self development Archives

In self development September 9, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

ADESEWA GREG-IGHODARO TO RELEASE 3 BOOKS AHEAD OF 30TH BIRTHDAY

Founder of Media and the Gospel Network for Believers, Adesewa Greg-Ighodaro,is set to release three new books as she clocks 30 in October.

The new releases, ALTERED, Intentional Living and You Too Can Walk With Me; A Practical Guide to Intimacy with the Holy Spirit can be likened to memoirs as she shares her personal experiences with aspiring readers.

If you would like to learn how God expects you to walk through uncharted territories, conform to uncommon trends or need Him to walk you through uncommon paths, the book ALTERED is your go-to. The author unravels Bible scenarios and her personal encounters of dealing with selfish desires for heaven’s purpose.

In INTENTIONAL LIVING, Adesewa focuses on the importance of conditioning your heart right in living the life God has designed for you here on earth. She expresses five intangible workings of the heart that are the determinants for living out heaven’s blue prints.

We are currently in a season of the glory and move of God. God is seeking to pour Himself into as many willing vessels that would come to Him. Christians can only receive this outpouring if we UPGRADE from being church attendees into becoming Spirit learners. Adesewa takes you through a journey of the person of the Holy Spirit, personal meditations as well as collective testimonies of those who have launched into deeper realms of fellowship with the Spirit of God. God is seeking those who would worship Him in Spirit and truth. You Too Can Walk with Me is the perfect guide to lead you into that relationship.

You can be among the first to receive signed copies of the book before it’s official release by pre-odering one or more copies.

Copies of the book can be pre-ordered as a gift bundle or on an individual basis. There will also be discounts available for group order of 5 copies or more at once.

Follow @magnigeria and @adesewainc on Instagram to stay updated on pre-order details.

The author believes that the Christian lifestyle should not be limited or compartmentalised, and these are evident in her writings.

Adesewa Greg-Ighodaro is a Communications Consultant and the Founder/CEO of Pine-Empress Creative Concepts Ltd, a creative media and consulting firm in Lagos, Nigeria.

In self development September 9, 2019 By Women of Rubies

HOW RIHANNA’S CLARA LIONEL FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTING HURRICANE DORIAN VICTIMS

Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas earlier this week, leaving an estimated 70,000 people homeless. CNN reports that the death toll, which is currently at 43, is expected to “rise drastically,” as hundreds of people are missing in the wake of the Category 5 storm.

As Dorian continued up the east coast, many outside of the hurricane’s path began exploring ways to help the victims in the Bahamas. According to CNN, one Florida man purchased $49k worth of generators and other supplies at Costco to send to the affected area, and another group of Floridian volunteers transported aid to Sandy Point via a vintage plane.

Celebrities and organizations are using their platforms to help, too. On Saturday, September 6, Rihannatweeted about a limited collection from Savage x Fenty; each sale will facilitate a donation to the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), an organization founded by Rihanna in 2012 that supports education and emergency response programs across the globe.

Rihanna

✔@rihanna

· Sep 8, 2019

Limited Edition #SavageXCLF styles are out now at http://savagex.com/clf …. I started @claralionelfdn because I believe in people having a chance at a better life through health, education and proactive measures to emergency response.

Rihanna

✔@rihanna

You can donate and contribute to our mission simply by picking up these exclusive @savagexfenty pieces- out now!

9,371

4:37 AM – Sep 8, 2019

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Per CLF’s website, the organization has created two emergency response grants to help victims of Hurricane Dorian. One grant will support Chef José Andres’s World Central Kitchen, whose team has been on the ground in the Bahamas since Tuesday, September 3, supplying food to those affected by the storm. CLF’s second grant aims to fund Direct Relief’s medical aid efforts, which will help connect victims with medical professionals in order to receive acute and long-term care. You can donate to CLF here, and learn more about Rihanna’s limited edition lingerie collection by visiting the Savage x Fenty site.

Other celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz, Ludacris, Bethenny Frankel, and Tyler Perry have participated in relief efforts, while also spreading awareness to their following on social media.

Aid has also come from major corporations, as noted by CNBC. The Walt Disney Company pledged $1 million in cash and “in-kind support” to assist with recovery efforts, while Royal Caribbean announced it would deliver supplies, food, water, and generators to the Bahamas. Companies like Carnival Corporations, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Lowe’s, and several others have also stepped up to assist in relief efforts.

For more information on how you can take action and help victims of Hurricane Dorian, be sure to read our guide here.

Source: Teen Vogue

In self development September 6, 2019 By Women of Rubies

TIWA SAVAGE EXPLAINS WHAT HER NEW SINGLE, ‘49-99’ MEANS AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT

On August 30, 2019, ace Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage announced her new single, ‘49-99.’

’49-99′ is also set to drop later today at 4:00pm GMT. (Instagram/TiwaSavage)

At first, a few people thought it was an album, but it’s a single which dropped yesterday at 4:00 pm GMT. A listening party was also held for the single in London, England, UK on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

During the listening party, she had a Q&A session during which she revealed what ‘49-99’ means. According to her, ’49-99′ stands for ‘Forty nine, ninety-nine’ and not ‘Four thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine’ or ‘Four nine nine nine.’

Explaining the reasoning behind it, she says, “It’s a phrase that was coined by the godfather of afrobeats, Fela Kuti. It means, ‘49 sitting, 99 standing.’ Errm, suffering and smiling. For those who are not Nigerian, we have these transit buses which we call a ‘molue’ and it has 49 seats.

“So instead of it to have 49 people to commute to work and back, you have 49 people sitting and double that standing, hanging… That’s just a reflection of the economy and the imbalance with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. So the song, even when you first listen to it – it’s a great record (laughs) – it’s one you can zanku to and dance to.

“But I wanted something; I wanted my first global single to have a message that we are suffering and smiling and music is a powerful tool. And I wanted a title which could be a conversation starter like 49 people sitting and 99 people standing… like we’re suffering and smiling.”

People then clapped for her. During the chat, she also explained the process and thought behind the song. She explains how she was in her room and got a call from Pheelz and Olamide who told her, “We created something and we think you should come and listen to it.”

On getting to the studio, she thought Olamide was trying to feature her on song. But then, when she heard the beat, she thought, “A spaceship (lift off). So I said, ‘let me sit down (laughs).”

During the chat, she also gave a shout-out to her fellow African female artistes like Yemi Alade, Omawumi, Teni, Niniola, Waje and so forth.

Currently, she’s doing an interview in New York City, New York, US.

You can watch her discussion on ‘4999’ below;

Credit: pulse.ng

In self development September 5, 2019 By Women of Rubies

DO THESE 4 THINGS WITH YOUR MAN BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO MARRY HIM

A successful transition into marriage requires a good amount of work before the wedding day.

Getting married to your man is an exciting event to look forward to, but before you say your “I dos,” you need to do four things to ensure your relationship will last.

Travel together

Going on a road trip will put you and your future husband in close quarters with each other for a long time. You will start to recognize different aspects of your relationship when you are stuck with him. Little annoyances, like singing loudly and off key to every song that comes on a radio is tolerable for the first 20 minutes, but after three hours in? Maybe not so much. You might discover that traveling with your man makes you or him more irritable with one another or more tolerable.

Being able to communicate during stressful conditions like getting lost or losing hotel reservations will help you solve problems together in the future when money is tight or your children have broken something expensive. If you can get through a long road trip together and look back on it with fond memories, consider it a green light for your marriage.

2. Discuss expectations

You most-likely have an expectation of how your marriage is going to operate. Perhaps you expect him to split the household chores evenly and for both of you to work full-time when you have children. On the other hand, he might expect you to stay home when you have children and do all of the household chores since you are a stay-at-home mom.

Before you get married, tell each other about your expectations for necessities like money, children, jobs and household duties. Most importantly, discusses your expectations for each other. You need to know what he expects of himself and of you. He needs to know what you expect of yourself and of him. Then compromise with one another.

3. Spend time apart

You love each other and therefore, you want to spend every moment together, but now is actually the time to spend time apart. Someone once said distance makes the heart grow fonder, which is true, but distance also make a relationship healthier. Men and women need companionship in friends and family. As much as your future husband loves you, he might not understand your need to talk for hours about everything under the moon, but your best girlfriend totally understands that need. Don’t be afraid to have a girl’s night without him.

If you don’t trust your man when he is away, you must learn to do so. Make expectations clear when it comes to talking to people of the opposite gender. Something to him may seem like a innocent action, but it could look like cheating in your eyes and vice versa.

4. Disagree with each other

If you always agree with your future husband, take a step back and think about your relationship. Disagreements, arguments and different opinions are important in a healthy relationship. Sometime down the road you are going to disagree about a course of action, so before you get married, it is vital that you learn to compromise.

5. Discuss expectations

You most-likely have an expectation of how your marriage is going to operate. Perhaps you expect him to split the household chores evenly and for both of you to work full-time when you have children. On the other hand, he might expect you to stay home when you have children and do all of the household chores since you are a stay-at-home mom.

Before you get married, tell each other about your expectations for necessities like money, children, jobs and household duties. Most importantly, discusses your expectations for each other. You need to know what he expects of himself and of you. He needs to know what you expect of yourself and of him. Then compromise with one another.

These four things will shed light on all aspects of your relationship. Understanding every side of your future husband will help your transition smoothly into your married life.

In self development September 4, 2019 By Women of Rubies

BEYONCE WOWED WITH SURPRISE EARLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FROM JAY-Z

The superstar was all smiles when her husband surprised her with a birthday cake, backstage at the Made In Americafestival in Philadelphia on Monday night.

While Queen Bey’s actual birthday is today, Jay-Z decided to give his loving wife a lovely birthday cake lit up with sparklers.

In the video she shared on her social media, Jay-Z is seen holding a bottle of champagne while he cheered and encouraged the crowd to sing “happy birthday”.

See photos:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Sep 3, 2019 at 9:10am PDT

Photo credit: @beyonce

Credit: Bella Naija

In self development September 3, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

CIVIL RIGHTS ICON ROSA PARKS IS GETTING HER OWN BARBIE

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, toy manufacturer Mattel announced their newest creation, the Rosa Parks Barbie.

Since its inception, Barbie has been a symbol of women’s freedom and rights. In 2018 on International Women’s Day, Barbie launched their “Inspiring Women Series,” in an effort “to honor historical role models who paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.” The new Barbie made in Parks’ likeness is the newest edition to that collection, which includes mathematician and “hidden figure” Katherine Johnson, whose 101st birthday coincided with the Parks Barbie release.

Mattel, the parent company of Barbie released a statement explaining why they chose Parks saying, “Rosa Parks was an incredible heroine of her time. She fearlessly took a risk that would help change the status quo and pave the way for future generations. Her story is an inspiring example of bravely standing for what is right in the face of adversity.”

The “Inspiring Women Series” was created after Mattel released information about the “Dream Gap,” research that shows that girls began to view their gender as inferior to boys and develop limiting beliefs about themselves at as young as 5 years old, as a result of cultural stereotypes, implicit biases and media representation. The dolls are a part of the Dream Gap Project, which seeks to raise awareness of this issue and support causes and organizations that are fighting to #CloseTheDreamGap.

The Parks Barbie was created in partnership with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development, named for Parks and her husband, who was also a civil rights activist. The doll comes with educational information highlighting the late icon’s contributions to society as well as the traditional clothing and accessories that Barbie is known for.

Anita Peek, director of the Parks Institute for Self-Development, spoke to The Glow Up about the honor saying, “[W]e hope that the Rosa Parks Barbie will spark conversations about her contributions to society and encourage future generations of girls to fearlessly stand up for what they believe in.”

In self development August 30, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

YETUNDE OLASIYAN: DEAR SOUTH-WEST NIGERIANS, ABUJA IS NOT THE GELATO CAPITAL OF NIGERIA

Everyone believes that if you can live in Abuja successfully for years, then you must have really arrived.

Many people think Abuja is the “gelato” capital of Nigeria, where all we do is enjoy, flex and spend money like “tomorrow no dey.” I mean, people who don’t live in Abuja generally see Abuja as Nigeria’s London. A place where money flows like water, where everyone lives like a king. Now, I legit understand what people in the abroad, who have people in Nigeria constantly harassing them for money, go through.

When you live in Abuja, here are some of the things you go through:

1. Because you live in Abuja, which qualifies as Nigeria’s London, you are under pressure from family and friends. Friends will be like, “Abeg, I hear say civil defence dey recruit and na for Abuja dem dey do am. You fit link me up?” Nysc posting too, they are asking you to call someone.

2. Extended family members begin to harass you for their needs. Their phone got lost and they need a replacement; water spoilt their phone; the roof is leaking—you hear all sorts of ridiculous stuff. All your extended cousins begin to call you frequently without necessarily saying anything, but you know where they are going. Every time it is, “Aunty, I just say make I hear your voice,” which is the Nigerian version of “Anything for the boys?”Or “Find me something abeg.”

3. Everyone suddenly wants to associate with you. Friends of friends, children of your parent’s friends, etc., in case you can connect them.

4. They ask you when you are coming home every time so much that you become afraid of travelling for Christmas. They will use their eyes to judge you, to search your body and bags whether there are truly signs of Abuja gelato on you.

5. They guilt trip you with words like, “You have forgotten me abi?” immediately you pick their calls, or they blackmail you that you’ve suddenly become so busy that you can’t pick their calls again.

6. They bug you for kilishi everytime you announce you are coming home. 😀😁

Everyone believes that if you can live in Abuja successfully for years, then you must have really arrived. They know it is a very expensive city to live in. Tales about Abuja we’ve been hearing since childhood does not help matters too. How the streets of Abuja are smooth and well tarred. How there are no buses except cabs that would only carry you (drop). How food and housing is expensive.

Again, because the seat of government is in Abuja, they automatically assume that before money gets to other places, it must have flown on the streets of Abuja.
Some even call to find out about Buhari and if you are seeing him regularly. Everybody addresses you as “Eyin eeyan Buhari” (Buhari’s people).

Dear Abroadians,

Now I understand your struggles and pain over our Naija people who won’t let you rest with their “Give me, help me,” because they think you have it all together. They think money flows on the streets abroad.

As long as you are an Abroadian or Abuja resident and you claim to be broke, they will pick offence. They can never believe you. How can you be broke? You are just stingy.

Nobody has ever called me in six years to ask if they should send even as little as dodo ikire (it’s a delicacy made in my village; if you know, you know) or elubo isu to me. All they can do is ask for one favour or the other.

Dear Fellow Nigerians,

If you didn’t know before, know this today. Abuja is not a gelato city. We don’t have it all together. We work hard. We save every penny and spend it on house rent, food and school fees. We are all in this together. We are even more broke than some of you. Yeah, we enjoy the special eyes you use to look at us because of the status of living in the nation’s capital. But that’s truly where it ends. Everyone in today’s Nigeria is poor, except politicians.

Who can relate?

Source: Bellanaija

In self development August 27, 2019 By Women of Rubies

ACTRESS, MONALISA CHINDA SHARES HER EXPERIENCE AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM IN HER FIRST MARRIAGE

Actress, Monalisa Chinda has revealed she endured domestic violence for five years in her first marriage.

In an exclusive with TopNaija, Monalisa revealed that she endured the violence because she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

“I wasn’t in a hurry to leave the marriage, I gave it five years… Maybe if the marriage wasn’t violent, I would have stayed from day one from pushing of the head to slap to every slightest provocation….”

She also said that she expected the abuse would stop after the birth of her daughter, Tamar but it didn’t.

“When I had Tamar, I thought that would calm situations. But it didn’t. I knew this was not going to stop. So Tamar clocked one, the violence didn’t stop… So I said if I don’t go, this man is going to kill me and this girl. So I had to turn to God… I don’t believe in separation of any sort. I don’t believe in divorce. Why did I talk to God directly? Because I talked [sic] to in my church then, they didn’t do anything about it.

“I had a pastor. He didn’t do anything about it, not even calling him to order… And nothing changed. I turned to Holy Spirit now I said I’m going to leave. And I’m ready to face any consequences be it the media…

“One day, something happened… He came back and asked for something, it wasn’t available and next I heard was a bang on my head, slaps… My daughter was crying. Neighbours were screaming ‘you will kill her o! You will kill her o! Every day we no go hear something for this compound!’… That night… the friend came over and stopped it… The morning after, I’d packed my things and taken Tamar to go to my very good friend’s place… a colleague of mine who opened her home to me and my daughter… I had to go back again to get Tamar’s, few of Tamar’s things cuz I didn’t have any money…. and then he blocked me and immediately I went into tongue-speaking in my heart saying this man should not kill me today. And after that beating that day I almost died. I decided to never to come back there again.”

Credit: fabwoman.ng

In self development August 25, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET THE WOMAN WHO IS BUILDING THE LARGEST SOLAR FARM IN GHANA

Salma Okonkwo, one of the brightest businesspeople in Ghana, is brimming with an entrepreneurial flair that sees her having plans to create the biggest solar farm in Ghana. She has carved her excellent reputation in the energy sector well, heading the a multimillion-dollar oil and gas outfit called UBI Group.

If her project comes to fruition, Ghana’s energy sector will be changed in ways that have positive far-reaching effects. Set to be one of Africa’s largest solar farms, Salma Okonkwo is building a solar farm called Blue Power Energy. It will open in March 2019 with 100 megawatts of energy. It will be the biggest move in her career.

Speaking to Forbes, Okonkwo said, “don’t stop when the door is being shut. I find a way to make it work, that’s what propelled my success.” She added, “Most of the multinational companies that come to Ghana don’t put in infrastructure. They operate a system where they invest very little and they take it away. They sell their products and leave. I’m hoping to provide employment and add to Ghana’s economy.”

Okonkwo was raised in an average home as one of 14 children born to a real estate agent and developer mother and a cattle dealer father. Her parents made the effort to send her to the United States to further pursue her education, gaining admission into college at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. After her graduation in 1994, she worked briefly in California, but returned to Ghana in 2003 after being recruited by oil and gas company Sahara Energy Group.

It was at Sahara Energy Group that she pitched the concept of opening up gas retail stations, but the company was not keen on this idea. Her idea was turned down several times. Executives would shun her idea by saying that they wouldn’t change their business plan because it would be too political and would require too much of an investment in infrastructure.

She quit the group in order to pursue her brilliant idea where no one would shoot her down. She started her own petroleum gas company, focusing on bringing liquified petroleum gas to the hard-to-reach region of northern Ghana, where many families still rely on burning firewood for energy.

Her journey on this path was not rosy. She encountered a difficulty: The North had few storage facilities for the liquified gas. To get it to the remote region, she’d have to build the storage herself, and she was already struggling to secure funding. In order to circumvent this predicament, she started trading diesel and petroleum wholesale.

An article image — A UBI Group gas retail station in Ghana. Credit – UBI group

By 2007, she had a contract to supply fuel to Dallas-based Kosmos Energy, which was followed by another contract with Hess in 2008. A year later (in 2008) UBI opened its first retail gas station, which expanded to eight stations outright, with 20 others being managed through partnerships. In 2013, Okonkwo started her solar company. According to Forbes, she estimates that the company will spend about $100 million—financed by roughly $30 million in loans—to create 100 megawatts of solar power by early next year. Construction started earlier this summer. The plan is to add another 100 megawatts by the end of 2020.

With how energy access is a big problem in Africa, Salma Okonkwo’s ambitious project will go a long way in easing these problems. It will also create opportunities and employment for women in Ghana. Northern Ghana, which Unicef says is Ghana’s poorest region will be improved for the better. Cheap energy to northern Ghana will ease life.

Okonkwo said, “I want to bring support to my people in the north. Then there will be more Salma’s all over the place.”

Header image credit: This is Africa

In self development August 25, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

MEET THE FIRST AFRICAN DESIGNER TO COLLABORATE WITH FASHION GIANT H&M

South African designer Palesa Mokubung is the first African designer to collaborate with the fashion giant H&M. The Swedish retailer joined forces with Mantsho, Mokubung’s label, to create a collection celebrating the elegance and vibrancy of Africa.

Mokubung’s career began in 2000 when she walked into a boutique in Johannesburg – Stoned Cherrie – and her outfit caught the boutique’s owner’s eye. The outfit was designed by Mokubung herself. She was immediately employed. In 2004, she launched her brand called Mantsho. Her goal was to create a fashion brand that would represent South Africa and Africa globally.

On August 15th, Mantsho’s collaboration collection with H&M launched. The collection consists of women’s clothes and accessories with a distinct African feel. It is available online and in H&M stores in the UK, France, Israel, Spain, and Belgium.

“Mantsho x H&M is an exciting collection celebrating the elegance and vibrancy of Africa with modern edgy designs created for the stylish carefree woman,” reads a statement jointly released by H&M and Mantsho.

Mokubung has referred to the collection as her “love letter to Africa”.

“I hope customers around the world will enjoy this ensemble of my stand out pieces from my last three collections,” she said in a statement.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Mokubung said, “I really wanted to have a label that could remind me – that could remind everyone in case somebody wanted us to forget – how beautiful we are just because we are. Just because we exist. I wanted to have that attitude of unapologetic black, proud, stern, confident in the way that I design, in the way that I work, in the way that I approach the women that I saw, in the way I run my business, the way that I present myself, in the way that I am accepted. That message is very important to my soul—it is fire to my soul.”

Mokubung hopes that more African women will follow their dreams dreams

H&M has previously collaborated with Italian designer Moschino and French luxury house, Balmain.

Header Image Credit: Instagram @palesamokubung