self development Archives

In self development December 5, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

RITA CHIDINMA: HEY NEW MOM, SO WHAT IF YOUR BODY HAS CHANGED?

It occurred to me that no one really prepared women for the changes in their bodies caused by pregnancy and childbearing. So we often struggled with it: from deflated breasts to big stomach club, to postpartum weight gain, to stretch marks, and so on. From the chat, I realized that it was such a serious issue that some women even stopped feeling attractive or desirable because of it and this affected the rhythm of things in their homes.

London Bridge has fallen? As in my no-bra days are over”?

Sonia’s question caused a ripple of laughter in the group.

“You haven’t even experienced it feeling like water sef” Ada opined. This caused further laughter, crying and lots of smileys on the group chat.

I was cradling my little one and couldn’t comment much at that particular time but I don’t think I had ever had that much fun reading the conversations in our young mom’s group. Apparently, Sonia, a first time mom who had just concluded her six months exclusive breastfeeding, was having a hard time processing and accepting the changes in the appearance of her boobs.

“But they used to be so perky” she insisted. Fellow young moms were laughing and typing all kinds of hilarious comments. The moms with older kids in the group were trying to convince her to take it in stride, move on, and buy “lovely bras”.

I realized that was exactly what I did with my own body changes. I “took it in stride”. It occurred to me that no one really prepared women for the changes in their bodies caused by pregnancy and childbearing. So we often struggled with it: from deflated breasts to big stomach club, to postpartum weight gain, to stretch marks, and so on. From the chat, I realized that it was such a serious issue that some women even stopped feeling attractive or desirable because of it and this affected the rhythm of things in their homes.

It then got me thinking, how best can we deal with the changes in our bodies as mothers?

Accept it for what it is

Living in denial about the bodily changes is always counterproductive. Not only that, it’ll affect your mood, attitude and inevitably, your happiness. To fix a problem, you have to first identify that it is there, then you make adequate plans to tackle it.

Deal with the things you can and forget about the rest

You could register at a local gym nearby and get to work; or if you’re pressed for time like me, you could start using a skipping rope in your spare time. No pressure. It took about 9 months for your stomach, for instance, to expand in order to accommodate your little one. So it’s only logical that it’ll take about that same time to return to normal. You could download apps for dieting and all that, but essentially, take things easy. Join some new moms group on social media just to keep you afloat when you feel low, or talk with an OG like me, haha.

So you can’t fit into your old clothes and it’s making you feel less confident? It’s okay. Just make the decision to start doing something about it. Even if you don’t return to your previous size, you’ll feel good knowing you did something about it.

You’re beautiful and your scars are even more beautiful.

Rita Chidinma

Rita Chidinma is a Post graduate researcher at Federal University of Technology, Owerri with a passion for creative writing and fiction. She is a highly intuitive and deep thinker who uses writing as a means of self expression. In her free time she loves reading, writing and writing some more. She is a wife and mother to three kids. She can be reached on Instagram and Twitter (@theritzz_) or through email, chdinmaasogwa@gmail.com

Source: Bellanaija

In self development December 4, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE RECEIVES THE BOOKCITY MILANO PRIZE

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been honoured with the Bookcity Milano Prize at the Bookcity Literary Festival!

The author revealed the news on her Instagram, sharing photos of herself looking gorgeous. She wrote: “Delighted to accept the Bookcity Milano Prize at the Bookcity Literary Festival.”

See photos below.

Photo Credit: chimamanda_adichie

Source: Bellanaija

In self development December 4, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

AFRICAN WOMEN LEAD THE WORLD IN CORPORATE BOARD MEMBERSHIP – NEW REPORT

The McKinsey Global Institute 2019 Report reveals that Africa surpasses the world in this regard.

Phuti Mahanyele, a South African business executive. CEO of Sigma Capital and former CEO of the Shanduka Group.

According to a new report, one in every four corporate board member in Africa is a woman. This is according to the gender parity report from the McKinsey Global Institute released yesterday. The news which came as a surprise to many big corporate industry players and professionals worldwide is a reflection of how far African nations have gone to embrace gender equality at the corporate level.

McKinsey Global Institute further revealed in their report that as a result of placing so many women at the board of corporate companies in the continent, Africa now surpasses Europe, Asia, and America incorporate gender parity.

In its report, Bloomberg highlights the surprise of the feat. It highlights the fact that Africa deserves credit for the report despite being a continent blighted by the world’s highest maternal mortality rate.

You will agree that the continent has scant legal protection for women and very little representation in government. The continent, however, beats all other regions globally in the proportion of females on company boards.

Perhaps, this is the reason behind the success of many African corporate and the government should take a cue from the achievements by creating spaces for more women in governance.

The report reveals that in Africa, one in four board members are female. That’s better than second-placed Europe at 23% and well ahead of global laggard Latin America at 7%.

According to a report on gender parity released by the McKinsey Global Institute on Tuesday, the world average for female representation on boards is 17%. Representation on executive committees in Africa is lower than on boards, at 22%, but above the global average of 21%.

Still, the advance has been led by progress in only a handful of African nations and women disproportionately occupy leadership roles in human resources and legal departments. Jobs that are seen as less likely to lead to the position of chief executive officer, McKinsey said in the report titled ‘The Power of Parity – Advancing women’s equality in Africa.’

“A number of reality checks are necessary,” McKinsey said. “Only a relatively small number of economies — namely Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Africa — have made headway.”

The report highlighted that African women are far more disadvantaged outside the workplace, with significant inequality in their role in society and the legal protection available to them.

“Africa has not done a good job of providing essential services such as health care and education,” McKinsey said. “The continent has the world’s highest rates of maternal mortality and unmet need for family planning in the world.”

The equality of women’s and men’s rights is only enshrined in law in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. High levels of violence against women are also prevalent.

Even so, the picture is a mixed one, reflecting a range of experiences across a continent with 54 nations and more than one billion people.

“Countries in southern Africa perform relatively well on women’s education and also have a low incidence of child marriage,” McKinsey said. “This is not the case in West and Central Africa.”

Across all measures in the 39 African countries that McKinsey could obtain data for, South Africa, with a gender parity score of 0.76, is the best place to be a woman. Niger is the worst, with a score of 0.45. Complete parity would be a score of 1. Out of the five top-scoring nations, only one, Rwanda wasn’t in southern Africa.

That implies economic performance: By denying women equal rights, African countries are limiting their growth potential. If all countries matched South Africa’s level of parity by 2025, the continental economy would be 10%, or $316 billion, larger, McKinsey said.

Still, at the current pace of progress, complete gender parity in Africa will only be reached in 142 years.

In self development December 1, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET THE YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN RECYCLING PLASTIC TO MAKE BRICKS

With an untamed entrepreneurial flair, these young South African women are using recycled plastic to make bricks!

These young South African women are using recycled plastic to make bricks!

The entrepreneurial flair exuded by young Africans shows the unstoppable willingness to provide sustainable solutions to the problems affecting communities. Two young South African ladies started a business that uses recycled plastic to make bricks.

They immediately went viral on Twitter for their excellence and innovative ways to reduce unemployment and also saving the environment at the same time.

A Twitter user celebrated the enterprising efforts of these young people saying, ” These ladies make bricks that are made from recycled plastic, the young ladies employed 15 young other people and created a number of indrt indirect employment by employing a number of waist pickers who they buy plastic from. First plastic bricks in South Africa.”

Plasti-Bricks is the name of their budding product and the way they are solving these two problems at once – unemployment and plastic waste – is simply commendable.

Some doubted the durability of these bricks. But this is not the first venture of its kind. In Ghana, Nelplast Ghana is a company that “transforms waste plastics and sand into durable Eco-friendly bricks that is used in the construction of roads/roofing and building construction.”

When done in the correct sense with the environmental solutions in mind, the bricks are of admirable longevity.

The young women said, “Thank you so much for engaging with us, yes the bricks have the same look an feel as the conventional cement bricks so they can be cemented and plastered like any other brick.” They were responding to the question, “Can we really build with these bricks?”

Their website homepage reads, “At Ramtsilo Manufacturing & Construction, our mission is to solve the plastic waste problem while providing a sustainable housing solution. Whether its household renovations or new mall construction we make it easier to achieve a finished project by supplying what you need the most… The BRICKS!”

They are a focused team that is keen on delivering sustainable solutions to the environment while providing employment and creating a robust business structure withing the construction industry.

They hail the PlastiBrick as their most innovative product and the future looks bright for them!

In self development November 29, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

THE INSPIRING STORY OF A BRIDE AND HER PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED HUSBAND

A sweet story of love that conquers all social boundaries.

A Beautiful Bride Who Married A Blind Man is Going Viral

A beautiful Nigerian woman on Saturday, September 7, walked down the aisle with her visually impaired husband in a wedding ceremony which took place at St. Williams Catholic Church in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.

It would have been like any other wedding except for the way the social media went crazy about how love happens.

The beautiful bride said to be from Plateau State said, ‘I Do’ to her husband from Kogi state while cheered on by her family, friends, and well-wishers.

A Facebook user, Nora Chika who shared photos from the event, wrote: “WONDERS shall never end, beautiful Plateau bride and her handsome blind groom. I witness the I DO I DO today, no be say na money the bride see, this is indeed true love. May God bless their union I pray,” she wrote in Pidgin English.

It is a known fact across many climes that physically challenged folks are stigmatized and often ostracized due to their conditions. From the workplace, love and relationships, and opportunities, they are part of the oppressed. For a woman to marry a physically impaired man, she must have crossed the social hurdles from friends and associates.

The photos of the newly wedded couple immediately went viral, as it further gives credence to the notion of love is limitless. This sweet story of love can teach today’s youth that love knows no barrier and it never discriminates.

Header Image Credit: Lindaikeji

In self development November 28, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

KENYANS ARE THE MOST OPTIMISTIC AFRICANS

Kenyans are optimistic despite the hardships.

A survey conducted by YouGov has shown that Kenyans are the most optimistic Africans with a score of 70% which is above the 64% average for Africa and slightly below South America which had the highest score at 74%. The survey was commissioned by Expo 2020 Dubai.

The study, titled the Global Outlook Survey, sampled 20,000 people aged between 18-64 in 23 countries across the 6 continents. The survey revealed that almost two-thirds are optimistic about the future and 9 in 10 people believe that it is up to them to make it better.

The survey further revealed the world’s wishlist for 2050 includes (in descending order): knowledge-gathering, learning, and access to education; plastic-free oceans, access to resources, universal clean energy transportation, carbon-free travel, and free trade for all and amongst all.

Some of the reasons Kenyans were optimistic were: new opportunities created by a thriving digital technology landscape, a decentralized system of government, and a continued uplift in socio-economic conditions across the country.

85% of the surveyed Kenyans believe that knowledge-gathering, learning, and access to education give the best chance to unlock opportunities in the year 2050. Natural resource conservation, alternative energy, and zero waste were considered as the most important in creating a better future while technological advances such as ride-sharing and electric vehicles were considered the least important.

The 2050 wishlist for the surveyed Kenyans was as follows (in descending order): free trade (82%), self-powering and energy producing transportation (72%), carbon-free travel (68%), e-commerce (66%), and cloud computing, big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) (66%).

View the survey here.

Header Image Credit: Daily Nation

In self development November 27, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

14-YEAR-OLD CAMEROONIAN, DIVINA MALOUM WINS INTERNATIONAL PEACE PRIZE

She won the award for her work with young people who have suffered extremist violence.

Divina Maloum receiving her award in The HagueCameroon, hague

Divina Maloum has been named the recipient of the international peace prize organized by Dutch organization KidsRights.

14-year-old Divina Maloum from Cameroon won the award for her work with young people who have suffered extremist violence, particularly in the north of Cameroon.

Organizers of the award, KidsRights, say it wants children recognized for their efforts to improve society, beginning from improving their situation.

According to the report, a 16-year-old world-renowned environmental activist from Sweden, Greta Thunberg was also awarded alongside Divina Maloum.

In self development November 26, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

5 WAYS TO SET UP YOUR BEDROOM FOR BETTER SLEEP

Here are some quick ways that you can make sure that your bedroom is equipped for good sleeping patterns.

If you’re waking up exhausted every morning, then the problem could be that you’re one of the many people who suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders. On the other hand, the issue could have something to do with your bedroom.

The environment that you choose to sleep in has a huge impact on your quality of rest. Things like the temperature of your bedroom, your exposure to light and other factors can all keep you awake or make it harder for you to enjoy the deeper stages of sleep. Here are some quick ways that you can make sure that your bedroom is equipped for good sleeping patterns.

1. Cool Things Down

We’ve all had nights where we’ve been too hot and sweaty to sleep. Warmer temperatures can seriously reduce sleep quality according to experts. The optimal sleep temperature is anywhere between 60 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t want to sleep with your air-con on or a fan whirring, you could always consider opening your windows for a little while before you go to bed.

Remember to stick to lightweight bedding and clothing when you’re going to sleep too, as this will help to minimize the amount of heat you’re exposed to.

2. Reduce Excess Light

There’s a part of your brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which controls your internal clock. This region works according to the light signals that it receives through the eye’s optic nerves. When your eyes detect light, they delay the release of melatonin and produce cortisol to keep you awake.

According to studies, exposing yourself to bright electrical light before and during the stages of sleep will also reduce melatonin, harming your sleeping and waking cycles. Make sure that you get rid of any natural or unnatural sources of excess light when you’re going to sleep at night.

3. Banish Bothersome Sounds

Whether it’s the noise of a television or shouting neighbors that keep you awake, it’s fair to say that excess sound can be very distracting. Noises can often affect deep sleep cycles, even if you don’t remember waking up. If you live in an environment with excessive noise levels, earplugs might be helpful. Alternatively, you can consider investing in a white noise machine.

It might also be worth working with your partner to reduce their risk of snoring. Sometimes, something as simple as changing the position of a pillow can make a huge difference.

4. Choose the Right Bedding

There are some fabrics that are better for sleeping than others. For instance, moisture-wicking fabrics absorb excess wetness to help keep you comfortable if you start sweating during the night. Bedding made out of cotton and wool is excellent for this purpose.

Remember, though you don’t need the most expensive or luxurious sheets on the market, choosing the right bedding fabrics that feel comfortable against your skin is an excellent way to make sure that you feel relaxed all night long. If you’re worried about things like mold allergies, dust, or mildew, then you can consider using allergen-proof pillows, and mattress covers too.

5. Choose a Comfortable Mattress

Just as your choice of bedding can affect how well you sleep, your mattress can make a huge difference to your comfort levels too. Ideally, you’ll need to replace your mattress about once every five to seven years, depending on how heavily you use it.

If your mattress begins to sag or gets lumps and bumps throughout the padding, then this could be a sign that you need to invest in something new. From hybrid mattresses to memory foam, explore all of your options to find the one that’s most suitable for you. Studies have even shown that swapping old mattresses with new ones can reduce back pain and aches for people who sleep poorly.

Time to Transform Your Bedroom?

A bedroom needs to be a number of things for it to be a fantastic place for you to sleep. The best bedrooms are cool, relaxing, dark and cozy. What’s more, it’s helpful to have a bedroom that’s free from any distractions too. While updating your bedroom might not cure all your sleep problems, it will get you on the right track for a better slumber.

In self development November 26, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

FOLUKE DARAMOLA LAUNCHES RESCUE SCHEME FOR THE AGED

Nollywood actress of many years in Nigeria, Foluke Darmola Salako, has revealed in a no holds bare interview with the National Mandate newspaper on why she wants to float a social welfare intervention scheme to help intervene in the harsh situations some of the aged and generational Nollywood actors are passing through at the moment in their private lives in today’s Nigeria.

According to the delectable theatre practitioner, she said she was close to some of these actors and she is aware of the hard times they are going through at the moment, which needs the urgent intervention of all well-meaning Nigerians to help put smiles on their faces again.

“Some of these actors have put in so much over the many years in the growth, progress and development of the entertainment and Nollywood industry in Nigeria, and so, they do not deserve to be neglected, forgotten or left alone to continue to wriggle in economic hardship and pains just like that in a country they have done so much to act as veterans to contribute to the growth of the theatre and entertainment industry agelong in the country.

I am very close to many of them and I am always sad, when I see them look abandoned in their pitiable situations or when I receive calls consistently from some of them, telling me the ugly stories of what they have been passing through in their health and economic challenges.

Some of these evergreen veterans even call me on phone most times to ask me to assist them with money, which under normal circumstances they should be able to afford to attend to their situations.

So, I thought about it and I decided to help build a platform in the form of a pension scheme to help them have access to monthly stipends through my NGO to intervene in their situations.

I am also in the industry and I could be one of these helpless aged veterans tomorrow. So, I am taking it upon myself to use the platform of my NGO to help build mutual trust funds to alleviate their sufferings and intervene in their failing health situations.

We are in a make-belief industry, where people think because we are celebrities, all is well with us.

Those who are okay among us are okay, and those who are not, are not.

We all live in a country, where hardship hits many people so hard and Nollywood celebrities in Nigeria are not excluded.

That we are hardship free is not the picture. We may be popular on-screen, but that does not mean we do not have critical needs we are also battling within our private lives that need the humanitarian attention of all well-meaning Nigerians and our fans across the globe as humans.

I have come up with this initiative to sensitize the world about this fact and reality and to draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that we also could be vulnerable needs, who deserve the kind gestures of humanitarian Nigerians.

Over the years, we come on social platforms to beg for the financial interventions of Nigerians, when some of us have critical health and economic challenges. But, for how long can we continue to constitute social nuisance in this regard?! For how long will this continue?! This is a situation that is demeaning in itself.

Actor Mr. ‘A’ is sick, please come and help with money to pay his medical bills have been the order of the day in our industry. But, with this initiative I am undertaking for the economically vulnerable, aged and forgotten ones in our midst, I am optimistic that it would go a long way to arresting, alleviating and reducing the ugly situation.

It is an initiative to consistently raise funds into a mutual benefit assurance pool and will be run in collaboration as well as in partnership with credible insurance and pension organisations.

We are already in progressive talks with IBTC pension managers; Crusader pensions; ECO Bank and co. for partnership and collaboration operations.

They will be involved in the running of the scheme, and in the long run, will always be there to help take care of the health situations of these veterans and also assist to provide money for them to survive optimally on monthly basis.

We will thereafter use part of the money we are able to build to invest in the production of TV series and a recreation cum production house that could always help to bring them back to active social and productive acting lives again.

I, therefore, call on all Nigerians of humanitarian nature and kind hearts to support and help to build capital funds for the successful running of this initiative.

This is about what we are trying to do. It is purely a not for profit humanitarian project. I am only passionate about helping these aged ones among us in the industry to live healthily, productively and happily again.”

Mrs. Foluke Daramola Salako has, however, announced the hosting of a gala event, which will see to the bringing of these actors together for celebration, honour and formal launch of this initiative to kick start in earnest.

The event, which will host many prominent and kind-hearted Nigerians has been slated to hold on Friday, November 29, 2019 at the prestigious Anchor event centre in the heart of Ikeja in Lagos.

On the list of those expected to grace the occasion are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; his wife, the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu; the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu; the speaker of the Lagos house of assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; the wives of all the governors in the South West; Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Iya Aladura Esther Ajayi; Taiwo Afolabi, Sifax boss; Chief (Mrs.) Remi Adiukwu Bakare and many others across Nigeria on the list.

In self development November 26, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MY FATHER WHO IS A PASTOR, SLEEPS WITH ME BEFORE HE PAYS MY SCHOOL FEES –FORTUNE

A young Nigerian lady has disclosed to the police how her father who happens to be a pastor has been sleeping with her since at the age of 13.

Fortune, 20, sadly revealed that her father, Apostle Williams Okon Bassey, who is the Presiding Pastor of Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church, Obio Imo Lane, Uyo, sleeps with her before paying her school fees.

Mr Odiko MacDon, the State Police Public Relations Officer narrating to newsmen disclosed that Fortune had gotten pregnant thrice for her father.

The victim stated that her father started having sexual intercourse with her at the age of 13.

The continuous sexual assault led her to become pregnant on three different occasions and the pregnancies were aborted by her mother.

She further revealed that the first time her father defiled her was in the church vestry. He threatened to place a curse on her if she dares tell anyone about his escapades.He also demands sex before paying her school fees or catering for her needs”, she said

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