courses and certifications that will help me be a coach that will hold women’s hands on their way to a life of well-being

Being a certified coach, family life practitioner, Positive psychology practitioner, radio host, women’s advocate, wife and mom, and managing it all

Two words – Intentional living and Support. I tell people, women especially that I don’t claim to be super woman or super mom o. I do what I can, when I can. I prioritize per time. I don’t entertain guilt that will cause me to ignore myself and my needs in the scheme of things. I remind myself daily that, I matter too. That my goals and dreams matter. I look for, pray for and get capable hands to support me on my journey. My husband is also incredibly amazing and highly supportive. He allows me space to fly while he fans the wind beneath my sail. Every woman deserves to have support and should also be open to utilize the ones they have, so they can go for and achieve their dreams. Also, God has been super faithful and gracious. He has given me the Grace, Strength and Courage to do all these.

Wivesroundtable Radioshow

The Wivesroundtable radio show which started airing on Thursday April 11^th 2013 has aired 339 episodes as at Thursday 28^th November 2019. In this time, it reaches an approximate 180,000 people every single week in and around Lagos! The Wivesroundtable radio show has changed people’s mindset and beliefs about themselves and their relationships. We receive emails very frequently from fans of the radio show who just write in to appreciate us for the work we do. More than 15 women have gotten their fertility issues resolved from information and resources gotten on the Wivesroundtable show! Numerous marriages have been restored and businesses set on the path to success. The Wivesroundtable radio show has, in various major ways, been a catalyst for positive growth and development in the lives of numerous people.

Challenges of being a Social Entrepreneur

There are many issues facing us at Wivesroundtable, top of which is the issue of Finance. The business terrain in Nigeria is a very peculiar one. There are many jobs we do for advertisers where payment gets delayed for as much as a year! Also, financial support is a crippling challenge in our work with The Wivesroundtable Foundation. Raising funds to empower the women is a herculean task – people who wish to support usually have little means and those with the wherewithal most times ignore the call. In spite of all these challenges, we still push through because we know what our goal is and we do not desire to stop anywhere short of it.

My thoughts on Society’s perception of women who don’t conform to pressure to marry at a certain age?

The society is changing gradually but surely. We live in a society where marriage is a big deal. From when a girl is born, the prayers for her getting a good husband and beautiful children starts. So, you can imagine the shock when said girl gets to a certain age and isn’t yet married. Society kind of gets disappointed and tries to shame her into getting married. This is actually very ridiculous because marriage is just one of the very many things humans do on earth. If a woman chooses not to, it’s her life and therefore, her prerogative. I am glad that the narrative is changing. More and more people are refusing to be cowered into taking a major decision such as getting married just because society wants them to. More and more people are taking control. One thing I know is that, society will find a way to adapt as the narratives continues to change (it always does) so women should keep standing up for their rights.

Being a Woman of Rubies

My empathy, my strength, my resolve to make a positive difference and my resilience to not give up all make me a bona-fide woman of rubies!

Final word for Women, especially wives who are finding it hard to have a work life balance.

Know yourself and the dynamics of your life. Utilize every resource available to you. Remind yourself daily that you matter too. Don’t be shy or afraid to speak up and ask for help when needed, especially when speaking up has the potential to favor you. Know yourself well enough to know your path and love yourself enough to follow it doggedly.

Nuggets for singles and Married, especially the newly weds

Let me start with the singles – Realize that the person you marry has the ability to make or disrupt your journey so open your eyes wide when dating. TALK! Talk about all areas of life, so you can have an idea of how the person reasons and how he/she sees life. Ask relevant questions. Ensure that your goals and dreams are in alignment or at least, that the other person is not opposed to yours.

Then for the newlyweds, realize that the butterflies in the tummy will settle sooner or later. This doesn’t mean you have fallen out of love. It just means that the journey has started in earnest. From there on out, what will keep you both will be a firm commitment to and mutual respect of each other. See yourselves as a team – much like Arsenal and Liverpool. Teams score together, win together and celebrate together. They also lose together if they do not prepare or perform well. When you realize that it is TOGETHER not INDIVIDUAL, you will take the other person’s matter like yours and help each other be better versions of yourselves. Be kind. Be considerate. Be open. Practice effective communication. Learn it, if need be. Develop yourself inside marriage. Do not take your marriage for granted. Work on it like you do for every other thing of importance in your life. Your marriage is worth it. You are worth it.

On a last note…

I coach women how to create Balance in their lives so they can effectively play the different roles they have and still live a life of well-being and harmony. My mantra is “Creating a better world one woman at a time” (which is also the payoff line for the Wivesroundtable Foundation) and I do at least one thing every day to achieve this. It is my desire to affect the lives of women in Nigeria and beyond. Some people say “Women have so many initiatives for them. Isn’t it too much?” I always reply “It isn’t nearly enough!”

Women deserve every single initiative directed at empowering them. After centuries of being marginalized, discriminated against and belittled, women need all the help they can get to get on their feet, drag a chair and sit at the table! A world where women aren’t afraid to be and do all they want to do; is a world I dream to see. That is what I work to achieve! You can find out more about what we do at our website www.wivesroundtable.com.ng. My name is Amaka Chibuzo-Obi and I am proud to be a woman!

In Interviews&profile December 10, 2019 By Women of Rubies

WOMEN IN SPACE: MEET NASA’S FEMALE ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES

When NASA announced its newest class of astronaut candidates, it included five inspiring women! NASA received a record-breaking number of applicants for this astronaut class — over 18,000 in all — and the class itself has twelve members, their largest since the year 2000.

“These women and men deserve our enthusiastic congratulations,” said retired astronaut and Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa. “Children all across the United States right now dream of being in their shoes someday. We here at NASA are excited to welcome them to the team and look forward to working with them to inspire the next generation of explorers.”

The astronaut candidates have two years of training in front of them before they’re ready to break Earth’s atmosphere, but in the meantime, space-loving Mighty Girls have five new role models to look up to! In this blog post, we introduce you to these five remarkably talented women. And, to inspire children who dream of their own careers in space, at the end of the post, we’ve showcased a variety of girl-empowering books and toys about shooting for the stars!

Kayla Barron, Engineer and Navy Officer

Kayla Barron already knows something about what it’s like to live in tight spaces, where a vessel wall is the only thing protecting you from a dangerous environment: the 29-year-old Navy lieutenant from Richland, Washington was one of the first class of eleven women to join the submarine service after the men-only restriction was dropped. “I really felt at home [in the submarine service],” she says. “Everyone is really talented and team-oriented.”

The same aptitudes will suit Barron, who has a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering, well as an astronaut candidate. She says her math skills weren’t the best for her confidence, however, as she worked her way into the 120 people selected for interviews and the 50 finalists: “Like a good engineer, I was always doing the math in my head and calculating the probabilities,” she recalls. “It seemed like a steep slope to climb.”

Barron wasn’t even able to take the call from NASA telling her she’d been selected, because as the aide to the superintendent of the Naval Academy, she was on the review stand for the color parade. Her reaction when she was free and finally heard the news was appropriate: “I was just over the moon.”

Zena Cardman, Marine Scientist and Microbiologist

To accomplish her research in microbiology, Zena Cardman has already been to some of the world’s most remote environments, from Antarctic ice to caves where no daylight penetrates to hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. “I’m especially interested in life that lives in oddball environments on Earth, the extremophiles,” says the 29-year-old from Williamsburg, Virginia. “For me, that’s a good analogy for environments that might be habitable on another planet.”

Cardman is a multitalented scientist whose bachelor’s degree in biology included minors in chemistry, marine sciences, and creative writing, and she hopes that her flexibility will make her “that scientific Swiss Army knife in the field.” Having also earned a Master of Science degree in Marine Sciences, she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at Pennsylvania State University when she was selected as an astronaut candidate — doing research work focused on “cave slime,” which she says lives in “a really interesting environment. It’s totally dark all the time. Life there is not fueled by normal things we look outside our windows and see.”

She’s thrilled to be joining NASA just as they begin looking to longer missions, further away from the planet we call home. “There is a lot of change happening, so we are not sure where this current class is going to end up going,” she says. “That’s almost more exciting than knowing.”

Jasmin Moghbeli, Helicopter Pilot and Aerospace Engineer

Jasmin Moghbeli has dreamed of being an astronaut since she was a child; she was inspired by a sixth-grade project about first woman in space Valentina Tereshkova. “We had to dress up like the person in class, and I had my little space outfit that my mom helped me make,” recalls the 33-year-old Iranian-American from Baldwin, New York. “That was the first time I remember definitely saying ‘hey, I want to be an astronaut’ and started looking more into what I needed to do.”

She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering and joined the Marines, becoming a helicopter pilot and rising to the rank of major, but she didn’t give up on her dream of joining NASA, so this year she decided to apply — and found the first step of process surprisingly anticlimactic. “The first part is you just submit a resume,” Moghbeli says. “So that part’s a little underwhelming, you’re like ‘that’s it?'” Fortunately, hearing the news that she had actually been selected to start astronaut training was everything that she’d been dreaming of for all of those years: “When I first got the call, I could tell you, my hands were shaking afterwards and I could barely dial the numbers to call my parents to tell them.”

Loral O’Hara, Research Engineer and Wilderness First Responder

Loral O’Hara knows something about persevering until you reach your goal: the 34-year-old, who is a research engineer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, applied to the astronaut program twice before getting the good news; “Third time is the charm,” she says. O’Hara has dreamed of being an astronaut since she was a child: growing up in Houston, her second-grade class grew tomato seeds that flew in one of the space shuttles, and “in high school I used to watch the space shuttle debriefings when they used to do those in the space center.”

However, she tells students who dream of space not to feel bad if they struggle with some subjects: “my worst subject was actually math,” she says. “I struggled with math the whole way through.” Those struggles, however, didn’t stop her from getting a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering or a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics. O’Hara is also a private pilot and an avid outdoorswoman, and has been serving as a wilderness first responder, using her certified EMT skills to help people in trouble in remote places. She’s excited to return to her hometown for training and even more excited about the possibility of a Mars mission: “That’s been something that I think we’ve all been dreaming out for ages, just stepping foot on another planet!”

Jessica Watkins, Geologist and Curiosity Collaborator

Jessica Watkins wanted to be an astronaut so much that she started her university career in mechanical engineering — but then she discovered a passion for geology! “One thing that people have said to me… was that you want to make sure you are passionate about and fulfilled by what you do in your career, outside of being an astronaut,” says the 29-year-old from Lafayette, Colorado. “[Astronaut] selection is so rigorous and the statistics are so small, you want to pursue something that you really love and that you would love to do for the rest of your life.”

Her doctorate in geology led to a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology, where she started working with NASA’s scientific division as part of the team working with the Mars Curiosity rover. An avid athlete and a former national rugby sevens team member, she’s also been acting as a volunteer assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Caltech. Watkins is an advocate for women, especially women of color, in STEM, and she hopes that she can provide an encouraging example to a generation of Mighty Girls: “[I like] being able to be a face to others who may not see people who look like them in STEM fields in general, and doing cool things like going to space.”

Credit: amightygirl.com

In Interviews&profile December 9, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

FUNKE AKINDELE-BELLO TALKS DIRECTING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON VANGUARD ALLURE’S LATEST ISSUE

Funke Akindele Bello is the cover star of this week’s Vanguard Allure.

The award-winning Nollywood actor, producer and now director of EbonyLife Films‘ ‘Your Excellency‘ talks about growing up with strict parents; her big break; how she stumbled into playing the character, ‘Jenifa’; challenges that came with directing a feature film; her admiration for Mo Abudu; and positively impacting the lives of young people by creating platforms for them to excel.

Looking beautiful in these never-before-seen Emmanuel Oyeleke photos, we see a new side to Funke Akindele Bello.

Vanguard Allure hits the stands this Sunday, December 8, to herald the worldwide premiere of ‘Your Excellency‘ holding in Lagos.

Grab your copy now!

Photo Credit:
Creative Director: @nellymesik
Photography: @emmanueloyeleke
Hair: @dvreloaded
Makeup: @radiezbyeve
Styling: @medlinboss

In Interviews&profile December 9, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

FINLAND’S SANNA MARIN BECOMES YOUNGEST SERVING PRIME MINISTER IN THE WORLD

34-year-old Sanna Marin has been named the next prime minister of Finland, after the former transportation minister was elected by her party Social Democrats to the post of the PM on Sunday.

According to The Guardian, Sanna Marin, who is expected to take the oath of her office this week, will become one of the world’s youngest state leaders, and she will also be the youngest head of government in Finland’s history.

Finland’s transportation minister Sanna Marin was selected by her Social Democratic party on December 8 to become the country’s youngest prime minister ever.

Her appointment comes after Antti Rinne resigned on Tuesday, after a party in the coalition said it had lost confidence in him following his handling of a postal strike.

Photo Credit: @marinsanna

In Interviews&profile December 9, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

NIGERIA’S OLUTOSIN ARAROMI MADE TOP 20 LIST AT THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

MBGN Universe, Olutosin Araromi, was definitely one to watch out for at this year’s Miss Universe beauty pageant, and this she proved by placing among the top 20 out of 90 contestants.

Olutosin competed alongside 90 other ladies at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, at the event which saw South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi getting crowned as the 68th Miss Universe.

Tosin’s general charisma, poise and intelligence made it possible for her to place as a finalist, which is interestingly the first time in many years a Nigerian will place at the top spot.

When it was Olutosin’s turn to say something about herself, the 25-year-old public speaker who tragically lost her mum during the 2019 MBGN pageant, mentioned that the death of her mom has taught her perseverance and she uses her story to inspire and uplift youths.

Here are the top 20 contestants below:

Nigeria – Olutosin Araromi

South Africa – Zozibini Tunzi (WINNER)

Vietnam – Hoàng Thùy

Indonesia – Frederika Alexis Cull (Top 10)

Thailand – Paweensuda Drouin (Top 5)

Albania – Cindy Marina

Colombia – Gabriela Tafur (Top 5)

Brazil – Julia Horta

India – Vartika Singh

Venezuela – Thalia Olvino

The Philippines – Gazini Ganados

USA – Cheslie Kryst (Top 10)

Mexico – Sofía Aragón (Top 3)

The Dominican Republic – Clauvid Daly

Peru – Kelin Rivera

Puerto Rico – Madison Anderson

Portugal – Sylvie Silvia

Croatia – Mia Rkman

Iceland – Birta Abiba Þórhallsdóttir

France – Maëva Coucke

In Interviews&profile December 9, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MISS UNIVERSE JUST CROWNED THE FIRST BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN WINNER – ALL HAIL BLACK WOMEN!

Miss South Africa was just crowned Miss Universe! Zozibini Tunzi, 26, stood out from 90 other women, and made history as the first Black South African to win the title.

According to her contest biography, Tunzi is an activist who has devoted herself to fighting gender based violence and changing the narrative around gender stereotypes. She is also an advocate for natural beauty.

In her last response Tunzi emphasized what it was like growing up and her hopes for the next generation.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair, was never considered to be beautiful.” She continued, “I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”

Tunzi is now a part of the history making Black beauty queens as she joins Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America. It is the first time all pageants have crowned a Black woman in the same year.

The pageant was held at Tyler Perry’s studios in Atlanta, GA.

Congratulations Zozibini!

In Editor's Choice December 7, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

AISHA SALEH: AN UNSTOPPEABLE STAR OUT OF A LAGOS SLUM

* Her dream to represent Nigeria at an international children’s conference was dashed by immigration officers in Lagos but she has not given up hope. Nicknamed by some as ‘Nigerian’s Malala’.

From the most unlikely places and amidst the darkest odds, stars keep emerging on the Nigerian horizon. One of them is 14-year-old Aisha Saleh who is currently making waves following the alleged frustration of her efforts to represent Nigeria at the International Children’s Conference in Geneva, Switzerland hosted by the United Nations recently (commemorating the 30th anniversary of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child).

Aisha was born in Lagos on December 21, 2005 ago to petty trader Zainab Saleh and taxi driver Saleh Mohammed. At age seven, she lost her mother thus she and her younger brother Mohammed moved in to live with her grandmother in Monkey Village, a very impoverished neighourhood sited in a valley off the highbrow Allen Avenue in Lagos.

But the dark circumstances of her childhood and surrounding environment have not deterred Aisha from shining like a luminous star. Well known among her peers, school mates and teachers as an academic genius, Aisha spent only four years in primary school as against six as she was promoted twice. Right from her nursery and primary school at Opebi Primary School in Lagos, and currently in Junior Secondary School Three at Opebi Grammar School, also in Lagos, Aisha consistently takes first position in her class. Her eloquent and apt answers to questions and her unusual intellectual depth continue to outstand her teachers and school mates alike.

A polyglot, from age 10, she was already speaking five languages including English, Arabic, Hausa, Yoruba and Egun. Aisha who is talented in arts and designs, hopes to become a lawyer in the future in order to bring justice to oppressed children and people in general as she witnesses in her neighbourhood all the time.

In 2016, at age 11, the Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), a child’s rights and development non-profit, started work in her community, engaging the children, starting an educational empowerment program and mentoring the children about their rights among others.

CEE-HOPE also started the Girls-Go-for-Greatness (Triple G) club and after discovering Aisha, made her the community coordinator of Triple G and also community librarian. Aisha currently helps to enlighten the children in Monkey Village about their educational and human rights, educates parents against marrying off their girl children (as child marriages and teenage prostitutions are rife among the Lagos’ urban poor and impoverished neighborhoods). She also gives out books to fellow children. Besides she enlightens the guardians in her neighbourhoods originating from neighbouring countries about the criminality of not sending their wards to school but using children as young as five as househelps.

Aisha also helps to coordinate children and teach toddlers during CEE-HOPE’s annual summer school program in the community.

At CEE-HOPE’s events both within and outside her community, Aisha shines brightly with her performances and scholarly contributions.

Since 2016, CEE-HOPE enrolled Aisha on its girl educational scholarship program to help her realise her educational dreams. In the past she was also awarded scholarship by The Women’s Helping Hands Initiative (TWHHI), an initiative of Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (wife of the current vice president of Nigeria which works with underprivileged children in Lagos.

Betty Abah, founder of CEE-HOPE which works with children in slum communities and beyond, describes Aisha as ‘a clear-cut genius, an unstoppable meter and one of our biggest discoveries.’

Aisha recently spoke on her botched trip to Switzerland, her activism in her community and future aspirations.

Childhood Influence

I was living with my parents and younger brother. But then, when I was seven, I lost my mum. We had to come and live with my grandmother in Monkey Village, a slum area in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos State. My grandmother took care of us until I started primary school. I performed excellently in primary school and as a result was given double promotion so I spent four years in primary school. CEE-HOPE discovered me in 2016 in Monkey Village and since then, I was made a child right’s defender and volunteer of CEE-HOPE. My childhood didn’t prepare me in any way for what I do now because we were poor and, living in such an area, it was all impossible. But God has sent CEE-HOPE to be helpers to me. I thank God because I know nothing is impossible when God says yes.

My inspiring work at Monkey village

Some of my inspiring work that I do at Monkey Village are: I am the leader of the girls’ club in my community; I am also the community librarian and I teach the toddlers in the community during my free hours and during CEE-HOPE’s summer school program. In addition, I talk to parents to send their children to school and not to marry them off early. My desire is for everybody to acquire a good education.

Breaking boundaries at 14, being an agent of change and adding value to the society

For me to be an agent of change to my society, am very happy and I know one day I won’t only an agent of change to immediate community or my society but to the world at large.

My Impactful work with CEE-HOPE

Okay, I have been working with CEE-HOPE since 2016 when they came into my community. That time, most of the children here were not in school. After they organised three weeks of summer school with us and donated school materials and put some of us the girls on scholarship, things improved. I think more than 90% of the children are now in school. We also don’t have child marriages here like that again. Also, the books given to me as Librarian, I borrow the children and many of them are now interested in reading. Some of them have read more than 10 books and they keep asking for more. I also coordinate them to go for computer lessons at CEE-HOPE office in Ogba. I also believe that many of the parents want their children to be like me so that can be selected to travel abroad too. Also, because of what happened, many people now know about Monkey Village. So I believe that I am a good ambassador for my community and I believe that better things will come for us. Some people even call me Malala of Money Village

Barred from travelling because of immigration issues

At first, I was excited when I heard that I would be traveling to Switzerland to attend the child’s right convention anniversary where I was going to meet stakeholders, other teenagers like me and big celebrities. It took us three weeks to get the international passport. The passport office people at Ikoyi were asking for different kinds of documents and we were going back and forth to get the (documents). I was missing school because of that but the people at the passport office kept delaying until I missed my trip. They said it was a lie that I was about to be trafficked and they set up a panel to investigate us, and even with all the letters and documents from the organizer in Switzerland, from Amnesty International in Abuja, from CEE-HOPE, my school results showing that I always take position, they refused. It was when one big woman called another big man in Abuja, and the passport was produced in one day and the PCO personally gave me. My father’s own was produced in two days (because he was to travel with me). When we got to Abuja, the Embassy of Switzerland said it was too late to give us visa and my father and I just returned to Lagos very sad. All through the flight I couldn’t eat or talk. But I know Almighty Allah will guide me through. More opportunities will surely come.

Dear President Buhari…

I will like to say the President of Nigeria should talk to the people at the passport office that they should never look down on anybody because they were once like that before they became who they are today. I know they did that to me because they saw that me and my father are poor. In those three weeks, I saw many people bringing their children, even small babies to get international passports for them and none of those people were stopped or investigated. Apart from my case, I am sad because they must have done that to so many other poor people who could not even talk to journalists just like I did and their dreams were killed by these same people. It is very wrong and the president should stop them.

Knowing there are people out there rooting for me

Yes, I am aware my story has gone viral, I read some of the reports and I feel happy and I really appreciate knowing there are people out there rooting for me.

Being a Ruby Girl

My outstanding academic performance and work with fellow children in my community.

Dear marginalised teenagers striving to be better…

My advice to the teenagers out there striving to be better is that there should not be discouraged or join bad groups. They should read their books and avoid bad habits that may damage their lives and future. Our dreams are bigger than our present environment and one day, things will be better especially if they face their studies well. May God guide us through.

In Interviews&profile December 6, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

#RUBYGIRLS| “I AM INSPIRED BY ACHIEVERS”- OLUWATOMILOLA ANJOORIN

Oluwatomilola Anjoorin is the first child in a family of six. She hails from Ekiti. She is a graduate of Biochemistry from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). She is the CEO of Miel Creations where she creates amazing delicacies.

Let’s meet you. Who is Oluwatomilola ?

I am Oluwatomilola Anjoorin, the first child and only daughter in a family of six. I am an indigene of Ekiti, but based in Lagos. I am a graduate of Biochemistry from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). I own Miel Creations where I make mouth watering cakes.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, traveling, surfing the net and singing.

Who and what inspires you?

I am inspired by achievers, no name in particular, people that despite all odds pull themselves out of difficult situations and stands high such as Oprah Winfrey.

What is your biggest fear?

Being financially and spiritually poor, wrong marriage, not touching lives before I leave the Earth.

With different people joining the baking world, how have you been able to step up your games? Do you think the profession is growing well in Nigeria and worth making sacrifices for?

It is important to note that no matter how much you climb, someone will always be ahead of you, it’s fine.
And, yes, I ensure I attend seminars, keep myself updated by reading and surfing the web, follow the trend WISELY. Well, yes, it is evident in the fact that the almighty cake boss, Buddy, visited Nigeria some months back. My business,my brand,my profession is worth making sacrifices for.

Your best quote?

You won’t always be right, your opinion is not the truth.

What is that one thing you’ll like to change about yourself?

My butts, I’d like to have a bigger butt. On a more seriously note, I’d like to change the way I over think issues.

What keeps you up at night?

Thoughts on how to be a better woman, my dreams and how to achieve them.

If given the chance to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what will you change?

NYSC being scrapped. Ensuring all varsity students learn a skill, give total allowance to fresh graduate to start their businesses.

Where do you see yourself and your brand in the next 5 years?

Myself happily married with kids. My business/brand very well established, having strong holds in different states and it must be able to run independently. Own a big restaurant, be a counsellor/guardian to young girls.

How have you been able to combine being a biochemist and a baker together?

One thing has bowed for the other, I am a full time baker/Event planner for now.

What is your major challenge so far and how have you been able to deal with it?

Well, I’d say social media awareness/marketing, I try to be better, while surfing the web, I try to focus on things that are more important.

If you were given the opportunity to address a group of girls five years younger than you? What will be your advice to them?

Know God from your early years, if you’ve missed it before, find your path.
That you’ve failed once, twice, three times, doesn’t mean you can’t start all over again.
Pressures will come, it’ll always be there, focus.
Don’t be so marriage conscious, you tend forget to enjoy your single state that way.
God will bless the works of thy hand, the Bible says,sister,what is in thy hand?

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