self development Archives

In self development January 1, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

GIRL BOSS! 12-YEAR-OLD GABRIELLE LAUNCHES ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY

Gabrielle “Gabby” Goodwin and her mother Rozalynn Goodwin are the creators of the first patented double-face, double-snap barrette also known as GaBBY Bows. The 12-year-old CEO, girl boss, and 2018 BLACK ENTERPRISE Teenpreneur of the Year is an A-student who is just as passionate about giving back as she is about being a boss. That is why she and her mother recently launched the Mommy and Me Entrepreneurship Academy which gives parents and their children the opportunity to work collaboratively towards entrepreneurship through microfranchising the GaBBY Bows business.

The idea of being able to share the gift of entrepreneurship with other kids came to Gabby as she was volunteering at a local children’s shelter. Many of the girls we’re impressed with her CEO status and the fact she was a business owner.

“Everyone talks about how I’m so amazing. I want them to know that they can do similar things as me—and know that anything is possible,” says Gabby.

So she began to let them in on her secrets to success.

“Gabby shared about entrepreneurship with these girls and gave them ideas to help them think bigger and give them some hope,” says Rozalynn.

Gabrielle and Rozalynn Goodwin (Courtesy: GaBBY Bows)

THE GIFT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

After a year of hoping and wishing she could do something to help others Rozalynn stumbled upon a micro-franchising workshop at a work event.

“A young man was talking about micro-franchising and empowering communities and underserved communities. And honestly, something just kind of grabbed me. We had already been having these conversations about how to get these girls involved and I had never heard of the concept before so I researched it.”

By definition, microfranchising is a business model that applies traditional franchising to very small businesses.

To her surprise, Gabby had learned about the concept through her research project on Madam C. J. Walker during Women’s History Month.

“Gabby shared with me about how Madam C.J. Walker had set up these directors and all of these black women were selling the products,” says Rozalynn.

From there, they continued to do research on microfranchising and created a business model that would allow parents and their children to take part in the business. And they formed the academy which offers business training, mentorship, and community to those who chose to participate. Of course the product which is packaged in a GaBBY Girls Boss starter kit includes 25 GaBBY Bows, name badges, branded t-shirts, and a letter from Gabby herself explaining the program and all of its perks.

With the buy-in price at $99, Girl Bosses can make their investment back relatively fast with the bows selling at $5 a pack or 3 packs for $10.

Gabby exhibiting at the Black Expo (Courtesy: GaBBY Bows)

“They will be able to sell physical packs and receive an affiliate link unique to them that they will be able to share. And if it results in a sale, they’ll get 25 percent of that sale. They don’t have to fulfil any orders or touch the bows—but we wanted to give them more than one way to make money,” says Rozalynn.

BUILDING A BUSINESS BUILDS CHARACTER

In addition to being exposed to vending opportunities, there will also be leadership training so that girls can be prepared for public speaking — and learn more about budgeting; marketing; and saving as they prepare for their futures.

Gabby will even be hosting her first webinar, “Big Courage: 6 Ways I Went from Being a Shy Kid to a Kid CEO” to help Girl Bosses shy away from being timid.

Beyond the business of fostering entrepreneurship in young girls, both Gabby and her mother want to help boost confidence and help them plan for their future.

“I think that this academy is going to boost a lot of girl’s confidence because when I started Gabby bows I wasn’t that confident, I was pretty shy and now that entrepreneurship has boosted my confidence I think that it will boost their confidence as well,” says Gabby.

To date, there are 28 parents/guardians and girls enrolled in the academy. And Rozalynn is proud to share that some of the participants have already begun to make returns on the investment.

“We have one girl who has already been selling GaBBY Bows. And when we announced that she was a Girl Boss, people immediately started reaching out to her wanting to buy from her. Her mother had extra bows that she was going to give out as Christmas gifts but then she said she had to sell them. The mother has a picture of her daughter making a deposit at the bank and it’s adorable. And she’s four!”

A GaBBY Girl Boss making a deposit at the bank (Courtesy: GaBBY Bows)

Source: Black Enterprise

In self development January 1, 2019 By Esther Ijewere

5 TIPS FOR BECOMING A MASTER MOMPRENEUR IN 2019

The days of motherhood and careers being an “either/or” are long gone. Currently, having both simultaneously is the standard, and women are taking things to the next level. Women aren’t only balancing motherhood and career–they’re balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, exuding a whole new level of determination, management, and commitment.

From the outside looking in, it may seem like these “mompreneurs” have it easy. They can create their own schedules, govern their workloads accordingly, and have it all, in one place, at one time. On the surface, that seems simple enough, but mompreneurs have revealed that looking easy and being easy are two different ball games.

How do these mothers do it well? Here are a few tricks of the trade:

1. Find your groove.

Though motherhood may come naturally to some people, with entrepreneurship, it might take time for you to find your knack. There are several moving parts to starting and maintaining a business, and typically you won’t discoverÂ many of those parts until you do. Allow discovery to be a part of the process; take one day at a time to continuously build, until you’re grooving right along.

2. Manage your time well.

Create a reasonable schedule for yourself and try to adhere to it. If you happen to get off course, that’s perfectly fine. Just find your way back. Managing time for your business and your family not only makes you feel like you’re turning all of your stones, but you’ll also be impressed by the pay-off of investing in both.

3. Whoever says you must always do it all, knows nothing.

Don’t, for a second, be afraid to ask for help. If you need a lending hand on the home or business front, ask someone you trust to do so. What you need to know firsthand, as a mother and an entrepreneur, is that your assistance is your golden ticket. Finding another set of hands that is willing to dig into your responsibility pot makes the load a lot lighter. Teamwork is what makes this dream work.

4. Don’t underestimate passion.

Build a business that you love, as sometimes that love will have to be the driving force. Find something you’re really passionate about, so your work won’t feel as daunting as it could. Loving what you do offers personal fulfillment, reduces the stress of the work, and can help sustain your energy.

5. Let yourself off of the hook.

Sometimes balls drop, and that has to be okay. Situations change, schedules alter, things don’t always go exactly as planned, but motherhood has prepared you for anticipating the unexpected. Try not to be too hard on yourself if your superwoman cape starts to wrinkle. Look at unforeseen circumstances as opportunities to be innovative, to learn, and test your adaptability.

Source: Black Enterprise

In self development December 31, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

SEVEN WONDER WOMEN AWARDS: NOMINEES FOR WOMEN IN FINANCE AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS

This week we are announcing the second set of nominees, Women In Finance and Women In Health and Wellness. We’ve kept their descriptions (in brackets) deliberately brief, as many are multi-talented and their skills transcend a few sectors.

I have really enjoyed reading about each one of these women listed below – all with award-winning power, and congratulate them on their careers and the impact they are having in their given field. Please note, that they are listed in alphabetical order, not according to how many nominations they received.

For Finance, we took note of the women’s qualifications and outstanding careers in Finance, as well as those we viewed as barrier-breakers in this very competitive sector, coupled with their impact and the positive influence they have on other women.

Their performance and achievements have elevated the position of women in Finance and they have worked relentlessly to advance the cause of women in the top positions in Nigeria, either on a personal level, in support of other Women in Finance – or both. They have also contributed to increasing the financial inclusion of Nigeria’s women in the economy in general, for example, as a Mentor or, an Influencer, or even as an Investor.

The nominees in Health & Wellness are making a huge impact in this relatively new sector. “Health” captures the nominated MDs, whilst “wellness” captures non-medical practitioners, specialists who strive to create more awareness about all kinds of health issues and are trailblazers in the more recently-recognised areas of health, including mental health, or other forms of wellness (e.g. physical wellbeing and fitness).

Coupled with health, wellness plays an evermore important role in our lives, with “wellness” or “self-care” being described as the “word of 2017” by The Global Wellness Summit, which considers Feminist Wellness as one of the Global Wellness Trends of 2018.

We were also interested in hearing about the female leaders in Women’s Health issues (both qualified doctors and other certified professionals in this area), but we were only able to shortlist seven women in this category, based on those that were nominated and those that fulfilled the criteria.

These are women who have a proven track record of improving the quality of and access to Health & Wellness for people (both men and women) in Nigeria.

Women In Finance
Bola Adesola (Standard Chartered Bank MD/CEO)
Opunimi Akinkugbe (Bestman Games Founder)
Ibikun Awosika (First Bank Chairman)
Tomie Balogun (The Vestract Company Founder)
Funmi Ekundayo (STL Trustees MD/CEO)
Modupe Ladipo (Financial Inclusion Expert)
Bunmi Lawson (EFInA Director)
Oluwatosin Olaseinde (Money Africa)
Mosun Belo-Olusoga (Access Bank Chairman)
Toyin F Sanni (Emerging Africa Group CEO)

Women In Health and Wellness
Dr Ola Brown-Orekunrin (The Flying Doctors Nigeria Founder)
Dr Dorothy Jeff-Nnamani (Novo Health Africa Founder)
Elaine Okeke-Martin (Spa & Wellness Association Africa Founder)
Aderoju Ope-Ajayi (Dolphin Aquatic Centre & Swim School Founder)
Farida Sanusi (ICSPIN Founder)
Dr Alero Roberts (Senior Lecturer, College of Medicine UNILAG)
Oyinkan Talabi (Bodyworks Fitness Nigeria Founder)

In self development December 29, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET NANCY ABU-BONSRAH, THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE NEUROSURGERY RESIDENT TO BE ACCEPTED INTO JOHN HOPKINS

Nancy Abu-Bonsrah has been accepted into the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s neurosurgery residency program — the first black woman to do so in the 30-year history of the program.

“There was a rush of emotions,” Nancy tells Teen Vogue about her initial reaction to the news. She found out on “Match Day,” when medical students nationwide learn if and where they “match” for postgraduate residency programs, which they must completebefore practicing medicine in the United States. A representative from Johns Hopkins tells Teen Vogue the school accepts three to five neurosurgery residents into its program each year.

“The first [emotion] was honestly amazement,” 26-year-old Nancy, who also attended medical school at Johns Hopkins, added. “I could not believe that right there, in that moment, I was going to be given this incredible opportunity to remain at Johns Hopkins to begin my neurosurgical training. Then came the joy and happiness.”

Nancy moved to the United States from Ghana when she was 15, and it was on a trip back to Ghana during college that she realized she wanted to pursue neurosurgery. “I had an opportunity to go spend some time in one of the teaching hospitals, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital,” she says. “It was there that I experienced the uniqueness of neurosurgery as well as the general lack of access to care. Not only was I impressed by the surgical skill and fascinated by the anatomy, [but] I was also stunned by how overwhelmed the surgeons were.”

That experience inspired her to go into a field that she believes will give her the opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way, and she hopes to return to Ghana someday to do so. “I look at neurosurgery through the light of service,” she says. “Neurosurgical patients are a unique population who put a great deal of trust in their surgeons, and I see that to be a great privilege and honor. […] I cannot wait to go back and serve, not only in Ghana, but in other low-resource settings.”

She’s also committed to serving in a different way: “I am very interested in increasing the number of minorities in the field and would be working toward that goal throughout my career,” she says. As for black female neurosurgeons (the first in the U.S. being Alexa Irene Canady in 1981), Nancy says, “I do not know the exact numbers, but I know that they are too few.”

“In every field, it is always a little easier to see yourself in a role if those you look up to look like you or have had similar experiences,” she adds. “For me, this was the hardest part in my journey into neurosurgery, knowing there were not as many people who were like me.” But she says she’s received “immense support and mentorship” along the way from Johns Hopkins, and plans to pay it forward. “Being part of the Johns Hopkins neurosurgery department is humbling, but I believe that I would be in a unique position to help in mentoring other students.”

Credit: Teen Vogue

In self development December 29, 2018 By Women of Rubies

“I HATED MY BODY, I FIXED IT. BEST DECISION EVER” -TOKE MAKINWA

Media personality, Toke Makinwa has revealed that she had plastic surgery in a series of tweets.

The media personality took to her Twitter page on Thursday, December 27, 2018, where she talked about her 2018 lessons in review.

“This year I stopped complaining and changed things. I hated my body, I fixed it, (best decision ever). I hated hanging around certain people who made me feel small; I dropped them, I learnt to forgive (I still struggle but it’s a journey), I learnt to be at peace. #2018Lessons,” she tweeted.

It didn’t end there as she also revealed that she tried to give love a chance in 2018 but it didn’t work out as planned.

“This year I tried to give Love a Chance again but let’s just say “if a fish and a bird fell in love, where would they make home”??? Still figuring me out but it was the best times I had #2018Lessons,” she tweeted.

In self development December 28, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

MEET THE BLACK WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR WHO CREATED THE FIRST EVER RIDE-SHARING APP FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS AND DISABILITIES

Ja’Nese Jean, a known international opera singer, is more than just a beautiful, fascinating voice. Jean, also a tech entrepreneur, recently launched the newest ride-sharing app specifically made for people with health problems and disabilities.

Ja’Nese was hailed the “Next Big Opera Star” in Aretha Franklin’s singing competition. She was offered a recording contract with Aretha Records and was even compared to the best in the industry. But her career is actually more focused on simplicity and love for people. Her humanitarian efforts already helped thousands of people in need of housing, food, and other necessities — and it’s still counting.

Jean’s passion to connect the world positively is very much evident in her philanthropic acts and technology developments. Her tech products include mobile applications, proxy servers, mass email software, and patented heat and motion activated car sensors. The most recent development she and her company launched is the SAFETRIP app.

The two major platforms of the app aim to help both drivers and users. It will give more job opportunities to drivers, especially those certified in defensive driving training, sensitivity training, and CPR. The app is also a breakthrough for millions of people with disabilities and healthcare-related appointments. It tracks patients in real-time allowing them to ride on demand, schedule in advance, in-app calling features, driver/user rating systems and more.

“SAFETRIP is dedicated to moving healthcare transportation forward, faster, and more affordably,” says Ja’Nese. The lifesaving app is available for download on and Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

For more information about the SAFETRIP app, visit www.safetrip.co or follow Ja’Nese Jean on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaNeseJean

Source: Blackbusiness.org

In self development December 27, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET THE WOMAN WHO SAVED HER VILLAGE FROM 100 DAYS OF GENOCIDE USING IMAGINARY POWERS

Zura Karuhimbi has a reputation for using magical powers, because of this awareness about her, she is able to save a multitude over a 100-day period of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Sometimes when Hutu militias would visit her home in search of the targeted Tutsis, Zura Karuhimbi will scare them with a promise of a ruthless death if they dared to come close. - Women's News Agency

Sometimes when Hutu militias would visit her home in search of the targeted Tutsis, Zura Karuhimbi will scare them with a promise of a ruthless death if they dared to come close. – Women’s News Agency

Hutu rebels had a tough time gaining access to scared Tutsis she was hiding in her home. In the month of April during the year earlier mentioned, the plane of Juvenal Habyarimana the country’s president is shot down and results in his death.

This sparked fierce violence in Rwanda where the favoured Tutsis are the main targets. But Zura Karuhimbi is menacing enough to hold attackers who stormed her residence in search of more blood to shed.

The feared Karuhimbi died on Monday, December 17, 2018, according to the BBC News. Before her passing, she tells of experiencing the bitterness in human beings during the unforgettable mass killings.

“During the genocide, I saw the darkness of a man’s heart,” two decades after the massacre, The East African learns from her.

In a report published by the BBC five days after Zura Karuhimbi’s death, she passes away in a village in Musamo located in the east of Kigali. Official documents suggest that she is 93 years old but by her own account, she might be a lot more.

Recent developments reveals that the French authorities have dropped a probe into the plane crash that killed Rwanda’s former president Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994.

AFP News confirms from a legal source on Wednesday, December 26, 2018, that judges decide to halt the case due to a lack of evidence. The decision is made five days prior according to reports.

Credit: Pulse, AFP News

In self development December 27, 2018 By Esther Ijewere

QUEEN ESOHE IGBINOBA: 4 STEPS TO TELLING GREAT STORIES THAT RESONATE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

I once asked a group of entrepreneurs ‘’why do you tell stories?’’

I got the following responses.

I tell stories for:

Clarity, sharing of insights and my life lessons

To inspire/encourage

Connect with someone

Brand awareness – more people need to know about my brand

More eyeballs = more prospects = more sales

I’ll be seen in the right light, by the right people at the right time

Why these reasons are great, they may not give you the result you need as an influential storyteller or entrepreneur.

They are good reasons to tell a good story, however, there are 4 important steps you need to take to telling great stories that resonate.

Find the people who have the same worldviews as you do

What do I mean by that?

Worldviews refer to people’s perspectives or beliefs on different life issues.

You need to find the people who share the same perspective or belief about your subject matter.

Find people with a bias to listen to you

Beyond finding people with similar beliefs, find people with a bias to listen to you.

People interested in listening to your message and falling in love with your brand and your stories.

Why do you need to do that?

You need to do that so you can share stories that resonate deeply with them and inspire them to take massive action.

For my brand, I focus on attracting new entrepreneurs who love stories, understand the power of stories and are willing to learn to tell better stories so they can attract more of the right audience to their stories and grow their business.

Be clear about who your audience is and why they would listen to you

You should also ask yourself who exactly is my audience and why would they listen to me?

Understanding who your audience is helps you determine how you will communicate your stories to them, what mediums you will use and how frequently you will engage with them.

Be clear about where you will find them

Another thing you need to know is how to find them.

How do you find these people?

Get clear about the kind of people who need your message and stories

Find out where they congregate online and offline

Find out the issues or topics they are very passionate about

Find out what common problems and experiences they have

Find out what common result they seek

Most importantly get clear about the kind of customers you do and don’t want to attract.

Beyond knowing these 4 steps, ensure you implement them so you can start seeing results in your business.

Remember, good things happen to those who take massive action.

About Esohe

Esohe Igbinoba is the Founder, The Global Brand Network. GBN is a brand management organization with a focus on teaching entrepreneurs the art of influential storytelling for attracting visibility and building an engaged audience so they can build profitable businesses. She helps them to achieve this through her unique system: The Influential Storytelling Formula. She has helped over 150 people in 10 countries. She helps them through her online school, GBN Business School where she offers one on one coaching programs, online courses and training programs.

You can connect with her on Social media @queenesohe

Or send an email to esohe@queenesohe.com

Or on her website queenesohe.com

In self development December 21, 2018 By Women of Rubies

6 OUT OF 10 WOMEN VICTIMS OF GENITAL MUTILATION IN OYO – UNICEF

The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says six out of 10 women between 15 and 49 years in Oyo State are victims of genital mutilation.

Dr Olasunbo Odebode, Representative of UNICEF in-charge of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria, disclosed this on Thursday in Ibadan.

Odebode spoke at a public declaration of FGM abandonment by 21 communities in Oyo West Local Government area of the state.

According to Odebode, a Child Protection Specialist, mutilation prevalence rate for women between 15 and 49 years in the state is 55.5 per cent, the fifth highest in Nigeria.

She said the affected females live with the negative consequences of the practice, which undermined their physical, emotional and socio-economic well-being.

She described FGM as a harmful traditional practice, a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of women, which seriously compromised their health and psychological well-being.

”FGM is not only harmful but also against nature as it destroys the wholesome and beautiful way women and girls are naturally created.

”It poses increased risk of infection or prolonged labour, bleeding, still-birth and maternal death during childbirth as well as leaves lasting physical, emotional scars and an irreparable damage,” Odebode said.

She said FGM was a social norm and that people practice it because they believed that others in their community do it.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate in the campaign to end its menace in their respective communities.

Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, said the agency had carried out series of programmes to sensitise the public on the effects of female genital mutilation.

Dosunmu commended traditional and community leaders in the area for dropping the age-long practice.

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola, the Aalafin of Oyo, promised to support UNICEF and NOA efforts in eliminating the practice in the state.

The monarch, represented by Chief Yusuf Akinade, the Basorun of Oyo Kingdom, charged community heads to sensitise people in their domain on the negative effects of the practice.

Credit: Pulse

In self development December 20, 2018 By Women of Rubies

ROHEEMAH AND KEHINDE ARE THE FIRST ENGLISH GRADUATES IN OAU TO BAG FIRST CLASS IN 21 YEARS

Roheemah Arogundade and Kehinde Lawal broke 21-yr-old record in Obafemi Awolowo University.

Both Kehinde Lawal and Roheemah Arogundade graduated with 4.56 CGPA, something no student has been able achieve in the last 21 years.

Since 1997, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) did not produce first class graduates in its English Department. In fact, the last distinction graduate of the department, Akinmade Akande is now a professor of English.

In OAU, the English and Geology Departments have a reputation for not producing first class graduates. However, on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the university at its 43rd joint convocation ceremony announced Roheemah Arogundade and Kehinde Lawal as the first graduates of the University to bag first class from the English Department.

Roheemah and Kehinde

In this interview with Pulse, the two outstanding graduates talked about their lives on campus and their academic achievements.

Pulse: Did you determine to break the jinx when you realized there’s been no first class graduate since 1997 in your department?

Roheemah: Growing up, the thirst for excellence was instilled in me by my parents. So I always aspire to excellence wherever I find myself and upon my entry into the university. That’s what I worked towards achieving.

Kehinde: I strongly desired it but it was hard at the same time to dispel the thought of the long-believed “impossibility.” From the onset, I was determined to try and make a stride for goods grades (maybe not for a first class but to be the best in a class of about 400 students). The desperate zeal to really finish with a first class grew when I made a 5.0 CGPA in my 200 level 2nd semester result. At that point, I was wowed and I made up my mind to try all I could to have first class. So, from that time, I was working towards it.

Kehinde Lawal

Pulse: What did you do differently that made it easy for you to break the record?

Roheemah: I wouldn’t know if I had done something different, only that I decided to work not only hard but smart too. I had a plan for every semester. I had a senior colleague who I would meet at the end of every semester to make copies of her notes and materials in order to prepare for the next semester in advance. I also ensured that I attended every class, attended discussions and tutorials, met with lecturers and fellow students when I needed to understand some topics. Also, I ensured that I read all the topics treated in class in a day. And most importantly, I never neglected my prayers.

Roheemah Arogundade

Kehinde: Well, I can not state specifically what I did differently from others because I do not know how much effort some other people pumped towards having a first class in the department. But, on a general note, what I noticed that I did differently from many of my colleagues was to study every night ( even if it was just for an hour). Many students failed to cultivate the habit of consistent revision or studying until it’s time for assessments. “Crash reading” never works for me. So, I tried to prepare for exams from the beginning of the semester.

Pulse: What were your campus days like?

Roheemah: They were quite interesting. Apart from academics, I was involved in other activities. I was a member of the drug-free club and also a member of Association of Nigerian Authors. I participated in volunteering activities such as Nigerian cleanups and some others. I took a course in project management. I was engaged in freelance writing and editing and also tutoring.

Kehinde: Campus life was quite stressful for me. I had too many extracurricular activities I delved into. From my 200 level, I was committed to being a member of different committees in the department. I was a member of the Audit committee, Trip and Excursion Committee, Award Dinner Committee, Class party committee and others. In my 2nd year also, I started as a member of NASELS’ Communication Bureau (the press outfit of the department). Gradually, I rose in rank to become the assistant managing editor, the managing editor and the Editor-in-Chief in my final year. I was actively involved in the publication of the departmental magazine (FOUNT) in 2015 too.

Pulse: Were you aware there was another student in the department with record-breaking CGPA and did you see her as competition?

Roheemah: No, I didn’t know earlier on but when I did, I was quite happy when I realised that a friend was also doing excellently well. There was no competition of any kind, instead, we always met to discuss difficult topics and explain them to one another.

Kehinde: Yes, there were rumours. Same way mine was a rumour until I finally graduated. But I didn’t see her as competition. During exams, we had group discussions and revised past questions together. I was very happy we made it but we were surprised that we finished with the same point- 4.56.

Kehinde Lawal

Pulse: What do you think is responsible for the lack of first class graduates for 21 years in the department?

Roheemah: I believe every student works hard or tries their best to be excellent too. So I just believe it wasn’t time.

Kehinde: I can’t say precisely. However, I feel the orientation fresh students get on admission into the department is quite discouraging. So, even without making an effort to make the first class, students in the department just naturally feel comfortable having average grades because everyone believes the first class grade is impossible.

I hope that the achievement Roheemah and I have made would further encourage students and prospective students of the department to do better. Now it is established that it is possible, I hope to see more people graduating with first class in years to come. Although it’s not by default, hard work is highly recommended too.

Pulse: Apart from studying what would you say helped to achieve this academic feat?

Roheemah: God and my support system i.e. my family and friends

Kehinde: God, Prayers and support from my mother, family and my best friend.

Pulse: Did the school management reward you for breaking the record?

Roheemah: At this moment, no.

Kehinde: There are not many awards in the department and the single one that exists was not awarded to anyone.

This is something that also needs to be changed to encourage students. The school should make provisions for awards and Alumni too should do the same.

Pulse: With your first class degree in English what career path do you intend to follow?

Roheemah: I’m passionate about academics, so I’ll be getting involved one way or another in that but I also love writing. So definitely that’s something I will be pursuing too. I’m open to anything really, as long as it is something that contributes positively to the society and gives room for self-growth.

Roheemah Arogundade

Kehinde: Good grades aren’t guarantees for a secured career path but they open doors of life-changing opportunities for those that seek it.

With a first class from OAU and in a department where it was previously considered impossible, I have a certain level of confidence that it would be relatively easy to study further anywhere in the world.

I would love to explore opportunities in the communication field like corporate communications, marketing, advertising, media relations, brand management, and public relations. All these are interrelated fields that my degree in English would help me with immensely.

Credit: Pulse News

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