Mamalette is proud to announce that we have been selected as a semifinalist for the global GIST Tech-I competition (organized by the U.S. Department of State). The U. S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative empowers young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address economic and development challenges.

Mamalette recruits and trains experienced mothers in various neighbourhoods to act as health champions, sharing important lifesaving maternal and infant health information, through peer support, group meetings and awareness campaigns.

Nigeria is the second most dangerous country in the world to be pregnant and have a baby. Also one in five Nigerian children never reach the age of 5. Mamalette focuses on improving health outcomes for pregnant women and mothers who are vulnerable or socially excluded.

This project offers Nigerian mothers the opportunity to change the world. To become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Mamalette health champions wake up everyday with the satisfaction of knowing that they are engaged in solving a problem that will otherwise remain unsolved. And feel good knowing they are making a difference in the life of others.

Mrs Anike Lawal, Founder at Mamalette, explains:

“This idea came about while running an online community for mothers and coming across hundreds of stories of women dying and infants dying I realised that maternal and infant mortality wasn’t something that was only affecting women in rural parts of the country, women and infants living in urban cities were dying from preventable causes.”

“In one week alone, I was told about 3 women who died while giving birth, women like me, I felt so powerless because I knew I wanted to do something about it but did not know how. So last year, I went searching for answers and after months or research, focus groups and one on one interviews, I realised that I wasn’t powerless and that there were many women like me, who were tired of the status quo and the fear that comes with being pregnant in Nigeria and wanted to do something about it.”

“So after much consultation with various health experts well versed in maternal and infant health. I together with my team created the Mamalette Champions program where we recruit and train experienced mothers in various neighbourhoods to act as health champions, sharing important lifesaving maternal and infant health information, through peer support, group meetings and awareness campaigns.”

Till date Mamalette has trained 70 mothers in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo and has launched 40 motherhood cell groups in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan.

VOTING is currently ongoing everyday from January 26 2018 and until February 22, 2018 to help determine the 10 finalists that will make it to the 2018 GIST Tech-I finals at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.

To vote for Mamalette, please take the following steps; 

• Log in/register at the GIST website here: gistnetwork.org/user/register
• Go to Mamalette’s entry
• Click the VOTE Button under Mamalette’s entry

An individual can submit one vote PER DAY. However you can vote again once every 24 hours, for as many days as you can, to improve our chances of winning.

About Mamalette:
Mamalette is an early stage social enterprise that focuses on improving health outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers who are vulnerable or socially marginalised while simultaneously providing employment opportunities for women.

PR Contact

Anike Lawal

anike@mamalette.org

+234 816 621 8444

Popular Nigeria Info FM OAP Adenike Oyetunde has issued a warning to people who use her image without her consent.

The OAP who used the opportunity to remind Nigerians that she was called to bar ten years ago said she will sue anyone who ventures into using her image without prior notice.

According to her, the fact that whatever project people are embarking on has something to do with disability doesn’t mean they should use her picture without prior notice.

The cancer survivor who is waxing strong went further to say that the fact she smiles doesn’t mean she is a fool and urged Nigerians to learn about intellectual and property rights.

Here’s what she shared:

Appointed as the Senior Vice-President and General Counsel for the World Bank Group in February 2017, Sandie Okoro has made her mark as a Nigerian with goals and on a mission in the world. Sandie Okoro serves as the head of the legal council and and adviser to the World Bank Group.

These are eleven interesting facts about the British-Nigerian trailblazer:

1. Sandie Okoro was born in Fulham, London, in 1964.

2. Her father is a teacher from Nigeria and her mother is a nurse from Trinidad.

3. She studied law and politics at the University of Birmingham, after she studied at the Inns of Court School of Law, now part of City University of London, qualifying as a barrister in 1988.

4. She has worked in global corporations like Baring, serving as the General Council, and also as the head of Global General Counsel at HSBC Global Asset Management.

5. Sandie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by City University London in 2014 in recognition of her career in business and law, and her voluntary work.

6. She is named in the Powerlist 2015 as the fourth most influential black person in Britain.

7. She was named in the Autumn 2015 edition of Brummell Magazine, as one of the top Inspirational Women in the City who are Champions of Diversity.

8. In July 2016, she was named as one of the 100 Women to Watch by the Female FTSE Board 2016.

9.Sandie was made an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple in the United Kingdom in 2017.

10. She is passionate about gender equality, diversity & inclusion.

11. Sandie Okoro has two children, a son and a daughter.

Credit: fabwoman.ng

Hello WORriors! It’s #WomanCrushWednesday and our Woman Crush is Genevieve Nnaji!

Genevieve Nnaji (born 3 May 1979) is a Nigerian actress, director, producer, and singer. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2005, making her the first actress to win the award. In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government for her contribution to Nollywood.

Nnaji was born in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria but grew up in Lagos, the fourth of eight children and was brought up in a middle class environment. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother as a nursery teacher. She attended Methodist Girls College (Yaba, Lagos), before transferring into the University of Lagos where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts. While at the university, she began auditioning for acting jobs in Nollywood

Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the then popular television soap opera Ripples at the age of 8. In 1998 at the age of 19 she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “Most Wanted”. Her subsequent movies include Last Party, Mark of the Beast and Ijele. In 2010 she starred in the award-winning film Ije: The Journey. She has starred in over 80 Nollywood movies.

Nnaji is considered to be one of the best paid actresses in Nollywood. Due to her contributions to the Nigeria movie industry, she became the first actress to be awarded Best Actress at the 2001 City Peoples Awards, the award ceremony that previously had only recognized politicians and business conglomerates. She was also the first actress to be awarded as Best Actress by the Census Board of Nigeria in 2003. In 2009, she was referred to as the Julia Robert of Africa by Oprah Winfrey.

In 2004 Nnaji signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record label, and released her debut album One Logologo Line, a mix of R&B, Hip Hop, and Urban Music. 

In November 2015 Nnaji produced her first movie called Road to Yesterday, later winning Best Movie Overall-West Africa at the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Nnaji has featured in several commercials some of which include those of Pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 2004 she became the “Face of Lux“ in Nigeria in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. In 2008 Nnaji launched the clothing line, “St. Genevieve”, which donates its proceeds to charity. In May 2010 Nnaji was appointed to be the official “Face of MUD“ in Nigeria.

Nnaji has received several awards and nominations for her work, including the Best Actress of the year award at the 2001 City People Awards and the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2005 edition Africa Movie Academy Awards. 

Women of Rubies celebrates you, Genevieve Nnaji!