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#RUBYGIRLS| “DON’T EVER LET YOUR GENDER LIMIT YOU”- ENIOLA APAPA

Eniola Victoria Apapa is a nineteen year old final year student of Political Science and International Relations in Caleb University. She has been a recipient of Best Student Award in her department right from her first year till date.

Eniola owns her own makeup outfit, Glam by Enieey. She combines academics, entrepreneurship and holding major student leadership positions effectively.

She shares her Ruby Girl story in this interview.

1. Let’s meet you. Who is Eniola?

My name is Apapa Eniola Victoria. A final year student of Caleb University, department of political Science and International Relations.

2. What are your hobbies?

I love to cook and watch movies. I love to hang out a lot but I’m also one of those people that enjoy being in their own space.

3. Who and what inspires you?

My mum inspires me a lot, she’s a really strong woman and I just want her to be happy.

4. What is your biggest fear?

I don’t want to loose my mum.

5. What is that one accessory you can’t leave home without?

I really don’t think there is an accessory I can’t do without, but let’s just say my phone.

6. You have been receiving the award of best student in International Relations right from your first year and you are on a first class? How does that make you feel? And what do you think is the secret to this great record of yours?

Yes, with this being achieved, I’ve realized that I can do anything I put my heart to. Back in secondary school I was just an average student and here I’m one of the best. It’s basically just hard work and determination to achieve set goals.

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

I am very pessimistic and I need to change that. It’s quite interesting being a realist as an International Relations student but I think I need to slow it down.

8. What keeps you up at night?

I cherish my sleep a lot so the only thing that can keep me up has to be my books.

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

I would ensure that Nigeria is well represented at the international level to be able to maintain our relevance as a country.

10. You have your own makeup brand. What inspired you to venture into it? And how has the journey been so far.

Well, while growing up, I spent a lot of time by the mirror with my mum’s cosmetics bag. I started doing her makeup for events and that’s how I developed interest in learning more about makeup.

The journey hasn’t been easy so far but of course I can see growth and I know very soon I’ll get there.

11. How do you juggle everything together?

It’s not easy combining work with academics and also holding major student leadership positions in school but I just set my priorities right.

12. Where do you see yourself/your brand in the next 5 years?

In 5 years, I want to own various range of makeup products and of course working my way up to becoming one of the top influencers of Nigeria’s diplomatic relations.

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

Firstly, I’ll make them know that they can achieve anything they set their hearts to.
Don’t let your gender or certificate limit you. Try to explore your world and make the best use of your time.

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#RUBYGIRLS| “ONE DAY, LIFE WILL WORK IN YOUR FAVOUR IF YOU DON’T LOSE FOCUS” – FAVOUR OLUWAKAMIMAYO ADEOSUN

Favour Oluwakamimayo Adeosun popularly referred to as “Fefe” is a fourth year undergraduate of Law at Olabisi Onabanjo University. She is the first child in a family of four. She is the second female President of VeeCee Success Stories (VSS).

Favour is the Founder of Our Little Gist Foundation (OLGF). She is a great entrepreneur. Favour sees herself as a girl on her own stage and one who likes to add extra to the ordinary.

She shares her Ruby Girl story in this interview.

 

MEET ME

My full name is FAVOUR OLUWAKAMIMAYO ADEOSUN, I was born in the late 90’s and am the first child in a family of four. Favour is a girl on her own stage, she is the director, the actress, the producer and everything you can attach to a stage. She is a girl who likes to add extra to the ordinary. Favour has this faith that as long as God exists, there is no impossibility and all can be accomplished. My nickname is FEFE, some call me FEFE OF LAW.

INSPIRATION

My inspiration started with Ben Carson but presently Michelle Obama is my inspiration. These two people also like to add the extra to the ordinary. They are passionate about the Masses which I am passionate about also.

Michelle Obama is so passionate about Girls and Women which I am also passionate about which brought the birth of OUR LITTLE GIST FOUNDATION (OLGF) so that this dream can achieved.

My future Home (Marriage) also inspires me, it cautions me to act cos I always put my self in situations that what if I am a wife and this happens or what if I am a mother and it happens, how do I handle the situation or what explanation will I give my husband or kids.

Also my mum is my no 1. Fan, she has always been there to guide, mentor and even still carry me up when I fall down. She had seen me in my lowest self and my darkest self yet she still always stands by me.

 

HOBBIES

I have lots of hobbies, anything I find myself doing, as long as it is fun, is an hobby. I love eating, cooking, writing, acting, being an inspiration to others and be on the stage talking and dishing out what I know to others so far they are ready to listen.

BIGGEST FEAR

My Biggest fear is not making heaven.

 

TO GO BACK IN TIME OR TIME TRAVEL TO THE FUTURE

I would rather travel into the future but also like to correct some mistakes I made while growing up which is to have gotten serious with my self and studies in time but God knows best. I am still happy with where I am and I thank God for where am going.

 

WHAT I WOULD DO IF I WASN’T AFRAID

If I wasn’t afraid, I will change the world.

 

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA FOR A DAY

I will give Women more space in Government, my reason is because Women are care takers, I know some will mention Diezani but she is One of 100 women out there.

Women always know how to care of things and manage them despite their differences. Infact the country will be so colorful and beautiful. Women are always passionate about what they do and how they do it. They notice things faster than the men most times. And women pray a lot, you will see them going from place to place praying to ensure everything turns out well.

COPING WITH MY POPCORN BUSINESS AS A STUDENT

My customers most times are my classmates and course mates. Most times they get it before classes start. And those who aren’t my classmates get theirs after my classes. My classes always come before the popcorn probably because my customers are my colleagues in the legal profession.

 

ON BEING THE NEW PRESIDENT OF VEECEE SUCCESS STORIES

I feel inspired to do more actually, there is something about me when I am put in charge of something, I never want that thing to fail, I will try my very best till my very last unless it isn’t possible. But I always try to make it possible before impossibility can set in but my conscience must be very clear that I did my very best.

My dreams for Veecee success stories is very big infact I have started making moves personally to see I actualize them. So God helping me Veecee Success Stories will be taken to a better place and more known outside the walls of Olabisi Onabanjo University.

 

WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT

My books keep me up at night and sometimes watching movies on my phone but personally I deal with insomnia that is, I find it hard to sleep sometimes I take sleeping pills just to sleep not because I feel sleepy.

 

ABOUT MY FOUNDATION, OUR LITTLE GIST FOUNDATION’ (OLGF)

OLGF is a foundation aimed at reaching out to women qnd girls. It was given birth to on June 14, 2019. It consists of a team of 10 founding members impacting the rural city of Ago-iwoye and beyond. The aim is women and girls like I said, I am passionate about women and girls.

OLGF has also successfully helped a woman out of poverty, helping her put food on her table after the demise of her husband and she has 4 kids. We thank God for that success, and we intend to do more by His special grace.

ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT MYSELF

Giving people more listening ears.

 

WORDS OF ADVICE TO GIRLS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME

My advice to them will be: “After your parents have given you the right training, train yourself also. Keep learning, have goals. Responsible men are after women with home training and who also trained themselves in the right way not liabilities.

Be independent, don’t have the mindset of depending on any man even rich wives who married rich husbands still work not totally depending on their husbands.

Ensure your goals are reasonable, don’t set unreasonable goals.” I’ll also advice them not to be jealous of the success of their friends because the fact that your friend has made this earlier doesn’t mean you won’t still make it.

Focus on yourself, you are more important to yourself than your friend. Also, don’t be harsh on yourself, you are a queen, you are beautiful and you are the best. One day, life will work to your Favour if you don’t lose the focus.

Separate your friends from acquaintances and lastly put God in everything not some things.

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“I DON’T ALLOW ANYTHING LIMIT ME FROM GOING FOR WHATEVER I WANT”- ADURAGBEMI AKINTEPEDE

Aduragbemi Akintepede is a nineteen year old undergraduate of Law at Olabisi Onabanjo University. She started writing at the early age of nine and published her first book, a play at the age of fourteen. She has also authored “New Cheese,” a memoir and “Late Last Year,” a short story.

Aduragbemi has a passion for writing, campaigning for women and child rights, acting, teaching and humanitarianism.

One Good Turn” which is her first published book is currently on Ogun State Ministry of Education Science and Technology’s Approved List of Textbooks for use in Junior Secondary Class Two, Literature-in-English text for 2019/2020 academic session in schools across the state.

She shares her inspiring story with me in this interview.

Childhood Influence

My parents are educationists, my dad used to be a civil servant at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology while my mom is a teacher. So, as a little child, I had access to books early. While growing up in primary school, my dad used to have lots of books hanging around the house and some on shelves. I read “Eze Goes to school, Mayor of Casterbridge, Merchant of Venice, Things Fall Apart and books by Wole Soyinka which I didn’t understand but always kept reading. They informed my early writing and I started writing my version of stories as they came to me, in drama, firstly on the plain back of A4 papers not in use anymore at home, then, later I progressed to notebooks when I was admitted into secondary school.

My love for the female gender also grew from my home too. I have two siblings and they are both girls. So, we’re three girls. Our experiences while growing up as children made me love and appreciate femininity. That made me drift more towards the female gender, identifying with their struggles, empathizing with experiences of adult females around me, having a great feeling of joy when females around me are excelling and achieving feats.

My writing journey

I discovered that I love imagining stories and writing them out. Like I said, I started with drama, writing out dialogues. It was fun. Allowing my imagination run wild, writing things I felt should come after another. I had a friend in Junior Secondary Class One then who I write with on notebooks. I wrote my first play in Primary Four. I wrote the second with her. I had graduated to writing stories on notebooks. I would sit with her during break or after exams and start writing. It was our way of playing. Suggesting a plot of action, creating our characters to suit it. Making the dialogue flow. Everything was fun to us.

My friend left my school after our Junior Secondary education. In Senior Secondary Class Two, with the help of my parents, I was able to publish my first book, “One Good Turn Deserves Another.” A publisher advised them to let me publish my stories, so, my play was worked on and I became an author at fourteen.

Started at age 9 and publishing my first book at 14

Looking back, I must say that the journey so far has been God’s special grace. I am not the most creative or talented among my peers, I am still a budding writer but so far God has helped me to transition from then till now. When I started out, writing was a childhood hobby and I had the desire to make great impact, do great exploits even at my young age and that childhood dream is still driving me and I hope younger ones and adults alike can read from me and know that age can never be a determinant or barrier to success.

Being a Government endorsed Author at 19

I must say that being a government endorsed author at such a young age is an incredible honour for me and I’m still in awe of it. I should be the youngest author on the entire list of recommend texts for secondary schools in the state and I feel so honoured. It is also a great encouragement to me and to fellow young people that your age notwithstanding, you can be anything you set your mind to become.

My passion for women, child rights, humanitarian work and it’s Impact

I am passionate about women and children. For women, I recognize and can relate to their strengths, struggles, challenges and flaws.

We have single mothers in our society, we also have women who are married yet single in the actual sense because they bear the entire responsibilities of the home or are denied of marital bliss, love and affection. Naturally, I have a sense of empathy for them and it breaks my heart when I hear sad stories about women being abused, sidelined, going through one pain or the other.

I have always been passionate about the reading culture, mostly for teenagers because I feel it is declining in my generation and it is important to start with the little ones.

I did a revision to my first book early this year shortly before it was adopted by the Ogun state government for Junior Secondary Class Two. I ensured I included lots of vocabularies in it, some of which I learnt myself during the course of writing. It also has questions for each Act in the play. All of these were put in place so that as much as students are reading the didactic part of it with morals being instructed into them, they are also adding to their wealth of knowledge and usage of new words and can also attempt questions on what they have read.

My Goals

I intend to have a book drive in primary and secondary schools firstly in Ogun state where it is a recommended literature text, then, extend it to other states. I also intend to partner with brands mentioned in the play such as Bigi Drinks, Mentos Sweet and Nestlé as well as foundations owned by youths to have book reading sessions, talks, acting out of scenes from the book and also donating books to schools in indigent areas where students cannot afford to buy notebooks not to talk of literature texts.

Other Projects and Activities

I am also a member of organizations which give me platforms to reach out to these category of people I’m passionate about. I belong to Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCIN), Jesunpadabo Charity Initiative which is a Christian missionary intitiative where people are fed with both the word of God and material needs too, Our Little Gist Foundation where we reach out to the girl child. By God’s grace, I am an executive member of these organizations and my activities in them always bring me a step closer to my dreams.

Balancing it all

I am a Law student in my third year, I don’t really have to give a detailed report to my parents on my academics because they trust me well enough to balance it all. However, I am accountable to my elder sister who is a medical student and also to an older friend of mine. They monitor my grades and academic progress. So, because I know I’ll have to give them a detailed report at the end of every semester, I ensure I perform well.

I also have people who do not cease to remind me to balance everything together. I have seniors in my Law faculty who commend me for doing well in other areas and also urge me to excel in my academics, so, I can be given a platform on my valedictory day to talk about school and my writing as well.

Personally, while following my passion, I always remind myself that I must excel in other areas too. So, I always try to create a balance, write or carry out other activities during semester breaks or periods I don’t have school work to do. I attend tutorials too almost every weekend and so far I have been excelling greatly in my academics.

Challenges

I am a young writer and as much as I really love writing. Most times, I lose interest in finishing up a story I’m working on. I keep procrastinating or waiting for inspiration. So, far, the knowledge that I am to take the first step- start writing, even if I feel inspired at the moment or not has been of great help. It is more like a farmer who keeps waiting for the sun to come out before setting out, he will definitely fail.

I also have a particular person, my older friend whom I mentioned earlier, Lanre Omodele who really keeps me in track. He gives me deadlines to finish up a story I have lost interest in or been procrastinating.

On Giving up

No, there hasn’t. I am passionate about everything I do and that drives me. There are times I feel discouraged or have low moments but there has never been a time I felt like giving everything up. When I’m down, I turn to God for strength, allow myself to drop my fears and worries at His feet and walk into His rest. My parents have also been very supportive. They help out in almost all areas and are fully involved in every process; writing, editing, publishing and marketing. The immense support and sacrifices of my family, adults who believe in me and youths alike keeps me going.

Being a Woman of Rubies

I feel so honoured to be a Ruby Woman and I feel that what makes me a Woman of Rubies is that I don’t allow anything limit me from going for whatever I want and also the courage to always do things afraid. I also feel that my desire to impact and impart younger generations, to be an epitome of the saying, “it is never too late or too early to start something new or achieve great feats,” makes me a Woman of Rubies.

Dear Young Woman….

For young women who are hesitant to take a leap of faith even while being afraid, I will advice them with two of my personal quotes from my second book, a memoir, “New Cheese” which goes thus:

“Work on self discovery and dare to be a new, better and positive version of you than you were yesterday.”

“Embrace you, assess you, celebrate you and above all, love you everyday to know you deserve the newest cheese out there!”

 

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#RUBYGIRLS| “I AM A GIRL WITH TALENTS AND I NEVER WANT THOSE TALENTS TO GO TO WASTE” – ORITOKE ENIOLA ADENIYI

Oritoke Eniola Adeniyi is an undergraduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). She is a third year student in the department of Business Administration. Oritoke is the third child in a family of seven. She loves web surfing, music, writing and reading.

She owns her own YouTube channel where she talks about beauty, hair and lifestyle, showcasing different shades and attributes of a dynamite to the world.

She owns an Instagram page named “Oritoke.dynamite” where she builds her brand, write and design amazing quote pictures.

She shares her Ruby Girl story in this interview.

MEET ME

My names are Adeniyi Eniola Oritoke Lateefat, I am a 300level Business Administration Student of Olabisi Onabanjo University. I am the third child in a family of seven.

 

HOBBIES

Web surfing, listening to music, writing and reading.

 

INSPIRATION

Music, pictures and things inspire me in different ways, for example I can see a beautiful painting, get inspired by it and draft a poetry out of it.

BIGGEST FEAR

Losing my family.

 

MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Yes, I started a YouTube channel about two months ago where I talk about Korean BTS. I haven’t been really active on it though I am looking forward to doing more interesting things on it which is generally not going to be in the directions of Kpop stuffs. What actually made me created the YT Channel was because I felt uncomfortable about how idle I was ‘I am a girl with talents and I never want that talent to go to waste, so, I decided it is best to showcase it to the world.’

 

TO SAY THE TRUTH OR LIE NOT TO HURT…

I would rather say the truth in a less hurting way.

ONE THING I WOULD LOVE TO CHANGE ABOUT MYSELF…

The act of procrastinating.

 

WHAT I WOULD DO IF I WASN’T AFRAID

If I were not afraid, I would walk to the presidential villa and tell the president to his face the numerous ways he has failed us.

 

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA FOR A DAY

If given the chance to be president for a day, I will change the laws that favor the corrupt officials.

I understand that I cannot make a total change in Nigeria if I become a president for a day but surely what I would do is to make adjustment in the rules that favour and caress our corrupt political officials; place them on same level with ordinary citizens.

WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT

My phone.

 

INSPIRATION BEHIND MY INSTAGRAM PAGE ‘ORITOKE.DYNAMITE’

Nothing inspired me really, I created my handle like every other person. I choose to upload my stuffs there to gain awareness and catch the attention of people that are not within reach. I build my brand there, also write and design quote pictures on the page.

‘DYNAMITE’ means something to be very impressive and that is who I am “full of exciting mysteries.”

 

MY BRAND IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Starlight.

 

WORDS OF ADVICE TO GIRLS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME

My advice to a group of girls five years younger than I am will be for them to try their possible best to build a happy life for themselves and also make sure to leave a mark on earth.

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#RUBYGIRLS| “IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, I SEE MYSELF BEING VERY ACTIVE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION” – ADEBUNKOLA ESTHER ADEIGA

Adebukonla Esther Adeiga is a 500 level student of Law at Olabisi Onabanjo University. Driven by the desire and passion to be at service to humanity, Bukola is currently in the race for OOU Student Union Government, Vice President for the 2019/2020 academic session.

She shares her Ruby Girl story in this interview.

 

MEET ME

Adeiga Adebukonla Esther popularly known as Bukola is a 500level student of the Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University OOU. She is an aspirant for the post of OOU SUG VICE PRESIDENT 19/20 and this ambition is borne out of the interest of students.

 

INSPIRATION

My greatest inspiration is my love and passion to be at service to humanity. There are two women who inspire me a lot with their words; Ayn Rand in her words “the question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me.

Also Rosalynn Carter in her words “A leader takes people where they want to go; A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

BIGGEST FEAR

My biggest fear is losing anyone dear to me, and also acting below peoples’ expectations.

 

ONE ACCESSORY I CAN’T DO WITHOUT

Earrings.

 

TO GO BACK IN TIME OR TIME TRAVEL TWO YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

I would rather travel two years to the future to prepare ahead for some things.

 

IN MY DARKEST MOMENTS…

I meditate and pray.

 

OOU SUG VICE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CANDIDATE

The idea behind my aspiration for the post of OOU SUG VICE president is not borne out of personal interest but for the good of my fellow OOUITES and to serve to the best of the students’ interest. Hmmm… What I feel I will do differently is seen in the students academics. I noticed our students fail not because they are not brilliant but due to some circumstances that surrounds them both financially and family background. I feel so bad when I see such and I’m interested in working towards that area. Also those who fail based on the victimization from lecturers. Our students deserve the best and I’ll do all in my capacity to ensure they get the best.

 

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA FOR A DAY

If I’m given the chance to be the president of Nigeria for a day, I’ll improve aspects of security of the country and also feeding.

 

MY BEST QUOTE

“I decided I can’t pay a person to rewind time, so I may as well get over it -” Serena Williams

 

WISH

The trust and belief from people that I can do it.

 

MY POLITICAL AMBITION

Yes, definitely if I have the opportunity to become the president some day, I’ll be glad to. As Eleanor Roosevelt said and I quote “a woman is like a tea bag you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. And I’ll also urge my fellow ladies that in every situation in life supporting a lady isn’t something we’ll regret doing.

 

MY BRAND IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Wow! In the next five years I see my self very active in the legal profession, politics in the outside world, making my self, family and everyone proud. Also becoming a successful and bright lady.

 

WORDS OF ADVICE TO GIRLS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME

My advice to them will be; in any situation you meet yourselves, never look down on yourself, or feel inferior and have it in mind to be the best you can ever think of or imagine.

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#RUBYGIRLS| “MY BIGGEST FEAR IS NOT MAKING IMPACT” -ADURAGBEMI AKINTEPEDE

Aduragbemi Akintepede is a nineteen year old undergraduate of Law at Olabisi Onabanjo University. She started writing at the early age of nine and published her first book, a play at the age of fourteen. She has also authored “New Cheese,” a memoir and “Late Last Year,” a short story.

Aduragbemi has a passion for writing, campaigning for women and child rights, acting, teaching and humanitarianism.

One Good Turn” which is her first published book is currently on Ogun State Ministry of Education Science and Technology’s Approved List of Textbooks for use in Junior Secondary Class Two, Literature-in-English text for 2019/2020 academic session in schools across the state.

She shares her “Ruby Girl” story in this interview.

 

MEET ME

Aduragbemi Akintepede is a nineteen year old law student, author of three books, the second child of a family of five.

HOBBIES

I love dancing, reading, writing or thinking about my characters when I’m not writing, teaching and acting. I love art and nature also.

 

INSPIRATION

While growing up in primary school, my dad used to have lots of books hanging around the house and some on shelves. My dad was a civil servant and my mom is a teacher, so, I had access to books early. I read “Eze Goes to school, Mayor of Casterbridge, Things Fall Apart and books by Wole Soyinka which I didn’t understand but always kept reading. They informed my early writing and I started writing my version of stories as they came to me, in drama, firstly on the plain back of A4 papers not in use anymore at home, then, later I progressed to notebooks when I was admitted into secondary school.

 

BIGGEST FEAR

Not making impact.

 

CHANGE

I don’t think I’ll like to change anything. Both my flaws and strengths contribute to who I am today. I’ll just have to keep leveraging on them more to become a better version of myself.

 

ON MY FIRST BOOK BEING CURRENTLY IN OGUN STATE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Truly it is a golden opportunity and a great honour especially because of my age. I have always been passionate about the reading culture, mostly for teenagers because I feel it is declining in my generation and it is important to start with the little ones.

I intend to put this opportunity to great use by having a book drive in secondary schools firstly in Ogun state where it is a recommended literature text, then, extending it to other states too. I intend to partner with brands mentioned in the play such as Bigi Drinks, Mentos Sweet and Nestlé as well as foundations owned by youths to have book reading sessions, talks, acting out of scenes from the book and also donating books to schools in indigent areas where students cannot afford to buy notebooks not to talk of literature texts.

 

TO GO BACK IN TIME OR TIME TRAVEL TWO YEARS TO THE FUTURE

I’ll prefer travelling to the future.

 

BEST QUOTE 

“Work on yourself, by yourself and for yourself.

WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT

Writing or thinking about how to move a step further to my dreams.

 

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA FOR A DAY 

I’ll address the educational sector in Nigeria at all levels.

 

WHAT PROMPTED ME TO WRITE MY SECOND BOOK, A MEMOIR, THIS EARLY

After undergoing my cheese moving experience as regards my academics, I got “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson from a friend. It prompted me to put my experience down and relay it to others to shine a light to their path by sharing the story of the mountain I climbed.

JUGGLING ACADEMICS, WRITING ,PUBLISHING BOOKS AND ACTING TOGETHER

Honestly, combining everything together has not been easy but I love it when I do not allow anything limit me from going for whatever I want and also the courage to always do it afraid. So, while following my passion, I always remind myself that I must excel in all those areas.

MY BRAND IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS

I see myself being fulfilled to a great extent, my desire to impact and impart younger generations being actualized and my name being known across the globe for iconic deeds.

 

MY ADVICE TO GIRLS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME

I will advice them from one of my personal quotes from my second book, “New Cheese” which goes thus:

“Work on self discovery and dare to be a new, better and positive version of you than you were yesterday.”

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#RUBYGIRLS| “MY GREATEST INSPIRATION IS MY ENVIROMENT”- ARINOLA LAWAL

Arinola Halimat Lawal popularly known as Lymar is a fresh graduate of Political Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University. She served as Student Union Government, Vice-President in 2016/2017 academic session and ran for Presidency in 2017/2018 academic session making her the second female to run for SUG presidency since the inception of OOU. She owns “Lymar’s Beauty Touch (Lbt Makeover).” Her favourite game is Politics.

She shares her “Ruby Girl” story in this interview.

Meet Me

I’m Miss Lawal Halimat Arinola , popularly known as Lymar. Lymar is an easy going person. Studied political science, in her early twenties. I love video games and I write stories. Lymar loves to look good and Lymar is a very ambitious lady. Lymar loves Islam. My favorite game is POLITICS!

 

My Inspiration

My greatest inspiration is my environment, why? I was born in Mushin, Lagos and I noticed that the lifestyle of most of its inhabitants is nothing to write home about. And there is a tag on everyone from Mushin as being a bad or low class person . So, this inspired and borne in me the desire to make a difference and let people know that intelligent, smart, and ambitious people can come from the ghetto.

Biggest fear

My biggest fear is losing my mom or dad. I don’t ever want to lose them. I love them so much.

Fashion item or accessory I can’t leave home without.

Earrings and necklace.

Go back in time to correct a mistake or time travel two years into the future?

I’ll choose to travel two years to the future.

 Best Quote
“He who fears to fall can never rise.”

Ambition to serve as  OOU SUG  VICE PRESIDENT  and it’s impact

It was quite challenging, but like my favorite quote says, “he who fears to fall can never rise.” My political inspiration came from Abike Dabiri and Ngozi Okonjie. They are both women who have made changes in the society. I also want to make a change and impact people’s life positively, and it was said by Thomas Hobbes that, “service to humanity is the best work of life.” Contesting as the SUG president was borne out of the fact that since the inception of Olabisi Onabanjo University, a female has emerged as President of its Student Union Government. I felt the need to break this jinx and make history. Although it wasn’t successful but an attempt was made which is the most important. Being the second female to contest for the SUG presidency is also an honour for me.

Why did you step down in your bid for presidency?
I stepped down because there was a mix up along the line.

What do you do in your darkest moment?

I pray.

Being a fresh  graduate, expectations and career path

I see myself working towards my dreams and becoming great in life. My own philosophy of life is taking risk to become great, and am ready to take risks anytime it comes my way. So, I have no fear and of course, yes I intend taking my political ambitions more serious outside school. Watch out.l

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

This is a somewhat complicated question. There are so many important things that needs to be changed about Nigeria. Precisely, I would strengthen our level of security.

In the next five years

In the next five years, I should be living a well deserved life with my beloved future husband, making people happy. And my brand would have expand beyond expectation in a positive way in-Sha Allah.

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

My advice for them would be not to join the calibre of ladies who “slay with empty brains,” that is in as much as they want to look classy and really good, they should ensure they have what to offer to issues and are goal driven. They should focus more on their dreams and avoid being infamous.

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#RUBYGIRLS| “SCIENCE IS MY PASSION, ART IS MY TALENT”- CHRISTIANA FAGBENRO

Christiana Boluwatife Fagbenro is a twenty year old undergraduate of Geology. She is a great artist, writer, song writer and performer of poetry.

Meet Me

Christiana is a jovial, strongwilled and outspoken young lady who loves meeting people and trying out new things in order to affect lives positively.

Hobbies

Drawing, painting, writing, singing-songwriting

My Inspiration

Music inspires me greatly, it goes through my ears and flows through my soul, bringing out a marvelling result. Also, basically anyone who is able to break a ground inspires me. Someone whose story makes me stronger, someone who never gave up.

Biggest Fear

My biggest fear is not setting my piorites right in life.

Being a Science student and still excelling well at Arts and Sports

Science is my passion. Art is a talent I developed and found joy in while Sports keep me active, gets me going, so, I find a way to balance it all up. Doing what I should at the right time.

Would you rather go back in time to correct a mistake or time travel two years to the future?

I would gladly go two years into the future, learning from my past mistakes.

What is that one thing you would love to change about yourself?

I cannot think of any. I’m not perfect but I’m great in my own ways.

What will you change as a one day President of Nigeria?

If a day is enough to change negative mentality or end corruption, I would do that

What keeps you up at night?

Prayer, art or when I’m writing.

 If you were given the opportunity to start all over again, will you choose to be a Science student or Arts student?

I would definitely choose to be a science student.

My brand in the next 5 years

I see myself with my degree, travelling the world, owning my own Art firm, an organization set at reaching out to most people through every dimension of Art, helping kids discover their talent. I see myself helping children, women and people who feel there’s no hope for them. I see my published books and I see myself at the peak of my goal still standing in Christ.

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

I would tell them to always set their priorities right. They shouldn’t give up on their goals, I would tell them my story and that behind every cloud is a silver lining. Lastly, I would tell them to always love themselves because there’s no better work of Art than yourself.

Want to be featured as our #Rubygirl? Send a mail to womenofrubies@gmail.com

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#RUBYGIRLS| “I HAVE BEING AMBITIOUS SINCE MY CHILDHOOD”-KOLAJO BLESSING

Kolajo Blessing is a 20 year old law undergraduate at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). She is the First Female President of OOU’s Literary and Debating Society and also the First Female President of VeeCee Success Stories. Blessing is an excellent writer and a great spoken word artist. She shares her “Ruby Girl” story in this interview.

Meet Me!
My name is Kolajo Blessing Oluwabukola. I am 20years of age and a 400level law student of the faculty of law, OOU, Ago-iwoye. I am an indigene of Oyo state, Okaka town to be precise but I reside in Oyo town with my parents. Blessing is simply a girl who tries to find happiness in all situations and what I love doing most is making a caricature of everything around me, impacting in others is a part of me.

My Inspiration
If I am going to answer this question sincerely, my answer will be God as the source of my inspiration. I get inspiration generally from what comes my way, no specific person inspires me. I have been an ambitious kind of girl right from my childhood, I hardly settle for less, so, I choose friends and acquaintances that are in line with my goals and mindset. People of like minds that can keep me going regardless of the situation and these are the kind of people I am surrounded with, they all inspire me. I also get inspiration from reading about the life others, I read any biography or memoir I lay my hands on, at the end, I feel refreshed and the strength to keep going gets renewed.

Hobbies
My number one hobby is playing on words, and I do this every minute. Naturally, I am a very punny and funny person, this particular act tends to make the people around me smile and it makes some feel I’m not serious. Secondly, I love creative writings most especially poems, flash fictions and mythical stories. These are my major hobbies, others include, dancing, athletics and new discoveries.

Biggest Fear
Not being able to live out all my dreams. By the time I am old and death comes, I want to be able to say that “I have truly lived” so my biggest fear isn’t death or any other thing but realizing in my old age that I have done nothing for humanity.

Would you rather like to go back in time to correct a mistake or time travel two years to the future?
The past is gone, even the mistakes I made back then are part of my body of knowledge today, why will I want to change that? I will prefer to time travel two years to the future so that i will know what knowledge to acquire so as to dive through the challenges of that period before I get there, getting there will just be a smooth sail.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
I will write 100 poems in a day.

If given the chance to be the President of Nigeria for a day, what will you change?
The outcome of the word “change” has been a disaster so far in the country. So, I won’t bother changing anything, I will just invest largely on research and fund the country’s inventors.

In a time when people pay less attention to improving their vocabulary, what is your reading and learning of vocabularies routine?

This question seems funny to me because I don’t have a time set aside for developing my vocabulary, because it is my lifestyle. As a spoken word artist that loves being satirical, I learn tons of small words and I get to decode big grammars from the small words, it helps me to be more punny. For instance the word “military”, is a small word, if I want to study it, the first thing I do is… How can I be satirical in its usage? “military” satirically, “meal eatery” they sound alike right? I have achieved what many might not be able to with that word.That’s what my vocabulary routine is like. I check the meaning of small words more than I do for big words.

Impact of being the first female President of VSS & Literary and Debating Society and juggling my academics 

Being the president of Veecee Success Stories  and the president of OOU literary and debating society totally streamlined my lifestyle and disciplined it in a hard way. When I was appointed, people said it will affect me academically and it did, but positively I had 4.50 last semester which I never had when I wasn’t the president of any association and I really had nothing to do. So, I arrived at the conclusion that it’s a matter of mindset, I determined back then that I will not lead an association that promotes success and be a failure academically due to tight schedules and I paid the price of hard work. Being a leader is one of the hardest task that I have been given but the most practical arena to learn so far I have learnt that “a leader should never be too small to lead and too big to serve.” As regards my rehearsals, that is a part of my lifestyle, I hardly get a separate time to rehearse for my performances, I make use of my friends indirectly, I rehearse while joking with my hallmates, as long as you have the words in your head putting them together in a punny, rhythmical and sensible way that passes an information will never be difficult. I also record my works on phone and I listen to them while moving around or when I’m stuck in a boring or irrelevant gathering, that’s part of the ways I rehearse too. As the first female president for the two associations, my dreams and goals were solidly on these two realities, I do not look down on myself because of my gender, whatever I set my mind to achieve, regardless of the gender barrier, I go for it fully.

What keeps you up at night?
My academics, prayers, poetry or worries.

Future plans

As regards what I do, I have so many plans to take my pen and voice to another level. Right now, I have two unpublished anthologies written by me the first one is titled “ONCE UPON A DAY AND OTHERS,” the second one is titled “HER BRUISE (ABUSE)”. I also have an unpublished novel titled “TO THE HOME THAT BLEEDS.” They will all be published when I have the resources to do so. As regards spoken words performances, I do not just see myself performing on big stages but I see myself promoting the world of poetry with that tool.

Advice to girls younger than me 

Search within yourself, identify your gift and passion and start making it your area of influence. Your voice isn’t too small to be heard.

Instagram ID: @kolajo_blessing

Want to be featured as a #Rubygirl? Send a mail to womenofrubies@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

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#RUBYGIRLS| “I AM INSPIRED BY WOMEN WHO ARE LIMITLESS” – TUNMISE MAFE

A famous poet once said children should be taught how to think and not what to think.

Children are not only  custodians of the future, they are like cement and whatever falls on them makes an impression, such is the story of our first #TeensCorner Champion Tunmise.

The 15 year old who was recently featured in a now viral BBC Video where she and other young girls were seen learning self-defense and protective techniques against bullying is smart, intelligent and very vast. From interning at ACT foundation to attending LEAD camp, where she learnt self-discovery during the summer break, Tunmise shares some of her Inspiring moments with us and how she will pay the knowledge forward to her peers.

Meet Me

I am a 15 year old girl with a creative mind that creates different ideas on how to improve myself and the world I live in. I am a lover of books who hopes that one day I will be able to write a book or even start a blog. I am a girl who loves to study people and try to make sure the people around me are in the right state of mind and hopes that one day, would be able to make the people in my environment have less mental issues than we have now.

Hobbies

Travelling to new places with my mum, writing on past occurrence in a relatable manner, shopping, trying new recipes (I don’t really do this too often), reading up on new things that are happening around me.

Favorite subject

I’m a bit indecisive on what subject is my favourite to be honest, but I like to put everything on the same level because I need to know as much as possible on this journey of acquiring knowledge. I would say that I don’t have a favourite subject as all of them are needed to get me to where I am going.

My Holiday Journal

I would always remember this holiday because it was truly a life changing one for me. I started the holiday by attending LEAD Camp where I learnt to fully discover myself and know my onions. I also participated in different life transforming conferences and had the opportunity to intern with ACT Foundation where I had an eye opening work life experience. This holiday is really one to remember as it took me on a journey of self discovery and running with my vision.

My Inspiration

I am inspired by women who are limitless as I see them reaching the peak of their careers without being threatened even when they are in male dominated industries. I am also greatly inspired by my mum even though I don’t tell her much but I really admire her hard work and I love how she doesn’t let any thing come in her way of achieving the best for herself and me. I hope to be like her one day.

Favorite sport

I am not really into sports to be honest. I am more of an introverted person who would stay home and read a book or write about anything.

Impact of the Self-defense class 

The self defence class was really great because I learnt a lot on how to protect myself from harm. Being a young teenager in this part of the world, there is a tendency to face some form of harassment or the other. The self defence class has really taught me what to do in such situations and I am really happy I participated in it because I am now better equipped to wade off predators and stand up for helpless people.

 If there is one thing you could tell the Nigerian President as a child, what would it be ?

I would tell him that he should sit up and face the fact that he’s the president of a Federation with 36 states and he should focus on employing capable people that would make Nigeria work. I would tell him to protect the lives of the citizens.

Being the first to be featured on #TeeensCorner

I feel really excited about this and I am grateful that a child is being given an opportunity to share her view. This is really a great opportunity that I am very grateful for.

One thing I wish I had right now 

I always try to live one day at a time. I don’t dwell on what I wish I had because I know what I don’t have for now is what I don’t need, when the need arises, it will come to me. I think this is because I don’t measure life by what I have. I believe life should be measured by how many people’s lives are affected positively by me.

To my peers..

Focus on making a proper name for yourself and being a game changer. Forget about the money that one will come later.

 

“***Want to be featured on our #Teenscorner? Send a mail to womenofrubies@gmail.com

 

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