Carolyn is an advocate of promoting female involvement in technology. She is the founder of the Girls’ Voices initiative, a non-profit that provides a safe space for girls to connect and share stories of inspiration and motivation with the use of technology and digital media.
Girl Voices Initiative works to educate adolescent girls and women about their rights in law and the platform empowers the girls with the skills to use technology and digital media to lead advocacy for the protection of their rights and welfare in society.
Through Girl Voices Initiative, Carolyn does not just give girls a voices, she also builds girl leaders who build and support other girls.
Girl Voices Initiative builds young girls through training in advocacy, technology, and digital media.
Over 100,000 adolescent girls have been reached directly through Girl Voices Initiative’s girl-centred programs, and with its girl leaders, it has reached over 80 million people through various programs.
Carolyn won the US-based World Pulse Prize in 2016 and is a 2017 TechWomen fellow.
Carolyn, a lawyer, has well over a decade’s experience in management consulting and women and girls advocacy, working at UN Women and Nigeria’s House of Representatives, among others.
We celebrate Carolyn for giving girls a voice and for building girl leaders across Nigeria and the world, and we’re rooting for her!
Kenya has the best runners in the world. Isn’t it ironic, then, that a country with such a record didn’t have its own running shoe till now?
For years, Kenyan athletes have had to purchase running shoes from foreign brands because there was no local option. That has now changed, thanks to Navalayo Osembo-Ombati, founder and CEO of Enda Sportswear. Navalayo saw an opening, went in, and delivered. Kenya now has it’s first running shoe, it’s first sneaker.
Enda
Navalayo is an accountant and an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She is also a mother of two and an entrepreneur. After travelling the world, she went back home to Bungoma, Kenya. She had seen how sports could transform lives, so she started a project that she envisioned would make a difference in her home town. The project was a sports academy.
Navalayo poured herself into her project. She gave everything she had to it. Unfortunately, it failed.
Though she was devastated, it ended up working out—just not in the way she had expected. “Starting a sports academy that doesn’t take off can be the foundation of taking you to a place where you meet like-minded people and end up on a totally different business path. This is a true story – it’s how I ended up starting Enda,” she says in an interview about lessons learned from failure.
In 2015, Navalayo met Weldon Kennedy “over a mutual interest in dramatically increasing the amount Kenya benefits from its well-earned reputation in running”. Together, they co-founded the company Enda Sportswear, “Enda” meaning go in Kiswahili. The first shoe rolled off of production two years later.
Navalayo and Weldon approached New York-based design studio Birdhaus to create a running shoe. Birdhaus has worked with Under Armour and Reebok. Navalayo and Weldon were very clear about wanting to work with Kenyan athletes; they wanted the running shoe to be “based on the advice, skills, and experiences of great Kenyan athletes”, they told CNN.
After 10-13 prototypes, the Enda Iten shoe was released. Iten is a small town in Rift Valley, Kenya, famous for being one of the world’s capitals of running. Many of Kenya’s elite runners come from and/or train in Iten – the high altitude gives them a lung capacity advantageous for long-distance running.
The Enda Iten features a light upper wide toe box and a 4mm “drop” which is the sole to floor spacing. According to Enda Sportswear, the 4mm drop can make a big difference in the way you run. The shoe comes in the colors of the Kenyan flag – red, black, and green sneakers with a white outsole – and has twelve grooves to represent the day the country gained independence, December 12, 1963. The company’s logo is based on a spear which is also found on the Kenyan flag.
The shoes were at first produced in China and later in Kenya. “We’re not quite yet at 100% made in Kenya for our current product lines but we are working hard to getting there. For now, we add sufficient value to qualify for the made in Kenya label as we work towards the 100%,” Navalayo explains.
The company has raised money through Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns and they have had support from the UK, the U.S., Australia, Myanmar, and the Netherlands.
By March 2019, the Enda Iten had sold more than 4000 pairs worldwide.
Navalayo and Weldon with the Enda Iten running shoe
The company currently has two running shoes: the Enda Iten and the Lapatet. “Lapatet” is Kalenjin for running. The Lapatet shoe was launched early this year. The company reportedly spent 18 months designing and testing the Lapatet with elite Kenyan athletes. 91 runners around the world backed the company in creating the Lapatet in a crowdfunding campaign. Enda Sportswear raised Sh1.2 million ($12,000) within 2 hours of the product launch.
Success
Enda Sportswear has been well-received by Kenyan athletes and other people as well. Kenyan marathon runner Justin Lagat, who has been using the shoes for training, noted that they are very comfortable. He told CNN, “They feel comfortable in training and are light and durable. They also look stylish and are the kind of shoes that you can wear to any occasion without raising eye-brows. I used to hate wearing sports shoes to church, but it is not the same with Enda.”
Enda has been endorsed by Academy Award-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o. “I was really impressed….It’s about time that we had a home-grown sneaker. So I like the innovation behind it, and decided to support it,” Lupita said in an interview with Complex Media.
Lupita wearing the Enda Iten shoe
Last month, Enda Sportswear signed its first deal with a rugby team and club players. The Stanbic Mwamba team will be wearing Enda Sportswear during the 2019/2020 season campaign. The men’s 7s team was provided with 25 pairs of the Enda Iten. Though rugby players compete in rugby boots, they spend 80% of general preparations, training, and drills in flats – running shoes.
Mwamba coach Jeff Onyango says that their speed development, acceleration, plyometrics and agility runs must be done in trainers. Training in boots leads to injuries of the lower extremities.
“It is crafted for a natural mid-foot strike and faster training runs. Great ground-feel and flexibility help build foot-strength and let you get the most from your workouts,” he said of the Enda Iten.
Lessons learned
Navalayo has started numerous business ventures before which failed. She tried sugarcane farming, wedding consultancy, a children’s sports academy, and retailing clothes. In her own words, she “failed her way to success”.
“Success and failure are not linear. That is, you don’t fail, overcome, use the lessons learned to turn things around and become a success. It doesn’t always go that way. Success is part opportunity, part preparation,” she says.
Lawal Rahmota is graduate of Educational administration from the prestigious University of Lagos. She currently run @WeTradeInAll, an online store that offers eyewear styling, optical frames and lens dispensing services for trendy individuals.
She answers our famous #7questions in this interview;
1. What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear in life used to be FAILING, but I was able to crush that by making myself understand that, failing at anything doesn’t make it the end of life, instead, it is an opportunity for one to do better.
Currently, my biggest fear is that I might one day not be able to fend for myself due to any reason.
2. In your darkest moments, what do you do?
EAT! EAT!! EAT!!!
I guess that is why I am a UK 18 . I am an emotional eater. So, in my darkest moments I just let go and have comfort food. * Sorry to disappoint anyone that was expecting something deep.
3. What is that one thing you would like to change about yourself?
Procrastination. This girl can procrastinate for Africa, from reading for exams to doing assignments, if it isn’t Last minute I am not getting it done. I am currently working on it by pushing myself to do things immediately. Like I made sure I replied this mail same day I got it.
4. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
5 years from now, I see my brand touching the lives of people via our foundation, offering free eyecare and corrective lens to those who can’t afford it.
5. What keeps you going?
My Fear of poverty.
6. What is your stand on feminism?
Feminism to me means equal right between genders. Political, social and economic equality and equity. the ideology that no gender is superior to the other.
My understanding of feminism is to oppress men like some individuals believe. Instead, it Is to give a voice to the voiceless. I believe everyone should embrace feminism.
Do you consider yourself a feminist?
I “stan” 100%
7. What keeps you up at night?
WeTradeInAll keeps me up all night, I constantly think and research on how to grow my baby into the likes of Specssavers, Vint and York, Coastal.com etc.
Send a mail to info@womenofrubies.com If you want to be featured on #7questions
A serving female Youth Corps member, Miss Joana Nnazua Kolo has been appointed as a commissioner by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
26-year-old Kolo, the youngest commissioner-nominee in the state’s history, is a 2018 graduate of Library Science from the Kwara State University (KWASU).
She was among the four female commissioner-nominees whose names were forwarded to the Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday.
A grassroots mobiliser, Kolo is an ardent advocate of community development.
If confirmed, she would be Nigeria’s youngest commissioner, taking the trophy from Oyo State’s 27-year-old Oluwaseun Fakorede.
Kolo is still having her National Youths Service Corps programme in Jigawa, where she is teaching at Model Boarding Junior Secondary School Guri.
Her screening for the cabinet seat would hold after she rounds off her NYSC service in the next two weeks. She is from Edu Local Government area of the state.
Naina Jaiswal (born 21 March 2000) is a table tennis player from India who won multiple titles in both national and international championships. She is also a “Child Prodigy” who started undergoing PhD at the age of 17.
Born in Hyderabad to Ashwani Kumar Jaiswal and Bhagya Laxmi Jaiswal, Naina had completed her graduation at the age of 13 from St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad. At the age of 15 she has completed her degree and at the age of 17 she began a PhD.
Naina Jaiswal completed her 10th grade at the age of 8, completed her Intermediate at the age of 10, completed her Graduate degree from St. Mary’s College at the age of 13, completed her Post Graduation from Osmania University at the age of 15 and currently she is pursuing her PhD. She is the youngest post-graduate from Asia.
Her International titles are:
First girl from India who selected for ITTF World Hopes Team – 2011
Secured 6th position in the world (Austria) – 2011 (under-12)
Cadet girls’ team gold medalist in Indian open – 2011
Cadet girls’ singles bronze medalist in Indian open – 2011
Cadet girls’ team bronze medalist in Indian open – 2013
Cadet girls’ double bronze medalist in Indian open – 2013
Cadet girls’ team gold medalist in Fajr cup (Iran) 2013
Cadet girls’ doubles gold medalist in Fajr cup (Iran) 2013
Cadet girls’ singles bronze medalist in Fajr cup (Iran) 2013
Participated in Hong Kong junior and cadet open 2011
Participated in Asian junior championship (2011)
Her National titles are:
Present ranking – India’s no. 1 (under 15)
Cadet girls’ singles National champion (gold medalist) 2010
Cadet girls’ team National champion (gold medalist) 2010
Sub- junior girls team National champion (gold medalist) 2010, 2011, and 2012
Junior girls’ team National champion (gold medalist) 2010
Sub-junior singles (bronze medalist) 2010
Sub-junior doubles (silver medalist) 2011
Youth girls’ team (bronze medalist) 2011
Junior girls’ team (bronze medalist) 2012
Youth girls’ team (silver medalist) 2012
Junior girls’ doubles (silver medalist) 2012
Sub-junior girls’ team (bronze medalist) 2013
Sub- junior girls’ doubles (silver medalist) 2013
Hat-trick winner of first national ranking tournaments (2011, 2012, 2013)
Besides all this, the child prodigy can also play piano, sing and write with both her hands.
Her future looks bright as she is looking forward to marking her presence in the 2020 Olympics.
Ogechi Ofurum-Omeike is an alumna of Upper Iowa University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Afe Babalola University where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science
in Communication, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Masters of Science in Communication (Distinction) degrees respectively. She is the founder of Techie and Savvy, the convener of the Future Business Leaders Conference and the author of Raising Smarter Kids. Before founding Techie and Savvy, she has worked in various organizations in the Education Sector, rising from the position of a class as Teacher and Sectional Head Teacher in Silversands Hall School to a short stint at Mindscapes Children’s Museum as the Program Coordinator. Also, she worked at ActivEdge Technologies Limited as the Marketing and Communication Manager where she collaborated with international brands
The beautiful and Teacher shares her inspiring story with me in this interview.
Childhood Influence
Growing up was very interesting and exciting. Most likely because of the special bond I shared with my late dad. Also, I was pampered and loved by my brothers beyond measures. My mum was the disciplinarian of the house and as such, she was always quick to the address my excesses. I had a balanced childhood, one filled with love, care, attention and just the right amount of discipline.
That said, my childhood definitely played a role in preparing me for what I am currently doing. Growing up in a neighbourhood where the rate of illiteracy was strikingly high with domestic violence, substance abuse and teenage pregnancies being acceptable norms, I knew I wanted something different for my life. I recognized I was made for more.In a bid to be more, create and offer value, I chose to follow a path that was less travelled by people in that environment: I pursued education. Little or no wonder even though I started my tertiary education with an OND I proceeded to bag an HND, BSc, MBA, MSC and I am still counting.
Inspiration behind Techie and Savvy
Techie & Savvy is a Social Enterprise in Nigeria; primarily focused on capacity building for children aged 5 to 16years (Primary and Secondary School Pupils). We are committed to developing and empowering young minds to become Entrepreneurial by positioning the younger generation to become problem solvers, value creators and consequently, future business leaders. To achieve the aforementioned we have established the following platforms: School Entrepreneurship Club, Future Business Leaders Conference and, One on One session and Open Trainings.To give meaning to our essence, we collaborate with Parents, Schools, Companies, NGOs, Governments, and Individuals to empower the younger generation.
My book “Raising Smarter Kids”
With the current innovations in the technological space and the role of artificial intelligence in making the world smarter, it becomes unsustainable to raise our kids with moribund principles that do not adequately prepare children for the future. It is therefore vital to review these out-dated parental principles and come up with new strategies in raising our kids to become indispensable in a smart world.
These thoughts birthed the need to write the book ‘Raising Smarter Kids’. In reality, no child is born unintelligent; therefore, raising a smarter kid is totally dependent on the strategies deployed by parents, guardians and teachers in engaging their children. A solid foundation is essential to the growth and development of a child. Hence, in the book ‘Raising Smarter Kids’, I clearly spelt out the roles parents may play from the womb and preschool days of a child in creating a safe haven for the child. Articulately stating the key principles parents, guardians, teachers and the school management may implement in raising smarter kids.
Being a motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur
God has blessed humans with several inherent potential, abilities and he expects us to create value with each of them. The parable of the talents in the bible buttresses this. However, to make the best use of our talents, there is need for good understanding of time management and the ability to pay attention to those things that truly matter.
My Inspiration
I am usually inspired by women that thrive in male dominated industries. I am also greatly motivated by the likes of Afe Babalola who didn’t allow his age to hinder him from pursuing his passion and establishing Afe Babalola University at the age he did; and, by those that have deliberately and consistently turned the stones thrown at them into stepping stones towards the path of greatness.
Challenges
Regardless of the type of business, there are usually unique challenges at every stage of business growth. For instance, when we started Techie and savvy, it was challenging convincing some school owners about the essence of the program and our expertise. However, I guess I can say we are gradually making substantial progress in sensitizing the relevant stakeholders. Also, building structures and getting the right crop of people to work with are major challenges. This is why we are deliberate about recruiting graduates, committed to the training and development of our people and most importantly, ensuring that our team members are passionate about developing and empowering young minds to become Entrepreneurs.
On giving up
Like David in the bible, I have consistently encouraged myself to keep pursing my dream even in the face of challenges because the essence of Techie and Savvy is core to the fulfilment of my purpose.
Being a Woman of Rubies
In all humility, I am a woman that has endured the challenges of life in a bid to achieve and create value. That is what makes me the woman that I am.
Dear Parents….
To a very large extent, you may not have physical control over the sex, structures, features and other genetic compositions of your offsprings but as parents, we can consciously play a role towards the outcome of our kids in life.
There are specific processes and actions we can deploy as parents to ensure our kids have a secured future in a world that is getting smarter by the day. Some of these principles are stated in my recently published book ‘Raising Smarter Kids’. I would advise every parent interested in the future of their children to get a copy of the book.
Mosunmola Abudu, popularly known as Mo Abudu, is a Nigerian Media Mogul, philanthropist, and former Human Resources management Consultant. She has been described by Forbes as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman”.
Abudu was born in Hammersmith, West London. Her early years were spent in the UK. She attended the Ridgeway School, MidKent College, and West Kent College. She also gained a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster in London.
EbonyLife TV
In 2006, Abudu started EbonyLife TV, a network airing in more than 49 countries across Africa, as well as in the UK and the Caribbean. It is a subsidiary of Media and Entertainment City Africa (MEC Africa), EbonyLife TV is located at Tinapa Resort in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
In March 2018, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced that they had concluded a three-year deal with EbonyLife TV that would include co-production of The Dahomey Warriors, a series about the Amazons who took on French colonialists in a 19th century west African kingdom.
EbonyLife Films
Abudu established EbonyLife Films. Her first film as executive producer was Fifty. Teaming up with The ELFIKE Collective in 2016, she produced The Wedding Party, which became the highest-grossing title of all time in the Nigerian film industry Nollywood.
Moments with Mo
Abudu is the Executive Producer and host of a TV talk show, Moments with Mo, which is the first syndicated daily talk show on African regional television.
By October 2009, over 200 episodes had been recorded and aired with topics ranging from lifestyle, through health, culture, politics, entertainment, tradition, to music and inter-racial marriages. Guests have included celebrities, Presidents, Nobel Laureates, and the 67th US Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton, Abudu says the show “highlights the life and accomplishments of a usually well known, but sometimes an undiscovered African individual who by his or her own tenacity and determination has accomplished something, overcome something or been a catalyst for something that makes her or him a role model to others.”
Aired on M-Net with TV coverage in 48 African countries, the show now also airs on terrestrial and cable TV in other parts of the world.
The show’s success and intention to change the world’s perception of the African continent has led to comparisons to Oprah Winfrey, with The Independent and Slate Afrique calling her “Africa’s Oprah” or “Nigerian Winfrey”, respectively.
The Debaters
Abudu is the creator and executive producer of The Debaters, a reality TV show. Funded by Guaranty Trust Bank, it launched on 3 October 2009. The show focuses on “giving Africa a voice” by promoting oratory.
Forbes Africa recognised Abudu as the first African woman to own a Pan-Africa TV channel (2013). She was listed as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV by The Hollywood Reporter in (2013) and received the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Women Werk in New York (2014). In 2014, she was honoured with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Honouris Causa) from Babcock University.
In 2019, Mo Abudu was appointed as the Chairperson of the 47th International Emmy Awards Gala, thus making her the First Nigerian to hold that position.
Nike Adedokun Folagbade helps people heal from past hurts, find true love and build healthy relationships.
She is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a Results Coach.Nike answers our famous #7questions below;
1. What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is that I can achieve so much more but I limit myself due to all manners of fearful thoughts running through my mind. So, my fears stem from a place of “hoping that I do not hold myself back from achieving great feats”.
2. In your darkest moments, what do you do?
Hmmm. I cry. I do cry a lot, it’s my way of relieving myself. Other things I do are, find a resources that can lift me up from that burden (video, book, etc).I can talk to someone who can also help me find clarity and strength. I’ve learnt not to keep things to myself for too long.
I pray and ask God for help and comfort.I may also withdraw and reflect on some things rather than running aimlessly. I journal also, it’s a way of expressing myself when I don’t want to talk about it.
3. What is that one thing you would like to change about yourself?
Well, I think that I love everything about myself and I see life as a feedback. But if I could work on something, it will be my mind. I want to have a more positive and firm outlook towards life. I could be quite negative sometimes due to past experiences and weakness but I’m learning mindfulness and healthy thinking daily hence it’s not really about a change because that would mean that I want to erase my story, personality and experiences.
4. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Wow! I see myself having a structured academy that helps the singles and married equip themselves for a better and healthy relationship and marriage through various training programs and courses. I see more lives being transformed and empowered through me. I see God opening international platforms to take the message of healing, wholeness and transformation to other nations. And also helping the corporate bodies find transformation and productivity in what they do.
I see myself taking part in economic and political issues in Nigeria as it concerns Youth. I see myself in media using creative mediums to reach out to people for effective change and transformation.
I also see myself investing and building great businesses and modeling bliss to people through my marriage.
I see myself as a more confident, fulfilling and positive woman.
5. What keeps you going?
– Seeing lives change through the work I do.
– Feeling the burden to do more.
– Having God strengthen me frequently through His words and Spirit.
– Seeing God glorified in the lives of people.
6. What is your stand on feminism? Do you consider yourself a feminist?
I believe that feminism means fighting for the rights of women and ensuring equal opportunities.
So, yes I’m for all of that. I want more women empowered and confident about their lives with equal access and opportunities but I do not mindfully consider myself a feminist when it comes to fighting for certain issues like it’s being done now. I believe that women are unique and different from men so it’s not a battle of “who is better?” but “what can we do together?”. Men also need help because they have been nurtured the wrong way which is affecting their outlook towards life so I’m passionate about helping the both genders embrace their uniqueness and live a more fulfilled life.
7. What keeps you up at night?
– Communicating with God
– Reading and strategy.
– Meditation
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You want to be featured on #7questions? Send a mail to info@womenofrubies.com
Adepeju is a girl development advocate, inspirational writer and a penultimate law student at the University of Lagos. She is passionate about the development of girls . She answers our famous #7questions below;
What is your biggest fear?
I believe fear is part of life and I have a number of them. Life is full of distractions thus, my biggest fear is to become lost in the ocean of life. That is, losing focus and losing myself.
In your darkest moments, what do you do?
I like to be alone. This may be for some days or hours before i turn to my support system. Sometimes, I speak with my mum, friends or siblings.
What is that one thing you will like to change about yourself?
Sometimes, I wish I could more versatile than I am at present. My strength lies more in scholastic activities than in artistic things. I wish I could be more artistic.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I have numerous 5 year goals.
Firstly, i want to have started my legal career in a reputable international organization. This will be coupled with my ability to compete globally.
Then, I want to have reached out to more people in need. Girls, women, orphans among others.
Similarly, i want to have multiplied my network.Then yes, i want to have travelled to certain countries in the world.
5. What keeps you going?
What keeps me going has been my hope for a better tomorrow. A number of times when I am faced with challenges, I ask if everything will make sense eventually. With time, I have built my confidence around the belief that amidst the tempest, the ship will get to harbour.
6. What is your stand on feminism? Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Feminism started as a journey to liberate women and give them certain rights. Nowadays, what I see is women hating and competing with men. I hear so many views such as willingness to abort male foetus. The concept of feminism has now been polluted. I do not consider myself a feminist. I prefer to say that I am a Girl Development Advocate.
7. What keeps you up at night?
The thought that when things need to be done, I should not wait for others to do them. Rather, I should get them done.I am only able to sleep when I’m satisfied that jobs have been well done.
Send a mail to info@womenofrubies.com to participate in our #7questions
Grace is a Chartered Accountant turned Singles’ Mentor. She is a Certified Marriage Mentor from The Institute for Marriage and Family Affairs and host of #Whensinglesgather.
Grace answers our famous #7QUESTIONS below ;
1. What is your biggest fear? The fear of not living my life to the fullest. Fear of under utilizing my potentials and gifts to impact humanity. 2. In your darkest moments, what do you do? – I cry most times and then I pray and worship. I have discovered that crying most times wear me and thus I have learnt to switch to worship mood. One thing I realised is that Gratitude and worship mood usually put me in a state of resourcefulness as I do usually have light bulb moments
3. What is that one thing you would like to change about yourself?-My outbursts when I am stressed. I am learning to be more patient and to be quiet when I am over stressed so I won’t have to yell in response to anyone calling for my attention. 4. Where do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself hosting international conferences to impact singles across and beyond Africa
5. What keeps you going?The mental picture of the future I dream of.
6. What is your stand on feminism? Do you consider yourself a feminist?
-If feminism adjudicate for a female to attain the highest level she qualifies for in the public and the right to full education without any form of discrimination; and yet makes her understand that her husband is positioned as the leader of the home or family despite both of them having equal rights…Yes I agree to being a feminist. 7. What keeps you up at night? Reading inspirational fictions, biographies, auto biographies and prayer keep me up at night.. And yes, writing down messages I receive via inspiration especially for singles, keep me awake.
Send a mail to info@womenofrubies.com to be featured on #7QUESTIONS
